Method for determining and / or optimizing the heating output of a heating device and heating device and control device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating devices lack an efficient method to determine and optimize their heat output, relying on heat meters that require additional equipment and complex calculations, making it difficult to assess and improve their efficiency in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the current energy source supply, calculates the efficiency of the heat exchanger using exhaust gas temperature and energy carrier quantity, and displays or sets optimized efficiency, utilizing a control unit with stored heat exchanger-specific factors and characteristic curves to adjust operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If heat meters are used to measure heat output, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat measurement function from the complex heat meter system and implements it using only existing sensor data (temperature sensors and energy carrier quantity) already present in the heating device. This eliminates the need for additional heat meter equipment while maintaining measurement capability through calculation based on extracted parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using physical heat meters to directly measure heat output, the patent creates a computational model that copies the measurement function by calculating heat output from existing sensor data. The control unit computes heat output by combining temperature difference measurements with energy carrier quantity information, replicating the heat meter's measurement capability through data processing rather than direct physical measurement.
2Measurement precision
If heat meters and complex calculations are used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device performs self-assessment of its efficiency by automatically processing its own operational data. The control unit uses internally available sensor data (temperature sensors monitoring heating medium and exhaust gas) combined with energy carrier quantity information to calculate and display efficiency metrics without requiring external measurement equipment or complex manual calculations by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it not only controls the heating device operation but also performs heat output calculation, efficiency assessment, and optimization. By making the control unit multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate heat meter equipment and complex operational procedures, allowing the single control unit to handle both control and measurement tasks using existing data.
3Measurement precision
If additional equipment like heat meters is installed, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own existing sensor network and operational data to perform heat output measurement and efficiency assessment. Temperature sensors already installed for control purposes are repurposed for measurement, and the control unit processes existing energy carrier quantity data to calculate heat output, eliminating the need for additional measurement equipment that would consume extra energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is designed to perform multiple functions including both control operations and heat measurement calculations. By making the control unit multi-functional and using existing sensor data for dual purposes (control and measurement), the patent avoids the energy consumption associated with additional dedicated measurement equipment while maintaining measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simple and efficient determination of heating device efficiency, allowing for real-time optimization and improved energy usage, reducing the need for additional equipment and enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger (16) which can be connected to a heating circuit (22), with a heating medium (24) flowing through the heat exchanger (16) and with the heat exchanger (16) transferring energy from a heat transfer medium (32) to the heating medium (24)
Implementation Method 2
a burner (14) which is set up to supply the heat transfer medium (32) to the heat exchanger (16)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining and/or optimizing the heat output of a heating appliance (10), in particular a gas condensing boiler, with at least one heat exchanger (16) that can be connected to a heating circuit (22), wherein a heating medium (24) flows through the heat exchanger (16) and wherein the heat exchanger (16) transfers energy from a heat transfer medium (32) to the heating medium (24), comprising the following steps: (100) determining the instantaneous quantity supplied of an energy carrier (34) by which the heating medium (24) is heated directly or indirectly, (110) determining an instantaneous efficiency of the heat exchanger (16), (120) determining an instantaneous heat output using the quantity supplied of the energy carrier (34) and the instantaneous efficiency of the heat exchanger (16), (130) displaying and/or setting the efficiency or an optimized efficiency of the heating appliance (10).The invention also relates to a heating device (10) that can be operated by the method and to a control device (50) that is configured to carry out the method according to the invention.