CN213237518U

CN213237518U - A firing equipment and recreational vehicle for heating water and air in recreational vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN213237518U
Application number: CN201890001046.7U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 维托·博蒂切拉; 恩里科·帕奇; 马尔科·扎尼
Original assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
Current assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
Priority date: 2017-08-04
Filing date: 2018-08-06
Publication date: 2021-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-06
Also published as: WO2019025633A1; WO2019025635A1; CN213237945U; WO2019025636A1; DE112018003284T5; DE212018000249U1; DE212018000248U1; DE112018003288T5; WO2019025634A1

Abstract

A heating device (1) for heating water and air in recreational vehicles, comprising: a combustion chamber (2); a burner for generating a flame in the combustion chamber (2); a passage (4) for providing a secondary air flow into the combustion chamber (2); a duct (5) for conveying air to be heated; an additional pipe (5A) for conveying water to be heated; a heat exchanger (6) configured to transfer heat of exhaust gas flowing through a gas conduit (60) of the heat exchanger (6) to air flowing in the duct (5); an additional combustion chamber (2A); an additional burner for generating a flame in the additional combustion chamber (2A); an additional passage (4A) for providing an additional secondary air flow into the additional combustion chamber (2A); an additional heat transfer unit (6A) configured to transfer heat of the exhaust gas flowing through a gas conduit (60A) of the heat transfer unit (6A) to water flowing in the additional pipe (5A).

Description

A firing equipment and recreational vehicle for heating water and air in recreational vehicle

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a firing equipment and a leisure tourism car for leisure tourism car.

Background

Heating devices for recreational vehicles generally comprise a burner for burning a mixture of combustible gas and air, a combustion chamber in which the combustion takes place, and a heat exchanger for transferring the heat of the exhaust gases flowing in the combustion chamber to the fluid that has to be heated. The fluid that has to be heated is usually breathable air contained in recreational vehicles and/or water for sanitary or cooking purposes.

In heating devices, burners that naturally draw in combustion air are known. For example, EP 0967436 a1 relates to a modular solution with two "vaned" burners, providing a natural intake of air by venturi effect. In this solution, "vaned" burners are arranged vertically on a horizontal plane at different heights to optimize the secondary air flow into the combustion chamber. The inconvenience of this system is the large vertical size of the equipment required. In addition, the secondary air flow into the combustion chamber is not restricted and may be so great that the flame is extinguished.

In EP 2051006 a1, another solution is disclosed with a "vaned" burner with holes for directing an optimized amount of secondary air to the flame.

Furthermore, heaters with forced ventilation of combustion air are known, for example EP 0262546 a1 describes a solution with a blower for guiding air and also a second blower for guiding secondary air. In this solution, there is no duct for natural inhalation. The solution with pure forced ventilation has the inconvenience of requiring energy to move the blower and, moreover, of requiring a mixer for mixing the combustible gas and the air (whereas in the case of natural inhalation the combustible gas and the air are naturally mixed during their suction through the venturi effect). These inconveniences result in high costs.

The previous solutions are suitable for heating air or water. In addition, combined solutions are also known. Combined solutions provide heating of both air and water, such as the device described in EP 0926453B 1.

The apparatus is suitable for heating air and water under a small space, and includes a burner in a combustion chamber formed as a fire tube, a heating chamber surrounding the combustion chamber, a heat exchange insert surrounding the heating chamber and having an inner jacket, and a water boiler surrounding the heat exchange insert. At its interior facing the heat exchanger insert, the water boiler comprises different zones defining gap geometries, which determine the heat transfer from the heat exchanger insert to the water boiler. This solution makes the heating of the air very dependent on the heating of the water. This reliance causes associated inconvenience during the summer months, where water heating may be required, but breathable air does not need to be heated and is generally undesirable. Furthermore, the efficiency of such a solution is very limited.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The scope of the present invention is to overcome at least one of the above disadvantages.

This scope is achieved by a heating device for recreational touring vehicles according to the appended claims.

The utility model discloses still cover a leisure tourism car including firing equipment.

The present invention also encompasses a method for heating fluid in a recreational vehicle.

According to an aspect of the utility model, relate to a firing equipment for heating water and air in the leisure touring car. The heating apparatus includes: a combustion chamber; a burner configured to receive a mixture of primary air and a combustible gas and for generating a flame in the combustion chamber; a passage for providing a secondary air flow into the combustion chamber; a pipe for conveying air to be heated and an additional pipe for conveying water to be heated; and a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat of exhaust gas flowing through a gas conduit of the heat exchanger to air flowing in the duct. Preferably, the additional conduit is provided in the form of a tank. The heating apparatus further includes: an additional combustion chamber; an additional burner configured to receive an additional mixture of primary air and combustible gas and for generating a flame in the additional combustion chamber; an additional passage for providing an additional secondary air flow into the additional combustion chamber; and an additional heat transfer unit configured to transfer heat of the exhaust gas flowing through the gas duct of the heat transfer unit to water flowing in the additional pipe. The burner and/or the additional burner may be a modular burner, and preferably a gas burner. Preferably, the burner and/or the additional burner is a ramp-type burner.

In other words, two separate heating units are provided, which are arranged to generate heat and transfer the heat to the fluid to be heated. This configuration enables the heating of two separate fluids, such as breathable air and water for recreational vehicles, independently of each other, and thus enables a high versatility of the heating device.

Preferably, each of the burner and the additional burner comprises at least one burner module. The burner module includes a conduit having an inlet port for receiving a mixture of primary air and a combustible gas and an outlet port open to the respective combustion chamber for generating a flame. The conduit is geometrically configured to provide suction of the mixture of primary air and combustible gas by the venturi effect.

This geometry allows the omission of further elements for providing a mixture of primary air and combustible gas at the combustion chamber.

Preferably, the heating apparatus further comprises a supply chamber configured to receive air from an external environment and in fluid communication with the inlet port of the conduit and the passageway to provide the primary air to the burner and the secondary air to the combustion chamber, respectively. In addition, the heating apparatus preferably further comprises an additional supply chamber configured to receive air from an external environment and in fluid communication with the inlet port of the additional conduit and the additional passageway to provide the primary air to the additional burner and the secondary air to the additional combustion chamber, respectively.

This configuration results in a relatively simple but practical arrangement, since only one main inlet has to be provided for providing primary and secondary air. Furthermore, the supply chamber reduces the influence of external influences, such as wind, because the sucked air can settle down.

Preferably, the heating apparatus further comprises a fan configured to push air into the supply chamber and an additional fan configured to push air into the additional supply chamber.

The provision of a fan shows the advantage that the flow of primary and secondary air can be actively controlled and can thus be adapted to the desired mode of operation. By varying the flow of primary and secondary air, the temperature and flow rate of the heated gas can be controlled, among other things. This results in a very variable operational setting.

Preferably, the inlet port of the conduit of the at least one burner module of the burner is positioned inside the feed chamber and the inlet port of the conduit of the at least one burner module of the additional burner is positioned inside the additional feed chamber.

Due to the small distance between the various components, placing the inlet port in the feeding chamber is a very practical and space-saving configuration. Providing a gas injector will further provide better controllability of the flow of the combustible gas and thus of the combustion process.

Preferably, the heating device further comprises at least one feeding mouth in fluid communication with the feeding chamber and/or the additional feeding chamber and having a single main inlet open to the external environment.

Providing only one common supply mouth for both supply chambers also results in a more compact and space-saving configuration of the heating device. However, it is also possible to provide a plurality of delivery nozzles (one for each delivery chamber).

Preferably, transversely to the feeding direction, the feeding chamber has a dimension substantially greater than the dimension of the duct inlet. Preferably, the size of the supply chamber is at least 3 times, preferably 5 times, or preferably 10 times larger.

Preferably, the heating apparatus further comprises an exhaust pipe. Both the combustion chamber and the additional combustion chamber are in fluid communication with the exhaust pipe, which has an end portion open to the external environment.

Providing only one common exhaust duct results in an even more compact and space-saving configuration of the heating device.

Preferably, the at least one delivery nozzle has a single inlet opening to the external environment, wherein the end of the exhaust pipe is at least partially surrounded by the inlet opening of the delivery nozzle.

This configuration produces a heat exchange between the exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe and the fresh air in the inlet of the at least one delivery nozzle and thus a preheating of the fresh air, which results in an increased efficiency of the heating device.

Preferably, the heating apparatus further comprises a control unit configured to control and coordinate the operation of the burner and the additional burner.

The provision of the control unit enables automation and simplifies the operation of the heating device.

According to another aspect of the utility model, a leisure touring car, including one of above-mentioned heating device.

This particular configuration allows the advantageous effects of various heating devices to be transmitted to the recreational vehicle.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for heating air and water in a recreational vehicle, comprises the steps of: receiving a mixture of primary air and combustible gas at a burner open to a combustion chamber; providing a secondary air flow into the combustion chamber; combusting the mixture of primary air and combustible gas in the combustion chamber; delivering air into the duct; transporting the water into an additional conduit; and transferring heat of the exhaust gas flowing through the gas duct of the heat exchanger to the air flowing in the duct. In addition, the method further comprises the steps of: receiving an additional mixture of primary air and combustible gas at an inlet port of an additional burner open to an additional combustion chamber; providing an additional secondary air flow into the additional combustion chamber; combusting the additional mixture of primary air and combustible gas in the additional combustion chamber; and transferring heat of the exhaust gas flowing through the gas conduit of the heat transfer unit to the water flowing in the additional pipe.

This method represents a preferred method of operating the heating apparatus described above to achieve the aforementioned advantageous effects.

Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of: providing a flow of air from an external environment into the delivery spout; supplying the air from the at least one supply nozzle to a supply chamber to provide primary air of the mixture and the secondary air stream; and supplying the air from the at least one supply nozzle to an additional supply chamber to provide a primary air of the additional mixture and the additional secondary air stream.

Providing air from the external environment through the at least one supply nozzle and the supply chamber allows the flow of primary and secondary air to be calmed down and thus results in a highly stable and controllable operation of the heating device.

Preferably, the supply of air from the at least one supply nozzle to the supply chamber is provided by a fan. The supply of air from the at least one supply nozzle to the additional supply chamber is provided by an additional fan. Both the supply chamber and the additional supply chamber are at an overpressure with respect to the external environment by means of the fan and the additional fan, respectively.

By controlling the mode of operation of the fan, the fan is set to produce a high controllability of the heating device. Providing an overpressure in the supply chamber substantially stabilizes the combustion process.

Preferably, the exhaust gases and the additional exhaust gases are merged at an exhaust pipe and discharged to the external environment through the exhaust pipe.

This configuration achieves a very compact and space-saving configuration of the corresponding heating device.

Preferably, the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust pipe and the additional exhaust gas transfer heat to the air flowing into the delivery nozzle.

The transfer of the heat of the exhaust gas to the fresh air correspondingly increases the efficiency of the entire heating device of the described method.

Drawings

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred, non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention, which refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a functional solution of a heating device according to the invention;

fig. 2 shows the heating device of fig. 1 in an exploded view;

fig. 3, 4, 5, 6 show the heating device of fig. 1 in different cross-sections; and

fig. 7A, 7B show different details of the heating device of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

With reference to the accompanying drawings, numeral 1 indicates a heating device according to the present invention.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, schematically illustrated in fig. 1 and spatially illustrated in fig. 2 to 6, the heating device 1 comprises a combustion unit having at least one burner and a combustion chamber 2. The burner has a burner module 3. The burner module 3 comprises a conduit 301 having an inlet port 302 for receiving a mixture of primary air and combustible gas. The conduit 301 further has an outlet port 303 open to the combustion chamber 2 for generating a flame within the combustion chamber 2.

Here, the outlet port 303 of the conduit 301 is a row of nozzles 15 configured to generate a flame. The heating apparatus 1 further comprises an igniter 304 (see fig. 3 to 5 and 7A) positioned in the combustion chamber 2.

Conduit 301 is geometrically configured to provide suction of the mixture of primary air and combustible gas by the venturi effect. In the illustrated configuration, the heating device 1 further comprises a passage 4 (see fig. 5) configured to provide a secondary air flow into the combustion chamber 2.

The heating device 1 comprises a pipe 5 for conveying the fluid to be heated. The fluid to be heated may be, for example, a gas, such as breathable air.

The duct 5 has an inlet 501 and an outlet 502 (see fig. 3 to 5). Here, the conduit 5 comprises a fluid pump 503. The fluid pump 503 is configured to push fluid through the conduit 5.

Here, the fluid pump 503 is configured to draw air from a recreational vehicle in which the illustrated heating apparatus may be disposed and to push the air from the inlet 501 into the duct 5 to the outlet 502. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid pump 503 is configured to draw air from the external environment and push the air into the duct 5. The conduit 5 comprises a grating positioned in front of the fluid pump 503 to avoid contamination of the conduit 5. In the illustrated configuration, the fluid pump 503 is an air pump. However, the fluid pump 503 may also be a liquid pump.

The inlet 501 of the duct 5 further comprises a filter to avoid contamination of the system. When disposed in a recreational vehicle, the outlet 502 of the duct 5 is generally open to the interior of the recreational vehicle.

The heating device 1 comprises a heat exchanger 6.

The heat exchanger 6 in the described embodiment is configured to transfer heat of the heated exhaust gas flowing through the gas conduit of the heat exchanger from the combustion chamber 2 to the fluid flowing in the duct 5. The gas conduit of the heat exchanger 6 has two heat exchange zones: a first heat exchange zone surrounded by the corresponding gas tubes, the first heat exchange zone being configured to exchange heat between the heated exhaust gas within the first heat exchange zone and the heated exhaust gas within the second heat transfer zone generated in the combustion zone 2; and a second heat exchange zone, surrounded by the corresponding chambers, configured to exchange heat between the heated exhaust gases and the fluid to be heated flowing through the duct 5. The combustion zone 2 may be at least partially provided as part of the first heat exchange zone, as is the case in the illustrated embodiment. The gas conduit further has a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The gas tube enclosing the first heat exchange zone is coupled to the gas inlet, the second heat exchange zone is connected to the first heat exchange zone, and the gas outlet is coupled to the chamber enclosing the second heat exchange zone. The gas duct is geometrically shaped in such a way that heated exhaust gas entering the gas duct at the gas inlet first has to flow through the first heat exchange zone and then through the second heat exchange zone before it can leave the gas duct through the gas outlet.

The chamber enclosing the second heat exchange zone and the gas tubes enclosing the first heat exchange zone are arranged in the tubes 5 of the heat exchanger 6. The gas tubes enclosing the first heat exchange area are arranged in a chamber enclosing the second heat exchange area and the gas inlet is arranged radially in relation to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger 6 in the gas outlet. This allows an improved heat exchange of the heat exchanger 6 and a rather compact spatial structure.

Here, the gas tubes enclosing the first heat exchange zone have smooth walls, communicating with the second heat exchange zone. The second heat exchange zone is conformed as a channel-like chamber, the walls of which comprise a plurality of lamellae. As shown, the wall preferably comprises some lamellae directed into the second heat exchange zone and/or some lamellae directed into the duct surrounding the gas duct. The two sets of lamellae are configured to optimize the heat exchange between the exhaust gases flowing through the second heat exchange zone and the fluid (in particular breathable air) flowing through the duct 5.

Here, the heating device 1 comprises a fan 7 configured to push a secondary air flow through the passage 4.

In the illustrated embodiment, the heating device 1 comprises a supply chamber 8. The supply chamber 8 is configured to receive air from the external environment. A fan 7 is provided within the passageway 4 or, as illustrated here, at the inlet of the supply chamber 8 to push air from the external environment into the supply chamber.

The supply chamber 8 is in fluid communication with the inlet 302 of the conduit 301 to provide said primary air. The supply chamber 8 may also or alternatively be in fluid communication with the passageway 4 to provide said secondary air.

The heating device 1 comprises a wall 401 having a first face 402 and a second face 403 opposite the first face 402. The first face 402 delimits the supply chamber 8 and the second face 403 delimits the combustion chamber 2. The wall 401 has a plurality of holes 404 defining the passage 4. In an embodiment, the size of the holes 404 is optimized according to the desired secondary air flow towards the combustion chamber 2.

The heating device 1 further comprises a gas injector 9. The gas injector 9 is configured to inject a combustible gas into the inlet 302 of the conduit 301. Here, the gas injector 9 is positioned inside the supply chamber 8.

The gas injector 9 is connected to a gas tank 901 configured to store combustible gas. In the illustrated embodiment, the gas tank 901 is positioned inside the supply chamber 8.

In the present orientation of the heating device 1 as illustrated in fig. 1, the wall 401 is oriented in a substantially vertical direction V (substantially parallel to the force of gravity). The conduit 301 is elongated at least at its ends in a horizontal direction H perpendicular to the force of gravity.

The fan 7 is configured to push the secondary air flow into the combustion chamber 2 substantially in a horizontal direction H.

As shown, the combustor may include one or more parallel combustor modules 31. Each of the further parallel burner modules 31 comprises one parallel conduit 311. Each of the parallel conduits 311 has an inlet 312 for receiving a mixture of primary air and a combustible gas and an outlet 312 that is open to the combustion chamber 2 to generate a flame in the combustion chamber 2. Here, each of the

parallel conduits

301 and 311 is geometrically configured to provide suction of the mixture of primary air and combustible gas by the venturi effect. The parallel burner modules 31 are arranged parallel to the burner modules 3. The supply chamber 8 is in fluid communication with the inlets 312 of one or more parallel conduits 311. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlets 312 of the one or more parallel conduits 311 are positioned inside the supply chamber 8.

The apparatus includes a respective parallel gas injector 91 for each of the one or more parallel burner modules 31. The parallel gas injector 91 is configured to inject a combustible gas into the inlet 312 of one or more parallel conduits 311.

Here, the parallel gas injector 91 is also positioned inside the supply chamber 8, and is connected to the gas tank 901.

The passage 4 is configured to provide a secondary air flow into the combustion chamber 2 at the outlet of one or more parallel conduits 311.

The apparatus further comprises a parallel igniter 314 for each parallel burner module 31.

Here, the secondary air flow flows from the outside to the duct 301 and to one or more parallel ducts 311.

In the illustrated embodiment, the heating device 1 comprises an additional burner with an additional combustion chamber 2A. The additional burner 30 comprises at least one additional burner module 3A with an additional duct 301A. The additional conduit 301A has an inlet port 302A for receiving an additional mixture of primary air and additional combustible gas and an outlet port 303A which is open to the additional combustion chamber 2A to generate a flame in the additional combustion chamber 2A.

Here, the heating apparatus 1 further includes an additional passage 4A. The additional passage 4A is configured to provide an additional secondary air flow into the additional combustion chamber 2A.

The heating device 1 further comprises an additional wall 401A having a first face 402A and a second face 403A opposite to the first face 402A. The first face 402A of the additional wall 401A delimits the additional supply chamber 8A and the second face 403A of the additional wall 401A delimits the additional combustion chamber 2A. The additional wall 401A has a plurality of holes 404A defining additional passages 4A. The size of said holes 404A in the additional wall 401A is optimized according to the desired additional secondary air flow towards the additional combustion chamber 2A.

The heating device 1 comprises an additional duct 5A for conveying an additional fluid to be heated. The additional fluid to be heated may be, for example, a liquid, such as water.

The additional pipe 5A has an inlet, an outlet and is at least partially configured as a heat transfer tank. Here, the heating device comprises an additional fluid pump. The additional fluid pump is configured to push additional fluid from the inlet through the additional pipe 5A to the outlet. In the described embodiment, the additional pump is a liquid pump.

The heating device 1 further comprises a heat transfer unit 6A configured to transfer heat of the exhaust gas flowing through the gas conduit of the heat transfer unit 6A to the additional fluid flowing through the additional pipe 5A.

The gas conduit of the heat transfer unit 6A has a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and two zones: a first heat transfer zone configured to transfer heat of the heated exhaust gas to the fluid within the heat transfer tank of the additional duct 5A, and enclosed by the corresponding chamber; and a second heat transfer zone, which is also configured to transfer the heat of the heated exhaust gas generated in the additional combustion chamber 2A to the fluid (in particular water) within the heat transfer tank of the additional duct 5A, and is surrounded by the corresponding gas pipe. The additional combustion zone 2A may be at least partially provided as part of the first heat transfer zone. The chamber enclosing the first heat transfer zone is coupled to the gas inlet, the gas tube enclosing the second heat transfer zone is coupled to the chamber enclosing the first heat transfer zone, and the gas outlet is coupled to the gas tube enclosing the second heat transfer zone.

The gas conduit is geometrically shaped in such a way that, due to convection, heated gas entering the gas conduit at the gas inlet first has to flow through the first heat transfer zone and then through the second heat transfer zone before it can leave the gas conduit through the gas outlet. The chamber enclosing the first heat transfer zone and the gas tubes enclosing the second heat transfer zone are arranged in the heat transfer tank of the additional pipe 5A.

The chambers enclosing the first heat transfer zone are arranged as triangular chambers and the gas tubes enclosing the second heat transfer zone are coupled to the triangular chambers enclosing the first heat transfer zone in the area of one of their corners.

Here, the heating device 1 comprises an additional fan 7A configured to push an additional secondary air flow through the additional passage 4.

In the illustrated embodiment, the heating device 1 comprises an additional supply chamber 8A configured to receive air from the external environment. An additional fan 7A is provided within the passage 4 or, as illustrated here, at the inlet of the additional supply chamber 8A to push air from the external environment into the supply chamber 8A.

The additional supply chamber 8A is in fluid communication with the inlet 302A of the additional conduit 301A to provide said primary air. The additional supply chamber 8A may also or alternatively be in fluid communication with the additional passage 4A to provide said additional secondary air flow.

The heating device 1 further comprises an additional gas injector 9A. The additional gas injector 9A is configured to inject an additional combustible gas into the inlet 302A of the additional conduit 301A. Here, the additional gas injector 9A is positioned inside the additional supply chamber 8A.

The additional gas injector 9A is connected to an additional gas tank 901A configured to store additional combustible gas. In the illustrated embodiment, the additional gas tank 901A is positioned inside the additional supply chamber 8A.

In an embodiment, the additional wall 401A is oriented in the vertical direction V. The additional conduit 301A is elongated in the horizontal direction H at least at its ends.

The supplementary fan 7A is configured to push a supplementary secondary air flow into the supplementary combustion chamber 2A substantially in a horizontal direction H.

The heating device 1 further comprises at least one delivery nozzle 10 in communication with the external environment. At least one delivery spout 10 has a main inlet 101 open to the outside environment. At least one delivery nozzle 10 also has an outlet communicating with the delivery chamber 8 through the fan 7 and an additional outlet communicating with the additional delivery chamber 8A through the additional fan 7A.

An electrical plate 12 is positioned inside at least one delivery nozzle 10.

The heating device 1 further comprises an exhaust pipe 11.

The combustion chamber 8 and the additional combustion chamber 8A are in fluid communication with the exhaust pipe 11 via the

respective combustion chambers

2 and 2A and the respective heat exchanger 6, the gas conduits 60 and 60A of the respective heat transfer unit 6A. The exhaust pipe 11 has an end portion opened to the outside environment.

As shown, the exhaust duct 11 is partially surrounded by the inlet 101 of the at least one delivery nozzle 10, such that exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust duct 11 gives up heat to the air entering the at least one delivery nozzle 10, to improve the overall efficiency of the heating device 1.

The heating device 1 further comprises a gas valve 13 and a parallel gas valve 131 for each parallel burner 31. The gas valve 13 is connected to the gas injector 9, and the parallel gas valve 131 is connected to the parallel gas injector 91.

The heating device 1 comprises an additional gas valve connected to an additional gas injector 9A.

The heating device 1 comprises a single control unit connected to the fan 7. The control unit is further connected to an additional fan 7A and to a gas injector 9. The control unit is also connected to an additional gas injector 9A, a fluid pump 503, and an additional fluid pump 503A.

The control unit is configured to control and coordinate the fan 7, the gas injector 9 and the fluid pump 503, and to control and coordinate the additional fan 7A, the additional gas injector 9A and the additional fluid pump 503A.

The illustrated heating device 1 comprises a fluid temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a fluid, preferably air. The fluid temperature sensor may be placed inside a recreational vehicle in which a heating device is provided to measure the temperature of fluid (air) inside the recreational vehicle. Alternatively, a fluid temperature sensor may be placed outside the recreational vehicle to measure the temperature of the fluid (air) outside the recreational vehicle. The fluid temperature sensor is connected to the control unit.

Here, the heating device comprises an additional fluid temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of an additional fluid, preferably water. The additional fluid temperature sensor is placed in a water tank containing water that has to be supplied to the heating device. A temperature sensor for the additional fluid is also connected to the control unit.

The control unit is connected to the gas valve 13 and to the parallel gas valve 131 and the additional gas valve.

The control unit is connected to the fan 7, and is configured to control the fan 7. Here, the control unit is programmed to control the fan 7 as a function of at least one control parameter, wherein the control parameter is representative of the thermal power provided by the burner. The control parameters may be set by the user via the interface (directly or indirectly). The control parameter may also be derived from a target temperature (which may be set by the user via the interface) and a measured parameter which may be representative of the temperature of the fluid (or additional fluid) to be heated (at the input of the heater). As shown, the combustor preferably includes a plurality of combustor modules (e.g., 2, or 3, or 4, or more); assume that the combustor includes N modules; the heater is configured to turn on a subset of the plurality of burner modules, keeping the remaining burner modules off. In this case, the control parameter may represent a number (any natural number from 0 to N) corresponding to the number of burner modules to be set open, wherein the other burner modules are to be set closed (and vice versa). The same features may (or may not) be provided to the additional burner.

In the embodiment shown, the control unit is further programmed to receive the temperature of the fluid (from the fluid temperature sensor) for comparison with a target temperature of the fluid. The target temperature of the fluid may be set by a user. The control unit is further programmed to receive the temperature of the additional fluid (from the additional fluid temperature sensor) for comparison with a target temperature of the additional fluid. The target temperature of the additional fluid may be set by the user. The control unit is programmed to control the burner to (selectively) switch on or off one or more of the burner modules 3 if the temperature of the fluid is below a target temperature of the fluid. The control unit is programmed to control the additional burner(s) to (selectively) switch on or off one or more of the additional burner modules 3A if the temperature of the additional fluid is below the target temperature of the additional fluid.

The control unit is programmed to control the burners and to shut down one or more of the burner modules 3 if the temperature of the fluid is equal to or higher than the target temperature of the fluid. In an embodiment, the control unit is programmed to control the additional burners and to switch off one or more of the additional burner modules if the temperature of the additional fluid is equal to or higher than a target temperature of the additional fluid.

The heating device comprises a panel on which the user can manually set the number of burner modules 3 he wants to turn on or off. In addition to this, the heating apparatus comprises a panel on which the user can manually set the number of additional burner modules 3A he wants to turn on or off.

The number of burner modules 3 that are switched on (or off) provides a parameter representative of the thermal power provided by the burner. The difference between the target temperature of the fluid (air) and the measured temperature of the fluid (air) provides another parameter representative of the thermal power provided by the burner.

The number of additional burner modules 31 that are switched on (or off) provides a parameter representative of the thermal power provided by the additional burners. The difference between the target temperature of the additional fluid (water) and the measured temperature of the additional fluid (water) provides another parameter representative of the thermal power provided by the additional burner.

The control unit is configured to receive at least one parameter representative of the thermal power provided by the burner and one parameter representative of the thermal power provided by the additional burner.

The control unit is connected to the fan 7 and is configured to control the fan 7 as a function of at least one parameter representative of the thermal power provided by the burner.

Furthermore, the control unit is connected to the additional fan 7A and is configured to control the additional fan 7A as a function of at least one parameter representative of the thermal power provided by the additional burner.

The control unit opens the burner module 3 by opening the gas valve 13 and closes the burner module 3 by closing the gas valve 13. The control unit opens the additional burner module 3A by opening the additional gas valve and closes the additional burner module 3A by closing the additional gas valve.

The utility model discloses a recreational vehicle is covered, this recreational vehicle includes heating device 1, one of the heating unit of description, the heat exchanger of description and/or the heat exchanger of description.

The heating device 1 may be fixed outside the recreational vehicle, for example on the roof of the recreational vehicle.

The present invention also encompasses a method for heating fluid in a recreational vehicle. Exemplary embodiments of preferred methods according to the present invention are described below.

First, a mixture of primary air and combustible gas is received at the inlet port 302 of the conduit 301 of the burner module 3 of the burner. The burner is then open to the combustion chamber 2.

In the next step, the mixture of primary air and combustible gas is drawn into the conduit 301 by the venturi effect.

At the same time, a secondary air flow is provided into the combustion chamber 2 by the fan 7.

Next, a mixture of primary air and combustible gas is combusted in the combustion chamber 2. Thus, the air is pressurized in the supply chamber 8 by the fan 7. The supply chamber 8 communicates with the combustion chamber 2 through the passage 4 and through the conduit 301 to provide said secondary air and primary air.

The supply chamber 8 is at overpressure with respect to both the combustion chamber 2 and the external environment. The secondary air flows from the outside to the duct 301.

The electric plates are intercepted and cooled by the air flowing in the supply chamber 8.

The fluid to be heated is conveyed into the pipe 5 and then the heat of the heated exhaust gas flowing through the gas conduit 60 is transferred to the fluid flowing through the pipe 5.

Furthermore, the present invention encompasses a method for heating air and water in a recreational vehicle. Exemplary embodiments of such methods are described below.

First, a mixture of primary air and combustible gas is received at a burner that is open to the combustion chamber 2. The burner comprises at least one burner module 3.

At the same time, a secondary air flow is provided into the combustion chamber 2.

Then, a mixture of the primary air and the combustible gas is combusted in the combustion chamber 2.

Then, air is delivered into the duct 5, and water is delivered into the additional duct 5A.

Finally, the heat of the heated exhaust gas flowing through the duct 60 of the heat exchanger 6 is transferred to the air flowing through the duct 5.

At the same time, an additional mixture of primary air and combustible gas is received at the inlet of the additional burner, which is open to the additional combustion chamber 2A. The additional burner comprises at least one additional burner module 3A.

An additional secondary air flow is provided into the additional combustion chamber 2A.

The heat of the exhaust gas flowing through the gas conduit 60A of the heat transfer unit 6A is transferred to the water flowing through the heat transfer tank of the additional pipe 5A.

The method comprises the steps of providing a flow of air from the external environment into the at least one delivery nozzle 10, and delivering air from the at least one delivery nozzle 10 to the delivery chamber 8 to provide a flow of primary and secondary air. The method further comprises the step of supplying air from at least one supply nozzle 10 to the additional supply chamber 8A to provide a primary air and an additional secondary air flow of the additional mixture.

Air is supplied to the supply chamber 8 from at least one supply nozzle 10 by means of the fan 7. Air is supplied from at least one supply nozzle 10 to the additional supply chamber 8A by an additional fan 7A. The supply chamber 8 and the additional supply chamber 8A are at an overpressure with respect to the external environment by means of fans.

The exhaust gas and the additional exhaust gas are merged in a single exhaust pipe 11 after flowing through the gas conduit 6 and the gas conduit 6A, respectively. The exhaust gas and the additional exhaust gas are discharged through the exhaust pipe 11 to the outside environment.

At the same time, the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust pipe 11 and the additional exhaust gas release heat to the air flowing into the at least one delivery nozzle 10.

Some further preferred features and some explanations are given below.

Preferably, the burner (burner module 3) is an atmospheric burner; this means that the burner itself does not require a premixing unit for providing the burner itself with a mixture of air and gas to be supplied.

Preferably, the combustor (combustor module 3) is a "vane" or "ramp" combustor, which is a low cost commercial component.

Preferably, the gas injector 9 is located immediately adjacent to the inlet port 302 of the conduit (preferably less than 60 mm, more preferably less than 20 mm from the inlet of the conduit). The conduit 301 preferably has a stretch at its inlet port 302 that is oriented (extended) along a first axis. In an embodiment, the gas injector 9 is oriented along this first axis, substantially aligned with the stretch of the burner positioned near the inlet port 302 of the duct 301.

At the inlet port 302 of the duct 301, (primary) air is naturally sucked together with the gas provided by the syringe 9; thus, a mixture of air and gas is naturally provided at the inlet port 302 of the conduit 301 by the venturi effect.

Preferably, the nozzles (holes 404) provided at the outlet ports 303 of the conduits 301 are oriented on respective second axes. In an embodiment, the second axes of the nozzles are parallel to each other. In another embodiment, the second axis of the nozzle is transverse (perpendicular) to the first axis. In one embodiment, the second axis is oriented in the same plane that includes the first axis.

Primary air is essential for combustion in the flammability range and secondary air is directed to the flame to optimize combustion efficiency, thereby reducing harmful emissions and controlling the temperature of the combustion chamber.

Preferably, the fluid to be heated is breathable air. For breathable air, it is intended to be the air that a person in a recreational vehicle will breathe. Further, the fluid to be heated is water. For water, it is intended that the people in recreational vehicles will be water for sanitary purposes, for cleaning, or for cooking use.

The suction of the primary air is preferably provided naturally by the venturi effect, while the suction of the secondary air is forced by the fan. This combination of natural suction and forced suction increases the efficiency and flexibility of the heating device.

Preferably, transversely to the feeding direction, the feeding chamber has a cross section (dimension) that is significantly larger (e.g. at least 3 times, preferably at least 5 times, for example about ten times larger) than the cross section of the conduit inlet port (for primary air and gas). In a preferred embodiment, the feeding direction is transverse to the first axis along which the inlet of the duct extends.

Preferably, the number of burner modules 3 is greater than the number of additional burner modules 3A.

In a preferred embodiment, in which the fluid is breathable air and the additional fluid is water, the number of burner modules 3 (dedicated to heating the air) is three and the number of additional burner modules 3A (dedicated to heating the water) is one. This embodiment reflects the average requirement for warm air and warm water in recreational vehicles.

The structure of the heating device 1 (with two

different combustion chambers

2 and 2A and two different heat exchangers 6, respectively heat transfer units 6A, one dedicated to water and the other to air) gives the device high flexibility and good efficiency. In fact, it is possible to heat air but not water, and to heat water but not air.

Preferably, the heating device 1 can be fixed on the roof of a recreational vehicle. Such placement outside the recreational vehicle is possible due to the high efficiency of the apparatus 1 and the major horizontal dimensions of the apparatus 1, since the fan is configured to cause the secondary air to flow in a horizontal direction. Such placement outside the recreational vehicle allows for more available locations inside the recreational vehicle.

Preferably, the heating device 1 comprises an automatic frost valve. The automatic anti-icing valve is connected to a water circuit which also comprises additional pipes. The automatic freeze prevention valve is configured to be automatically opened when the recreational vehicle is parked in response to a low temperature detection, thereby allowing water to flow away. This feature avoids ice formation damaging the water circuit. The automatic anti-freeze valve is configured to automatically set back to closed when the water circuit is empty. This feature avoids someone having to close the valve.

Reference numerals

1: heating device

2: combustion chamber

2A: additional combustion chamber

3: burner module

301: catheter tube

302: inlet port

303: outlet port

304: igniter

31: parallel burner module

311: parallel catheter

312: inlet port

313: outlet port

314: igniter

3A: supplementary burner module

301A: additional catheter

302A: inlet port

303A: outlet port

304A: igniter

4: vias

401: wall(s)

402: first side

403: second surface

404: hole(s)

4A: additional vias

401A: additional wall

402A: first side

403A: second surface

5: pipeline

501: inlet port

502: an outlet

503: fluid pump

5A: additional pipe

501A: inlet port

502A: an outlet

503A: additional fluid pump

504A: heat transfer pot

6: heat exchanger

60: gas conduit

601: first heat exchange zone

602: second heat exchange zone

603: air inlet

604: air outlet

6A: heat transfer unit

60A: gas conduit

601A: first heat exchange zone

602A: second heat exchange zone

603A: air inlet

604A: air outlet

7: fan with cooling device

7A: additional fan

8: supply chamber

8A: additional supply chamber

9: gas injector

901: gas tank

9A: additional gas injector

901A: additional gas tank

91: parallel gas injector

10: supply nozzle

11: exhaust pipe

101: main inlet

12: electric board

13: air valve

131: parallel air valve

H: in the horizontal direction

V: in the vertical direction

Claims

1. A heating apparatus for heating water and air in a recreational vehicle, the heating apparatus comprising:

a combustion chamber;

a burner configured to receive a mixture of primary air and a combustible gas and for generating a flame in the combustion chamber;

a passage for providing a secondary air flow into the combustion chamber;

a pipe for conveying air to be heated and an additional pipe for conveying water to be heated;

a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat of exhaust gas flowing through a gas conduit of the heat exchanger to air flowing in the duct,

characterized in that the heating device further comprises:

an additional combustion chamber;

an additional burner configured to receive an additional mixture of primary air and combustible gas and for generating a flame in the additional combustion chamber;

an additional passage for providing an additional secondary air flow into the additional combustion chamber;

an additional heat transfer unit configured to transfer heat of the exhaust gas flowing through the gas conduit of the heat transfer unit to water flowing in the additional pipe.

2. The heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the burner and the additional burner comprises at least one burner module comprising a conduit having an inlet port for receiving a mixture of primary air and combustible gas and an outlet port open to the respective combustion chamber to generate a flame, wherein the conduit is geometrically configured to provide suction of the mixture of primary air and combustible gas by venturi effect.

3. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a supply chamber configured to receive air from an external environment and in fluid communication with the inlet port of the conduit and the passageway to provide the primary air to the burner and the secondary air to the combustion chamber, respectively; an additional supply chamber configured to receive air from an external environment and in fluid communication with the inlet port of the additional conduit and the additional passageway to provide the primary air to the additional burner and the secondary air to the additional combustion chamber, respectively.

4. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a fan configured to push air into the supply chamber;

an additional fan configured to push air into the additional supply chamber.

5. The heating apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that the inlet port of the conduit of the at least one burner module of the burner is positioned inside the supply chamber, and wherein the inlet port of the conduit of the at least one burner module of the additional burner is positioned inside the additional supply chamber.

6. A heating device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 4, further comprising at least one delivery nozzle in fluid communication with the delivery chamber and/or the additional delivery chamber and having a single main inlet open to the external environment.

7. A heating device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an exhaust pipe, wherein both the combustion chamber and the additional combustion chamber are in fluid communication with the exhaust pipe, the exhaust pipe having an end which is open to the external environment.

8. The heating apparatus of claim 7, further comprising at least one delivery nozzle in fluid communication with the delivery chamber and/or the additional delivery chamber and having a single inlet opening to the external environment, wherein an end of the exhaust pipe is at least partially surrounded by the inlet of the at least one delivery nozzle.

9. The heating apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a control unit configured to control and coordinate operation of the burner and the additional burner.

10. Recreational vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a heating device according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 9.