EP4056919A1 - Heating device comprising a gas sensor and method for its operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a heating device (10) and a method for its operation. The heating device (10) has an outer housing (11) which surrounds an installation space (12). The assemblies of the heating device (10), in particular a burner unit (14), a blower (32), a fuel valve (29) and optionally a circulation pump (40), are arranged on and/or in the outer housing (11). At least one of these assemblies has an electrical and/or electronic component (48) on which at least one gas sensor (47) is arranged on the outer housing (11) and/or in the installation space (12) and is set up to generate a sensor signal (S1 to S5 ) describing the presence and/or concentration of at least one gas component in the atmosphere. Based on this, leaks, defects, undesired backflows, etc. can be detected. A corresponding measure can then be initiated, for example issuing a warning message and/or sucking off the atmosphere using the blower (32).

Description

The invention relates to a heating device, for example for heating a heat transfer medium, in particular water. The heating device can be set up to heat a building or part of a building and/or to provide hot water via the heat transfer medium. The hot water can be provided for a kitchen, bathroom, etc. in a building or part of a building.

Out of DE 10 2006 004 506 A1 discloses a heater having a burner assembly and a fan. The fan is located downstream behind the burner unit. A mass flow sensor can be used in an exhaust gas duct, for example for detecting the hydrogen mass flow or the carbon dioxide mass flow. The regulation of the composition of the air-gas mixture that is supplied to the burner unit for combustion can be influenced on the basis of the sensor signal.

A similar heating device is also in DE 10 2011 010 074 A1 described. The heating device is regulated as a function of a sensor which is arranged in an exhaust gas duct.

EP 3 396 248 B1 describes a method for detecting faults in a gas safety valve in heating devices. For this purpose, the mass or volume flow of the supplied combustion air is detected by sensors and the Gradient of the measurement signal formed. The gradient of the measurement signal is then compared with stored gradient curves that characterize errors in the heating device. Based on the comparison, errors should be detected and reported.

EP 3 388 756 A1 discloses a heater having a gas sensor and an earthquake sensor for detecting gas leakage in the event of an earthquake.

In a heating device, a mixture of a fuel and an oxidant, such as air, is supplied to a burner unit and burned. A fossil or non-fossil and preferably gaseous fuel can be used as fuel. For example, natural gas, LPG, syngas, biogas, hydrogen, or any combination thereof can be used as fuel. The fuel supply to a mixing area, where the fuel and the oxidant are mixed, is blocked or released via a fuel valve. The volume or mass flow of the fuel can be set (controlled or regulated) via the fuel valve.

Defects or wear and tear can cause leaks at the fuel valve or at another point in the fuel supply, resulting in fuel escaping. For this reason, the fuel valve is usually replaced preventively after a certain period of operation and/or after a predetermined number of switching operations. This results in a high level of effort and high costs, which such a preventive exchange entails as part of maintenance. Fuel valves are often replaced without hesitation could have been used further. Should a leak occur before or after the fuel valve (eg defective seals), this leak would not be remedied by the preventive replacement of the fuel valve.

It can therefore be regarded as an object of the present invention to provide and operate a heating device which is improved with regard to the costs and the effort involved in maintenance.

This object is achieved by a heating device with the features of patent claim 1 and a method for its operation with the features of patent claim 15.

The heating device according to the invention has an outer housing which surrounds an installation space. The installation space can permit gas exchange with the surroundings of the installation site, ie the outer housing does not have to be gas-tight. A burner unit, a blower and a fuel valve are arranged on and/or in the installation space. The burner unit has a burner and a burner housing into which fuel and an oxidant are premixed for combustion or supplied separately for mixing in the combustion chamber. The oxidant and fuel are mixed in a mixing region, which may be located upstream of the combustor housing or within the combustor housing. For example, air from the environment (installation location inside the building or from outside the building) and/or from the installation space can be sucked in and supplied as the oxidant. For this purpose, the blower is used, which can supply the oxidant and/or a fuel-oxidant mixture. In a fuel line the fuel valve is arranged to affect the fuel supply to the mixing area.

The heating device also has at least one control device. The at least one control device can be arranged in the installation space, on the outer housing or remote from the outer housing outside of the installation space. For example, the at least one control device can have a component control device for the fan and/or for the fuel valve and/or for another component or assembly of the heating device and/or be part of a user interface.

The heating device also has at least one gas sensor. The gas sensor is set up to detect the atmosphere surrounding the outer housing and/or the atmosphere prevailing in the installation space and to generate a sensor signal characterizing the atmosphere. For example, the sensor signal may indicate whether the atmosphere contains one or more gas components to be detected, such as carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide and/or unburned gaseous fuel (natural gas and/or LP gas and/or hydrogen), etc. The gas sensor can also be set up, for example, to generate a sensor signal that enables a determination of the proportion and/or the concentration of the gas component of the atmosphere that is at least to be detected. In this way, in particular, a normal air atmosphere can be distinguished from an atmosphere that also has a gas component in an impermissible concentration.

Optionally, the at least one gas sensor Generate a sensor signal that describes at least one other physical parameter of the atmosphere, such as a barometric pressure and/or a relative humidity and/or a temperature of the atmosphere. Based on this additional physical parameter of the atmosphere, an improved determination of the proportion and/or the concentration of the gas component of the atmosphere that is at least to be detected can be achieved.

The at least one gas sensor can be an MOX semiconductor gas sensor (metal oxide semiconductor gas sensor) and/or a thermal conductivity sensor, by means of which the thermal conductivity of the atmosphere can be determined. Several gas sensors working with different physical principles can also be used. In principle, all known gas sensor types can be used as gas sensors. Depending on the application, it can be advantageous if more than one gas sensor is arranged on the outer housing and/or in the installation space.

The sensor signal from the at least one gas sensor is transmitted to the control device. The control device is set up to evaluate the sensor signal in order to determine whether the sensor-detected property of the atmosphere corresponds to a permissible state or deviates from it. This evaluation can be carried out in a time-controlled manner, for example cyclically, and/or in an event-controlled manner. For example, the evaluation can also be carried out in summer without increased burner operation with longer breaks in operation.

If an unacceptable atmospheric condition is detected, the controller initiates action. For example, an acoustic and/or visual and/or haptic warning signal or warning message can be generated. This warning signal can be transmitted to a remote unit, in particular a mobile unit such as a smartphone, via a communication link, for example. The communication connection can be established via a local network and/or the Internet. Acoustic and/or visual warning signals or warning messages can also be generated by the heating device itself and/or another device of a system networked with the heating device. For example, the loudspeakers and/or warning people of smoke detectors or other warning systems in the building or part of the building can be used to output the warning signal or the warning message.

In addition or as an alternative to issuing a warning message, one measure can consist in using the existing blower to convey the gas mixture forming the atmosphere via the blower into an exhaust gas duct of the heating device (eg chimney). For this purpose, the blower can preferably be operated with the maximum possible delivery rate. In this way, for example, the risk of an ignitable gas mixture being created or maintained in the atmosphere can be reduced. If an impermissible state of the atmosphere is detected, the control device can also be set up to interrupt the fuel supply to the burner by closing the fuel valve and/or to switch off the burner or to keep the fuel valve in the closed state or to keep the burner in the off state. Security can be further increased by one or more of these measures.

The at least one gas sensor makes it possible to detect at least one undesired or impermissibly high proportion of gas components in the atmosphere, which can be detected by the gas sensor or one of the gas sensors that are present. In this way, gaseous fuel escaping accidentally, for example, can be detected at, in front of or behind the fuel valve. It is therefore no longer necessary to preventively replace the fuel valve at an early stage. Rather, a preventive exchange can take place later in time or an exchange or repair can be carried out when a leak has been detected on, in front of or behind the fuel valve.

The at least one gas sensor can also be used to detect other defects or faulty states, for example when exhaust gases flow back through an exhaust gas duct of the heating device. This can be the case in certain error cases or depending on weather conditions or when several heating devices are connected to a common exhaust duct or chimney and one of the heating devices is switched off while other heating devices are in operation. Even in the case of incorrectly installed coaxial exhaust systems, exhaust gases can get into the air supply (fresh air duct). There is also the possibility of detecting outgassing due to defects in existing components or assemblies of the heating device, for example smoldering of electrical and/or electronic components.

Additionally or alternatively, the quality of the oxidant (eg air) supplied to the burner unit can also be detected by means of the at least one gas sensor and evaluated by the control device.

In one embodiment, a fan housing of the fan has at least one housing part made of plastic. The fan housing can consist exclusively of a plastic housing part or be composed of several plastic housing parts. Until now, metallic materials have been used for the blower housing of the blower in order to avoid leaks and a possible gas escape as a result. The inventive detection of gas leaks by means of the at least one gas sensor enables the use of a plastic fan housing and thereby reduces the cost of the fan. This is because gas escaping due to faults or damage to the plastic can be detected. Appropriate action can then be taken, such as closing the gas valve and/or issuing a warning message.

The at least one gas sensor is preferably set up to detect one or more of the following gas components in the atmosphere: oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ethane, methane, propane, propene, butane, butene, isobutane, isobutene, other hydrocarbon compounds, hydrogen and gas mixtures, containing one or more of the gas components mentioned.

The fuel can be supplied to the burner in liquid or gaseous form.

At least one of the existing gas sensors or all of the existing gas sensors are preferably arranged within the installation space.

At least one of the existing gas sensors or all existing gas sensors are arranged on an electrical and/or electronic component of the heating device that is present in any case, for example on a carrier (in particular printed circuit board) or on a housing of the electrical and/or electronic component of the heating device. The gas sensor can be connected wirelessly to the electrical and/or electronic component. "Wireless" here does not mean a wireless connection, but a galvanic connection without the use of an additional, separate cable. The connection is preferably made by conductor tracks on a carrier (eg printed circuit board) of the electrical and/or electronic component. For example, in one embodiment, the at least one gas sensor can be mounted directly on the carrier or the printed circuit board of the electrical and/or electronic component and electrically connected to at least one conductor track, for example by means of a soldered connection. The at least one gas sensor can be designed, for example, as a so-called SMD component ("Surface Mounted Device").

It is also advantageous if the electrical and/or electronic component is part of a higher-level control device or the blower or the fuel valve or an optionally available circulating pump. The electrical and/or electronic component can be part of a component control device, for example, in particular a fan control device or a valve control device or a pump control device, or a higher-level control device. The higher-level control device can in turn be communicatively connected to the blower control device and/or the valve control device and/or the pump controller.

Arranging the at least one gas sensor on an existing electrical and/or electronic component simplifies installation and reduces costs. In particular, there is no wiring of the sensor within the installation space. At least one gas sensor can be arranged on one or more separate electrical and/or electronic components.

It can be advantageous to arrange a plurality of gas sensors at different spatial positions on the outer housing or in the installation space, so that the atmosphere can be detected at different spatial locations. As a result, for example, different gas components in the atmosphere that have different densities can be recognized better or more quickly. Gas components with a lower density than air can collect in the installation space at the top and gas components with a greater density than air can collect in the installation space at the bottom. By arranging several gas sensors vertically at a distance from one another in the installation space, gas components with lower and higher densities than air can be detected more quickly in this way.

It can be advantageous to arrange the gas sensor or one of the multiple gas sensors in a flow generated by the fan. This flow can in particular be an air flow of the ambient air.

In a preferred embodiment of the heating device, the fan has a main rotor for generating the flow of the oxidant or a fuel-oxidant gas mixture and a cooling rotor for generating a cooling flow for an electrical and/or electronic component of the fan. Both the flow of the oxidant and the cooling flow can preferably be an air flow of the ambient air. The atmosphere in the installation space or in the area surrounding the outer housing can be swirled by the blower, so that any gas components whose density differs from the density of the air can be better recognized.

It is advantageous if the control device is set up to switch on the blower before and/or during the measurement of the atmosphere by means of the gas sensor or—if it is already switched on—to leave it switched on. For example, the fan may be turned on when the heater is off, such as on a warm summer day. The atmosphere in the area of the gas sensor is swirled by the blower and the detection of unwanted gas components in the atmosphere is improved. Even when the heating device is switched off, gas can escape, for example due to a defect, such as a leak in the fuel valve, which can be detected and reported by the at least one gas sensor.

As already explained, if an impermissible state of the atmosphere is detected, a warning message can be generated and/or the fan can be operated to extract the atmosphere into an exhaust gas duct.

Advantageous configurations of the invention result from the dependent patent claims, the description and the drawings. The following are preferred Embodiments of the invention are explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings show:

figures 1 and 2 each a schematic block diagram-like representation of an embodiment of a heating device,

figure 3 a flowchart of an embodiment of a method according to the invention and

figure 4 a schematic, block diagram-like representation of an embodiment of a fan that can be used in the heating device, in particular the heating device according to FIG figure 1 or 2 .

In figure 1 A block diagram of one embodiment of a heater 10 is illustrated. The heating device 10 has an outer housing 11 which surrounds an installation space 12 . The outer housing 11 separates the installation space 12 from an external environment 13 at the installation site of the outer housing 11, for example, at least not completely gas-tight. A gas exchange between the external environment 13 and the installation space 12 is thus possible.

A burner unit 14 is arranged in the installation space 12 . The burner unit 14 has a burner housing 15 in which a combustion chamber 16 is located. A mixture of a fuel B and an oxidant, for example air L, is burned in the combustion chamber 16 by means of a burner 17, resulting in a hot exhaust gas flow. The hot exhaust gas stream flows along at least one and, for example, two heat exchanger units 18 connected in series, 19. The first heat exchanger unit 18 is arranged downstream of the combustion chamber 16 in a first zone 20 and the second heat exchanger unit 19 is arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger unit in a second zone 21 within the burner housing 15 . In this case, the direction of flow is related to the flow of exhaust gas that is formed in the combustion chamber 16 . The exhaust gas flow gives off heat to a heat transfer medium W via the heat exchanger units 18 , 19 . Downstream of the second zone 21 an exhaust gas duct opens into the burner housing 15 so that exhaust gases A of the exhaust gas flow from the second zone 21 are discharged from the burner housing 15 via the exhaust gas duct 22 . In the lower area of the second zone 21, a drain line 23 for condensate K is connected to the burner housing 15 in order to drain condensate K out of the burner housing 15.

The heater 10 according to FIG figure 1 has a burner unit 14 that works according to the condensing principle. Other burner units 14 can also be used.

The burner 17 is fluidically connected to a fuel line 28 . A fuel valve 29 is located in the fuel line 28 within the installation space 12. The fuel valve 29 has an electrically controllable valve control device 30, by means of which the passage opening of the fuel valve 29 can be opened or closed and preferably the desired flow cross section can be adjusted. The supply of the fuel B can be enabled or blocked and preferably the quantity of the fuel B (volume or mass flow) flowing through the fuel line 28 to a mixing area 27 can be influenced. The mixing area 27 is arranged upstream of the combustion chamber 16 in this exemplary embodiment (premix). The fuel valve 29 can be actuated, for example, electrically and/or pneumatically.

The oxidant is supplied to the mixing area 27 via a supply opening or a supply channel 31 . According to the example, the oxidant is air L, which is drawn in from the installation space 12 and/or the environment 13 by means of a blower 32 . The air can be drawn in from the room air in the building or independently of the room air by means of an external inflow line from outside the building. Alternatively, oxygen or an oxygen-air mixture could also be used as the oxidant.

The blower 32 has a blower control device 33 . In the exemplary embodiment, the blower control device 33 is set up to control a motor operating state of a blower motor 34 . At least one parameter of the flow of the air L or the fuel-air mixture can be influenced via the fan control device 33, for example the pressure downstream of the fan 32 and/or the volume flow and/or the mass flow of the flow.

The fan 32 has a fan housing 32a, which encloses the flow path for the air L or the fuel-air mixture. In the exemplary embodiments described here, the fan housing 32a can consist of one or more housing parts made of plastic. The entire fan housing 32a can thus consist at least largely or entirely of plastic. Any fasteners used, such as screws, can also be made of a different material.

At the in figure 1 In the embodiment illustrated, the air flows past an outlet opening of the fuel line 28 and in the process also sucks in fuel B, which is mixed with the air L (or alternatively another oxidant) in the mixing region 27 . The fuel-air mixture is conveyed further to the burner 17 by means of the blower 32 and burned in the combustion chamber 16 .

In the figure 2 illustrated embodiment of the heater 10 operates without premixing. The fuel B and the air L (or alternatively another oxidant) are supplied separately to the combustion chamber 16 and mixed in the mixing area 27 which is arranged in the combustion chamber 16 here. The way in which the fuel and/or the oxidant is supplied and how they are mixed can vary depending on the design of the heating device 10 and, in principle, can be chosen arbitrarily.

The heating device has a supply line 38 connected to the at least one heat exchanger unit 18, 19 and a return line 39. In the exemplary embodiment, the feed line 38 is connected to the first heat exchanger unit 18 downstream of the direction of flow of the heat transfer medium W. The return line 39 is connected to the second heat exchanger unit 19 upstream of the direction of flow of the heat transfer medium W. In the exemplary embodiment, a circulating pump 40 can optionally be arranged in the feed line 38 or the return line 39 . The circulating pump 40 has a pump motor 41 and/or at least one other controllable pump component, which is controlled by a pump control device 42 . The circulation pump 40 can at an alternative Embodiment also omitted.

To form a heating circuit 43 in which the heat transfer medium W can circulate, a heat dissipation arrangement 44 is fluidically connected to the inlet line 38 and the return line 39 . The heat dissipation arrangement 44 can have radiators and/or heating coils of a surface heating system, for example underfloor heating, and the like. The heat transfer medium W flows through the heating circuit 43 from the first heat exchanger unit 18 via the feed line 38 to the heat dissipation arrangement 44. Heat is given off there and the heat transfer medium W cools down. The cooled heat transfer medium W flows back to the second heat exchanger unit 19 via the return line 39 and from there via a fluidic connection to the first heat exchanger unit 18. The heating device 10 can additionally or optionally also be set up to heat water, for example drinking water.

As an alternative to the illustrated embodiments, it is also possible to arrange one or more components of the heating device 10 at least partially outside of the installation space 12 . For example, the fan 32 and/or the fuel valve 29 and/or the circulating pump 40 can be arranged on the outer housing 11 .

The heating device 10 also has an operator interface 45. An operator can obtain information and/or enter or select data via the operator interface 45. For example, the user interface 45 can have a display and at least one input field. The display and the input field can be constructed as a unit in the form of a touch-sensitive screen be trained. The user interface 45 can also have acoustic output means and keys or buttons as input means. The operating interface 45 is preferably arranged on the outer housing 11 so that it is accessible from the outside at least on one operating side, with parts of the operating interface 45 being arranged in the installation space 12 .

In the illustrated embodiment, the heater 10 also includes a master controller 46 . The higher-level control device 46 is communicatively connected to the blower control device 33 and/or the valve control device 30 and/or the pump control device 42 and/or the operating interface 45, for example via a data bus. In the illustrated embodiment, the higher-level controller 46 generates a first output signal O1 for the fan controller 33 and/or a second output signal O2 for the valve controller 30 and/or a third output signal O3 for the pump controller 42 and/or a fourth output signal O4 for the user interface 45. In addition, the higher-level control device 46 can receive input signals, for example an input signal I from the user interface 45.

The higher-level control device 46 can also be designed to be integrated together with one of the other control devices 30 , 33 , 42 or the operating interface 45 .

At least one gas sensor 47 is arranged on the outer housing 11 and/or in the installation space 12 . In the schematic in figures 1 and 2 shown embodiments are in several gas sensors and, for example, six gas sensors 47 are illustrated in the installation space 12 . The number of gas sensors 47 and their installation location on or in the outer housing 11 can vary. The gas sensor 47 is preferably connected wirelessly (without a separate cable) to the communication connection between the higher-level control device 46 and the at least one further control device 30, 33, 42 or the operating interface 45. This takes place in that the one gas sensor 47 or one of a plurality of gas sensors 47 present is arranged on or on an electrical and/or electronic component 48 in the installation space 12 . For example, the gas sensor 47 can be arranged directly on a carrier, in particular a printed circuit board, of an electrical and/or electronic component 48 . The electrical and/or electronic component is part of the heating device 10 anyway and can, for example, be part of the fan 32, the fuel valve 29, the circulation pump 40, one or more of their control devices 30, 33, 42 or any combination thereof. The at least one gas sensor 47 can additionally or alternatively be arranged on or in the operating interface 45 or directly on the higher-level control device 46 . For example, it is possible to design the at least one gas sensor 47 as an SMD component.

Each existing gas sensor 47 is set up to generate a sensor signal S1 to S5, which is provided to the higher-level control device 46, for example via the existing communication link. The sensor signal S1 to S5 of the at least one gas sensor 47 can be transmitted to one or more or all existing control devices. For example, can in different control devices 46, 30, 33, 42 different evaluations of the relevant sensor signal S1 to S5 are carried out. Additionally or alternatively, sensor signals from different gas sensors 47 can be transmitted to different control devices 46, 30, 33, 42.

The sensor signal S1 to S5 describes at least one property of the atmosphere in the installation space 12 and/or in the environment 13 of the outer housing 11. Each gas sensor 47 is set up to detect one or more types of gas in the atmosphere. In the simplest case, the gas sensor 47 can indicate the presence of a relevant type of gas in the atmosphere. It is also possible that the gas sensor 47 additionally or alternatively generates a sensor signal S1 to S5 which is characteristic of a ratio of several gas components in the atmosphere to one another and/or a proportion of a gas type in relation to the overall composition of the atmosphere, etc. Optionally the at least one gas sensor 47 generate a sensor signal S1 to S5 which describes at least one physical parameter of the atmosphere, such as a barometric pressure and/or a relative humidity and/or a temperature of the atmosphere.

The at least one gas sensor 47 can be arranged at different installation locations in the installation space 12 . The installation location can be chosen depending on the gas component of the atmosphere, for example, which is to be detected by the gas sensor 47 . If a gas component is to be detected whose density is lower than the density of air, the relevant gas sensor 47 is preferably arranged in the upper area of the installation space 12 . If a gas component is to be detected whose density is greater than the density of air, the gas sensor 47 is preferably arranged in the lower area of the installation space 12 . A plurality of gas sensors 47 for detecting different gas components can be arranged at different installation locations.

As is shown schematically in the figures 1 and 2 is illustrated, a gas sensor 47 can also be arranged independently of an electrical and/or electronic component 48 in or on the outer housing 11 .

It is pointed out again that the figures 1 and 2 illustrated number of gas sensors 47 and their respective spatial installation location in relation to the outer housing 11 is exemplary. The at least one gas sensor 47 is preferably arranged in combination with an electrical and/or electronic component 48 in installation space 12, for example on an existing control device, such as fan control device 33, valve control device 30 or pump control device 42.

like it in figure 4 As illustrated, the blower 32 can have a main rotor 52 and optionally additionally a cooling rotor 53 . The two rotors 52, 53 are driven by the common fan motor 34. During rotation, the main rotor 52 generates the flow of the oxidant, for example the air L, while the cooling rotor 53 generates a cooling flow C, which is used to cool the fan control device 33 and/or to circulate the air to a gas sensor 47 arranged there.

like it out figure 3 and also off figures 1 and 2 shows, the gas sensor 47 can be arranged within the flow of the oxidant (air L) and/or within the cooling flow C. During the operation of the fan 32, the atmosphere in the installation space 12 is swirled, so that its gas components mix better, especially if they have significantly different densities. By arranging the at least one gas sensor 47 in a flow generated by the blower 32, its gas components, which are to be detected by the relevant gas sensor 47, can be detected faster and better. It can therefore be advantageous to arrange at least one gas sensor 47 in the cooling flow C or in the flow of air L into the burner housing 15 or into the combustion chamber 16 . In addition, one or more further gas sensors 47 can be present.

According to the example, the higher-level control device 46 is set up to check whether the state of the atmosphere detected by the at least one gas sensor 47 is permissible or impermissible. If there is no higher-level control device 46 in one embodiment, this function can also be taken over by another existing control device, for example the fan control device 33, the valve control device 30 or the pump control device 42. A permissible state of the atmosphere is recognized if the atmosphere does not contain any undesired gas components that occur in a concentration above a predetermined limit value assigned to the gas component. For example, an acceptable atmosphere is recognized if it has components in concentrations that are in the range of the normal air atmosphere in a building or part of a building lie. If the atmosphere has undesirable levels of one or more constituent gases (eg, CO ₂ , CO, unburned gaseous fuel, etc.), this can be detected.

In figure 3 is an example of a flowchart for a process sequence illustrated that the higher-level control device 46 - or optionally one of the other control devices - can run.

After the start of the method in the first method step V1, a current measured value, which describes the atmosphere, is read in a second method step V2. For this purpose, a corresponding sensor signal S1 to S5 is read in by one or more gas sensors 47 . Based on the sensor signal S1 to S5, it is then determined whether the state of the atmosphere is permissible or not (third method step V3). For this purpose, for example, a threshold value comparison or a comparison with a permissible range of values can be carried out. In this comparison, if there are several gas sensors 47, different threshold values or permissible value ranges can be assigned to the various sensor signals S1 to S5. Instead of at least one threshold value, characteristic curves, characteristic diagrams, look-up tables or the like can also be used, which take into account other parameters in addition to the measured value or sensor signal S1 to S5, for example the current operating state of heating device 10.

If it is determined in the third method step V3 that the atmosphere is normal and therefore within a permissible range (branch OK from the third method step V3), the method is continued again in the second method step V2.

If, on the other hand, an impermissible state of the atmosphere is detected, for example because the atmosphere contains impermissible concentrations of a gas component (NOK branch from the third method step V3), the method continues in a fourth method step V4 and a measure is taken as a reaction to the detected impermissible state of the atmosphere introduced.

Initiating an action may include generating and transmitting an alert. For example, such a warning message can be output to an external unit, in particular a mobile unit such as a smartphone. The transmission can take place via a local network and/or the Internet and/or a telephone connection. The warning message can be of any type, for example acoustically and/or optically and/or haptically.

Such a warning message can also be issued locally in a building or part of a building, for example through the operating interface 45 of the heating device 10. If the heating device 10 is part of a networked system, other system participants can also issue the warning message acoustically and/or visually, for example those present in the system Smoke detectors, warning lights, warning loudspeakers, etc.

As an alternative and preferably additional measure, the heating device 10 can be brought into a predetermined operating state. In this operating state, the fan 32 can be operated, but the burner unit be taken out of service. For this purpose, the fuel valve 29 can be closed so that no fuel B is delivered to the burner 17 . In addition, ignition of combustion at the burner 17 can be suppressed. In this operating state, the gas atmosphere in the installation space 12 is drawn in and conveyed to the outside via the exhaust gas duct 22 . This can reduce the risk of an ignitable gas atmosphere forming in the installation space 12 or the surroundings 13 .

The atmosphere check can be time-controlled and/or event-controlled. This check can also be carried out when the heating device 10 is not in operation, for example on warm summer days when no heating is required. It is possible to turn on the blower 32 for a predetermined period of time before and/or during the measurement of the atmosphere by the at least one gas sensor 47 in order to swirl and mix the atmosphere so that improved detection can be ensured. This is particularly advantageous when at least one gas sensor is arranged in the flow of air L and/or in the cooling flow C ( figure 4 ).

The invention relates to a heating device 10 and a method for its operation. The heating device 10 has an outer housing 11 which surrounds an installation space 12 . The assemblies of the heating device 10 are arranged in or on the outer housing 11, in particular a burner unit 14, a blower 32, a fuel valve 29 and optionally a circulation pump 40. At least one of these assemblies has at least one electrical and/or electronic component 48. On one or more of the already existing electrical and/or electronic components 48, at least one gas sensor 47 is arranged on the outer housing 11 and/or in the installation space 12, in particular on the carrier or the printed circuit board of the relevant electrical and/or electronic component 48. The at least one gas sensor 47 is set up to to generate a sensor signal S1 to S5 which describes the presence and/or the concentration of at least one gas component in the atmosphere. Based on this, leaks, defects, undesired backflows, etc. can be detected. A corresponding measure can then be initiated, for example issuing a warning message and/or extracting the atmosphere using the blower 32.

Reference list:

10

heating device

11

outer case

12

installation space

13

outer environment

14

burner unit

15

burner housing

16

combustion chamber

17

burner

18

first heat exchanger unit

19

second heat exchanger unit

20

first zone

21

second zone

22

exhaust duct

23

drain line

27

mixing area

28

fuel line

29

fuel valve

30

valve control device

31

feed channel

32

fan

32a

blower housing

33

blower control device

34

blower motor

38

inlet line

39

return line

40

circulation pump

41

pump motor

42

pump controller

43

heating circuit

44

heat dissipation arrangement

45

operator interface

46

higher-level control device

47

gas sensor

48

electrical and/or electronic component

52

main rotor

53

cooling rotor

A

exhaust

B

fuel

C

cooling flow

I

input signal

K

condensate

L

Air

O1

first output signal

O2

second output signal

O3

third output signal

O4

fourth output signal

S1

first sensor signal

S2

second sensor signal

S3

third sensor signal

S4

fourth sensor signal

S5

fifth sensor signal

V1

first step in the process

v2

second process step

V3

third step

V4

fourth step

W

heat transfer medium

Claims (16)

Heating device (10) comprising: - an outer housing (11) which encloses an installation space (12), - a burner unit (14) arranged on the outer housing (11) and/or in the installation space (12) and having a burner (17) and a burner housing (15), - A fuel valve (29) arranged on the outer housing (11) and/or in the installation space (12), which is arranged in a fuel line (28) and is set up to supply a fuel (B) via the fuel line (28) into a to influence the mixing area (27), - A fan (32) arranged on the outer housing (11) and/or in the installation space (12), which is set up to generate a flow of an oxidant (L) and/or a fuel-oxidant mixture into the mixing region (27). , - at least one control device (46, 30, 33, 42), - at least one gas sensor (47) which is arranged on an electrical and/or electronic component (48) of the heating device (10) on the outer housing (11) and/or in the installation space (12) and is set up to generate a sensor signal (S1-S5 ) that describes an atmosphere surrounding the outer housing (11) and/or an atmosphere prevailing in the installation space (12), and to provide the sensor signal (S1-S5) to the control device (46, 30, 33, 42), which is set up for this purpose is to initiate an action if based on the sensor signal (S1-S5) it is determined that the atmosphere deviates from a permissible state. Heating device according to Claim 1, in which the electrical and/or electronic component (48) has a carrier on which the gas sensor (47) is arranged. Heating device according to claim 2, wherein the gas sensor (47) is wirelessly connected to the electrical and/or electronic component (48). Heating device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component (48) is arranged in the installation space (12). Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component (48) is part of the at least one control device (46, 30, 33, 42). Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component (48) is part of the fan (32). Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component (48) is part of the fuel valve (29). Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, also having a circulating pump (40), the electrical and/or electronic component (48) being part of the circulating pump (40). Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blower (32) has a main rotor (52) for generating the flow of the oxidant (L) and a cooling rotor (53) for generating a cooling flow (C) for an electrical and/or electronic component (48 ) of the blower (32). Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the existing gas sensors (47) is arranged in the flow (L, C) generated by the fan (32). Heating device according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the existing gas sensors (47) is arranged in the flow of the oxidant (L) generated by the blower (32) and the control device (46, 30, 33, 42) is set up to monitor the quality of the Assess oxidant (L). Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (46, 30, 33, 42) is arranged to switch on the blower (32) before and/or during the measurement of the atmosphere by means of the gas sensor (47) or to leave it switched on, independently whether the burner (17) is in operation. Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the control device (46, 30, 33, 42) is set up to issue a warning message as a measure in the event of an impermissible state of the atmosphere. Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (46, 30, 33, 42) is set up to operate the blower (32) as a measure in the event of an impermissible state of the atmosphere in order to draw off a flow of the atmosphere out of the installation space (12). to effect in an exhaust duct (22). A heater as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fan (32) includes a fan housing (32a) which encloses a flow path through the fan (32) and which includes at least one plastic housing member. Method for operating a heating device (10), wherein the heating device (10) has an outer housing (11) enclosing an installation space (12), a burner unit (14) with a burner (17) and a burner housing (15), a fan (32) , a fuel valve (29), at least one control device (46, 30, 33, 42), and at least one gas sensor (47) which is mounted on an electrical and/or electronic component (48) of the heating device (10) on the outer housing (11) and/or is arranged in the installation space (12), the method comprising: - Generating a sensor signal (S1-S5) by means of the at least one gas sensor (47), which describes an atmosphere surrounding the outer housing (11) and/or an atmosphere prevailing in the installation space (12), - Providing the sensor signal (S1-S5) for the control device (46, 30, 33, 42), - Evaluation of the sensor signal (S1-S5) by means of the control device (46, 30, 33, 42) and initiation of a measure if it is determined based on the sensor signal (S1-S5) that the atmosphere deviates from a permissible state.

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