EP4191134A2 - Dispositif pour déterminer le temps d'apparition de flamme le plus precoce dans un appareil de combustion de mélange air-gaz - Google Patents

Dispositif pour déterminer le temps d'apparition de flamme le plus precoce dans un appareil de combustion de mélange air-gaz Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4191134A2
EP4191134A2 EP22202351.7A EP22202351A EP4191134A2 EP 4191134 A2 EP4191134 A2 EP 4191134A2 EP 22202351 A EP22202351 A EP 22202351A EP 4191134 A2 EP4191134 A2 EP 4191134A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
gas
air
flame
burning
unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22202351.7A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP4191134A3 (fr
Inventor
Tom Collins
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bosch Thermotechnology Ltd
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Bosch Thermotechnology Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bosch Thermotechnology Ltd filed Critical Bosch Thermotechnology Ltd
Publication of EP4191134A2 publication Critical patent/EP4191134A2/fr
Publication of EP4191134A3 publication Critical patent/EP4191134A3/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
    • F23N5/24—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23D—BURNERS
    • F23D14/00—Burners for combustion of a gas, e.g. of a gas stored under pressure as a liquid
    • F23D14/46—Details, e.g. noise reduction means
    • F23D14/72—Safety devices, e.g. operative in case of failure of gas supply
    • F23D14/725—Protection against flame failure by using flame detection devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23D—BURNERS
    • F23D14/00—Burners for combustion of a gas, e.g. of a gas stored under pressure as a liquid
    • F23D14/46—Details, e.g. noise reduction means
    • F23D14/72—Safety devices, e.g. operative in case of failure of gas supply
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N1/00—Regulating fuel supply
    • F23N1/002—Regulating fuel supply using electronic means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
    • F23N5/003—Systems for controlling combustion using detectors sensitive to combustion gas properties
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
    • F23N5/20—Systems for controlling combustion with a time programme acting through electrical means, e.g. using time-delay relays
    • F23N5/203—Systems for controlling combustion with a time programme acting through electrical means, e.g. using time-delay relays using electronic means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
    • F23N5/24—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements
    • F23N5/242—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements using electronic means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23K—FEEDING FUEL TO COMBUSTION APPARATUS
    • F23K2900/00—Special features of, or arrangements for fuel supplies
    • F23K2900/05002—Valves for gaseous fuel supply lines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2227/00—Ignition or checking
    • F23N2227/02—Starting or ignition cycles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2229/00—Flame sensors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2231/00—Fail safe
    • F23N2231/06—Fail safe for flame failures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2231/00—Fail safe
    • F23N2231/10—Fail safe for component failures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2231/00—Fail safe
    • F23N2231/12—Fail safe for ignition failures

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air-gas mixture burning appliance.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance comprises a controller, a burning unit for burning a combustible air-gas mixture, a flame detector for sensing a presence of a flame in the burning unit, an air-gas mixing unit that is arranged upstream of the burning unit and is adapted for mixing of air and gas to form the combustible air-gas mixture, and a gas valve that is arranged upstream of the air-gas mixing unit and is adapted for regulating a flow of the gas to the air-gas mixing unit.
  • the present invention relates to a method of operating an air-gas mixture burning appliance that comprises a controller, a burning unit for burning a combustible air-gas mixture, a flame detector for sensing a presence of a flame in the burning unit, an air-gas mixing unit that is arranged upstream of the burning unit and is adapted for mixing of air and gas to form the combustible air-gas mixture, and a gas valve that is arranged upstream of the air-gas mixing unit and is adapted for regulating a flow of the gas to the air-gas mixing unit.
  • an air-gas mixture burning appliance having a burning unit, a flame detector, an air-gas mixing unit, and a gas valve is known. More specifically, known air-gas mixture burning appliances usually mix air and gas directly before the burning unit. During the ignition phase, the combustible air-gas mixture enters the burning unit where it is ignited. However, internal leakage, which is sometimes also referred to as "let-by", of a closed gas valve can lead to a hazardous accumulation of gas within the air-gas mixture burning appliance.
  • gas refers to any fuel in gaseous form that, when mixed with air, forms a combustible air-gas mixture.
  • gases include hydrogen, propane, butane, methane, liquefied petroleum gas, etc.
  • air refers to any suitable oxidizer that may be mixed with a fuel gas to form a combustible air-gas mixture.
  • the present invention relates to an air-gas mixture burning appliance, comprising a burning unit for burning a combustible air-gas mixture, a flame detector for sensing a presence of a flame in the burning unit, an air-gas mixing unit that is arranged upstream of the burning unit and is adapted for mixing of air and gas to form the combustible air-gas mixture, a gas valve that is arranged upstream of the air-gas mixing unit and is adapted for regulating a flow of the gas to the air-gas mixing unit, and a controller that is adapted for determining an earliest flame appearance time for an ignition phase of the burning unit by selecting from at least two different durations of time, wherein the controller determines the earliest flame appearance time as an anticipated minimum duration of time that elapses between an opening of the gas valve and the flame detector sensing the presence of a flame in the burning unit.
  • the inventive air-gas mixture burning appliance may be able to predict the time that elapses before a flame is established in the burning unit.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance further comprises a secured gas pathway that is arranged between the gas valve and the air-gas mixing unit and is adapted for providing the gas from the gas valve to the air-gas mixing unit, and wherein the controller determines the earliest flame appearance time based on an inferred concentration of the gas in the secured gas pathway.
  • the controller can select the earliest flame appearance time based on whether the secured gas pathway is already filled with a gas or whether the secured gas pathway is filled with air at the beginning of the ignition phase.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance further comprises a gas valve leak detector that is adapted for detecting a leak of the gas valve during the ignition phase of the burning unit based on measuring a measured duration of time between the opening of the gas valve and the flame detector sensing the presence of a flame in the burning unit, and checking that the measured duration of time is shorter than the determined earliest flame appearance time.
  • a gas valve leak detector that is adapted for detecting a leak of the gas valve during the ignition phase of the burning unit based on measuring a measured duration of time between the opening of the gas valve and the flame detector sensing the presence of a flame in the burning unit, and checking that the measured duration of time is shorter than the determined earliest flame appearance time.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance may be able to detect a leaky gas valve without using an additional sensing device.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance further comprises a gas valve leak handling device that, in response to the gas valve leak detector detecting a current leak of the gas valve, is adapted for signalling the current leak of the gas valve and for putting the air-gas mixture burning appliance in at least one of a safe state, a non-operational state, or a restricted performance state.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance can react to a leaky gas valve and ensure a safe operation.
  • the gas valve is shut off periodically for a predetermined period of time to provide the gas valve leak detector an opportunity for detecting a leak of the gas valve.
  • a leaky gas valve may be detected early.
  • the controller determines the earliest flame appearance time based at least on the type of the gas.
  • the inventive air-gas mixture burning appliance may be operated with different gas types.
  • the controller determines the earliest flame appearance time based at least on an elapsed time since the flame detector previously sensed a flame in the burning unit.
  • the inventive air-gas mixture burning appliance may reliably predict the concentration of the gas in the secured gas pathway at the beginning of the ignition phase.
  • the controller determines the earliest flame appearance time by selecting from a continuous range of values, wherein all values in the continuous range of values are greater than a predetermined minimum earliest flame appearance time.
  • the controller may fine-tune the earliest flame appearance time and react to the combination of multiple parameters that may have an influence on the earliest flame appearance time.
  • the invention allows for the detection of leaks from the gas valve into the secured gas way without the need for a gas sensor.
  • a method of operating an air-gas mixture burning appliance that comprises a burning unit for burning a combustible air-gas mixture, a flame detector for sensing a presence of a flame in the burning unit, an air-gas mixing unit that is arranged upstream of the burning unit and is adapted for mixing of air and gas to form the combustible air-gas mixture, and a gas valve that is arranged upstream of the air-gas mixing unit and is adapted for regulating a flow of the gas to the air-gas mixing unit, comprises a determining step, comprising determining with a controller, an earliest flame appearance time for an ignition phase of the burning unit by determining an anticipated minimum duration of time that elapses between an opening of the gas valve and the flame detector sensing the presence of a flame in the burning unit.
  • the inventive air-gas mixture burning appliance may be able to predict the minimum time that elapses before a flame is established in the burning unit.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance further comprises a secured gas pathway that is arranged between the gas valve and the air-gas mixing unit, and the determining step further comprises determining, with the controller, the earliest flame appearance time based on an inferred concentration of the gas in the secured gas pathway.
  • the controller can select the earliest flame appearance time based on whether the secured gas pathway is already filled with a gas or whether the secured gas pathway is filled with air at the beginning of the ignition phase.
  • the method may further include a detecting step, comprising detecting, with a gas valve leak detector, a leak of the gas valve during the ignition phase of the burning unit by measuring a measured duration of time between the opening of the gas valve and the flame detector sensing the presence of a flame in the burning unit, and checking that this measured duration of time is shorter than the determined earliest flame appearance time.
  • a detecting step comprising detecting, with a gas valve leak detector, a leak of the gas valve during the ignition phase of the burning unit by measuring a measured duration of time between the opening of the gas valve and the flame detector sensing the presence of a flame in the burning unit, and checking that this measured duration of time is shorter than the determined earliest flame appearance time.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance may be able to detect a leaky gas valve without using an additional sensing device.
  • the method may further include a handling step, comprising responding to the leak of the gas valve with a gas valve leak handling device by signalling the leak of the gas valve and accordingly putting the air-gas mixture burning appliance in one or more of a safe state, a non-operational state, or a restricted performance state.
  • a handling step comprising responding to the leak of the gas valve with a gas valve leak handling device by signalling the leak of the gas valve and accordingly putting the air-gas mixture burning appliance in one or more of a safe state, a non-operational state, or a restricted performance state.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance can react to a leaky gas valve and ensure a safe operation.
  • the determining step may further comprise determining the earliest flame appearance time based on at least the type of gas.
  • the inventive air-gas mixture burning appliance may be operated with different gas types.
  • the determining step may further comprise determining the earliest flame appearance time based at least on an elapsed time since the flame detector previously sensed a flame in the burning unit.
  • the inventive air-gas mixture burning appliance may reliably predict the concentration of the gas in the secured gas pathway at the beginning of the ignition phase.
  • the determining step may further comprise determining the earliest flame appearance time by selecting from a continuous range of values, wherein all values in the continuous range of values are greater than a predetermined minimum earliest flame appearance time.
  • the controller may fine-tune the earliest flame appearance time and react to the combination of multiple parameters that may have an influence on the earliest flame appearance time.
  • Fig. 1 shows an exemplary air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 with a burning unit 120 for burning a combustible air-gas mixture 130, an air-gas mixing unit 110, a gas valve 194, a flame detector 150, and a controller 140.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 may be used in a boiler or, more generally, in a building heating system.
  • the air-gas mixing unit 110 is arranged upstream of the burning unit 120 and is adapted for mixing of air 111 and gas 119 to form the combustible air-gas mixture 130.
  • the combustible air-gas mixture 130 is a homogenous mixture of the air 111 and the gas 119.
  • the air-gas mixing unit 110 includes an air supply unit and a gas supply unit.
  • the air supply unit includes a fan 114 that may be operated with an adaptable fan speed and/or within predetermined ranges of fan speeds to draw and/or push air 111 into the air-gas mixing unit 110.
  • the gas supply unit may include the gas valve 194.
  • the gas valve 194 is arranged upstream of the air-gas mixing unit 110 and is adapted for regulating a flow of the gas 119 to the air-gas mixing unit 110.
  • a secured gas pathway 116 is arranged between the gas valve 194 and the air-gas mixing unit 110 and is adapted for providing the gas 119 from the gas valve 194 to the air-gas mixing unit 110.
  • the air supply unit and the gas supply unit may be interconnected via a mixer 118 which forms a corresponding discrete point of mixing.
  • the combustible air-gas mixture 130 is formed at the discrete point of mixing and guided via the mixer 118 and the combustible air-gas pathway 132 to the burning unit 120.
  • the burning unit 120 is provided with a burner surface 124 that is arranged downstream of the air-gas mixing unit 110 such that the combustible air-gas mixture 130 flows towards the burner surface 124.
  • the combustible air-gas mixture 130 is burned by the burning unit 120 and, more specifically, at the burner surface 124.
  • the combustible air-gas mixture 130 from the air-gas mixing unit 110 may be ignited in the burning unit 120 at the burner surface 124.
  • the resulting flame 122 is illustratively stabilised against the burner surface 124.
  • the flame detector 150 is provided for sensing presence of a flame 122 in the burning unit 120.
  • the flame detector 150 is suitable for determining whether a flame 122 is present at the burner surface 124 in the burning unit 120.
  • suitable flame detection techniques that may be used with the flame detector 150 are well-known to the person skilled in the art and are, therefore, not described in more detail, for brevity and conciseness.
  • the flame detector 150 may use any suitable sensing element for sensing presence of the flame 122 in the burning unit 120.
  • the flame detector 150 may be connected to the controller 140. If desired, the flame detector 150 may generate and/or provide a flame detection signal 162 to the controller 140 based on whether the flame detector 150 senses the presence of a flame 122 in the burning unit 120 or fails to sense the presence of a flame 122 in the burning unit 120.
  • the controller 140 may determine whether a flame 122 is present in the burning unit 120 by comparing the detected flame signal 160 with a predetermined flame detection threshold.
  • the controller 140 may be connected to the gas valve 194.
  • the controller 140 may receive a control signal 182 from the gas valve 194.
  • the control signal 182 may be indicative of the status of the gas valve 194.
  • the controller signal 182 may indicate whether the gas valve 194 is open or closed.
  • the controller 140 may send an actuator signal 183 to the gas valve 194. If desired, the actuator signal 183 may direct the gas valve 194 to open and/or to close. For example, at the beginning of an ignition phase, the controller 140 may direct the gas valve 194 to open.
  • the controller 140 tracks the duration of time between the opening of the gas valve 194 and the detection of a flame signal 160 at the burning unit 120.
  • a delayed ignition which refers to igniting a hazardous accumulation of the combustible air-gas mixture 130 and which usually leads to an explosion that may damage internal components of the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 and endanger the surrounding environment
  • the maximum allowed opening time of the gas valve 194 without a flame 122 being detected is limited to a short period of time, which is sometimes also referred to as the ignition safety time.
  • the gas valve 194 needs to be open for a minimum opening time.
  • the minimum opening time is defined as the time that is required for the gas 119 to flow from the gas valve 194 through the secured gas pathway 116 to the air-gas mixing unit 110 and from there, as a combustible air-gas mixture 130 to the burner surface 124, where a sufficient quantity of the combustible air-gas mixture 130 is required to accumulate such that a reliable ignition of the flame 122 is ensured.
  • the time between the opening of the gas valve 194 and the accumulation of a quantity of the combustible air-gas mixture 130 in the burning unit 120 that is sufficient for a sustained ignition may depend on the concentration of the gas 119 in the secured gas pathway 116 at the opening of the gas valve 194.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 were to stop burning gas 119, but after a short period of time be re-lit, then the secured gas pathway 116 would still be filled with gas 119, and the combustible air-gas pathway 132 would still be filled with the combustible air-gas mixture 130, and, as a result, a flame 122 could be established comparatively quickly at the burner surface 124.
  • the concentration of the gas 119 in the secured gas pathway 116 and in the combustible air-gas pathway 132 decays over time.
  • the secured gas pathway 116 and the combustible air-gas pathway 132 is nominally filled with air and contains a negligible concentration of the gas 119 at the start of the ignition sequence.
  • the nominally air that is present in the secured gas pathway 116 and in the combustible air-gas pathway 132 must be displaced by gas 119 that is streaming through the opened gas valve 194.
  • This process of re-priming the secured gas pathway 116 and the combustible air-gas pathway 132 takes some time, which may depend, for example, on the flow rate of nominally air and the volume of the consecutive pathways 116, 132.
  • the controller 140 is adapted for determining an earliest flame appearance time for an ignition phase of the burning unit 120 by selecting from at least two different durations of time. Thereby, the controller 140 determines the earliest flame appearance time as an anticipated minimum duration of time that elapses between an opening of the gas valve 194 and the flame detector 150 sensing a flame 122 in the burning unit 120.
  • the controller 140 may determine the earliest flame appearance time based on an inferred concentration of the gas 119 in the secured gas pathway 116.
  • the decay of the concentration of the gas 119 and/or the time to re-prime the secured gas pathway 116 and the combustible air-gas pathway 132 may depend on the type of gas 119.
  • the difference in density of hydrogen or any other fuel gas that is less dense than air may result in an exacerbated delay in the appearance of a flame 122 at the burner surface 124. Therefore, the controller 140 may determine the earliest flame appearance time based at least on the type of the gas 119.
  • the controller 140 may determine the earliest flame appearance time based at least on an elapsed time since the flame detector 150 previously sensed a flame 122 in the burning unit 120.
  • the controller 140 may determine the shortest duration of time after the opening of the gas valve 194 that a flame 122 appears in the burning unit 120 after the gas valve 194 has been opened. This shortest duration of time is sometimes also referred to as a predetermined minimum earliest flame appearance time.
  • the controller 140 may determine the earliest flame appearance time by selecting from a continuous range of values, wherein all values in the continuous range of values are greater than a predetermined minimum earliest flame appearance time.
  • the concentration of the gas 119 in the secured gas pathway 116 is not decaying as predicted after the gas valve 194 is closed and the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 is turned off. Instead, the concentration of the gas 119 remains high in the secured gas pathway 116.
  • the diffusion of the gas 119 is a relatively slow process.
  • a small leak of the gas valve 194 results in a high concentration of the gas 119 being sustained in the secured gas pathway 116. Therefore, during an ignition attempt that occurs a comparatively long time after the end of the most recent detection of a flame 122 in the burning unit 120, a new flame 122 will appear sooner than anticipated, and before the earliest anticipated time appearance time.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 may include a gas valve leak detector 190 that is adapted for detecting a leak of the gas valve 194 during the ignition phase of the burning unit 120 based on measuring a measured duration of time between the opening of the gas valve 194 and the flame detector 150 sensing the presence of a flame 122 in the burning unit, and checking that the measured duration of time is shorter than the determined earliest flame appearance time.
  • a gas valve leak detector 190 that is adapted for detecting a leak of the gas valve 194 during the ignition phase of the burning unit 120 based on measuring a measured duration of time between the opening of the gas valve 194 and the flame detector 150 sensing the presence of a flame 122 in the burning unit, and checking that the measured duration of time is shorter than the determined earliest flame appearance time.
  • the gas valve leak detector 190 may be adjusted such that the minimum detectable size of a leak of the gas valve 194 is lower than the minimum hazardous size of a leak. However, as internal leaks of the gas valve 194 are usually progressive in their development over a period of months, the leak of the gas valve 194 could be detected before a hazardous situation occurs.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 may include a gas valve leak handling device 192.
  • the gas valve leak handling device 192 may be adapted for signalling the current leak of the gas valve 194 and for putting the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 in at least one of a safe state, a non-operational state, or a restricted performance state. Thereby, the gas valve leak handling device 192 may ensure that the current leak of the gas valve 194 is noticed and rectified.
  • the controller 140 may be adapted for signalling the current leak of the gas valve 194 and for putting the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 in at least one of a safe state, a non-operational state, or a restricted performance state.
  • the gas valve 194 is shut off periodically for a predetermined period of time to provide the gas valve leak detector 190 an opportunity for detecting a leak of the gas valve 194.
  • the controller 140 may direct the gas valve 194 to shut off using actuator signal 183 and enforce a minimum period of standby.
  • the minimum period of standby may be selected based on the type of gas, the dimensions of the secured gas pathway 116, the dimensions of the combustible air-gas pathway 132, etc. As an example, the minimum period of standby may be selected to last for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
  • the gas valve 194 may be shut off during times of the day with typical low demand for the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 to produce heat.
  • the controller may shut off the gas valve 194 for a short period of time during the night.
  • Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of an air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 having a fan 114 downstream of an air-gas mixer 118 and an air flow channel 250 to a reference pressure port 242 of a gas valve 194.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 may include an air inlet for providing air 111, a gas inlet 117 for providing gas 119, and a flue outlet 155 for the evacuation of exhaust gas 152.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 may further include an air-gas mixing unit 110, a burning unit 120, and a heat exchanger 170.
  • the air-gas mixing unit 110 is preferably adapted for mixing of air 111 and gas 119 to form a combustible air-gas mixture 130.
  • the combustible air-gas mixture 130 is a homogenous mixture of the air 111 and the gas 119.
  • the burning unit 120 is provided with a burner surface 124 that is arranged downstream of the air-gas mixing unit 110 such that the combustible air-gas mixture 130 flows towards the burner surface 124.
  • the fan 114 may drive the combustible air-gas mixture 130 through the combustible air-gas pathway 132 towards the burner surface 124.
  • the combustible air-gas mixture 130 is burned by the burning unit 120 and, more specifically, at the burner surface 124.
  • the heat exchanger 170 may transfer the heat that is generated at the burner surface 124 to another medium.
  • the heat exchanger 170 may transfer the heat that is generated at the burner surface 124 to water in a water circuit.
  • the flue outlet 155 may evacuate the exhaust gas 152 from the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100.
  • the gas valve 194 may include a reference pressure port 242.
  • the air flow channel 250 is adapted for providing the flow of the air 111 to the reference pressure port 242, and the gas valve 194 is adapted for regulating the flow of the gas 119 based on the pressure of the flow of the air 111 at the reference pressure port 242.
  • the controller 140 is adapted for determining an earliest flame appearance time for an ignition phase of the burning unit 120 by selecting from at least two different durations of time. Thereby, the controller 140 determines the earliest flame appearance time as an anticipated minimum duration of time that elapses between an opening of the gas valve 194 and the flame detector 150 sensing the presence of a flame 122 in the burning unit 120.
  • the controller 140 may send an actuator signal 183 to the gas valve 194.
  • the actuator signal 183 may direct the gas valve 194 to open and/or to close.
  • the controller 140 may direct the gas valve 194 to open.
  • the controller 140 may direct the gas valve 194 to close periodically using actuator signal 183 to provide the gas valve leak detector 190 an opportunity for detecting a leak of the gas valve 194.
  • actuator signal 183 may override the reference pressure port 242 of the gas valve 194.
  • Fig. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 300 of operating an air-gas mixture burning appliance.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance comprises a burning unit for burning a combustible air-gas mixture, a flame detector for sensing a presence of a flame in the burning unit, an air-gas mixing unit that is arranged upstream of the burning unit and is adapted for mixing of air and gas to form the combustible air-gas mixture, and a gas valve that is arranged upstream of the air-gas mixing unit and is adapted for regulating a flow of the gas to the air-gas mixing unit.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 comprises a burning unit 120 for burning a combustible air-gas mixture 130, a flame detector 150 for sensing a presence of a flame 122 in the burning unit 120, an air-gas mixing unit 110 that is arranged upstream of the burning unit 120 and is adapted for mixing of air 111 and gas 119 to form the combustible air-gas mixture 130, and a gas valve 194 that is arranged upstream of the air-gas mixing unit 110 and is adapted for regulating a flow of the gas 119 to the air-gas mixing unit 110.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance determines, with a controller, an earliest flame appearance time for an ignition phase of the burning unit by determining an anticipated minimum duration of time that elapses between an opening of the gas valve and the flame detector sensing the presence of a flame in the burning unit.
  • air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 may use controller 140 to determine an earliest flame appearance time for an ignition phase of the burning unit 120 by determining an anticipated minimum duration of time that elapses between an opening of the gas valve 194 and the flame detector 150 sensing the presence of a flame 122 in the burning unit 120.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance may further comprise a secured gas pathway that is arranged between the gas valve and the air-gas mixing unit.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 may comprise a secured gas pathway 116 that is arranged between the gas valve 194 and the air-gas mixing unit 110.
  • the determining step 310 may further comprise the operation of determining, with the controller, the earliest flame appearance time based on an inferred concentration of the gas in the secured gas pathway.
  • the controller 140 of the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 may determine the earliest flame appearance time based on an inferred concentration of the gas 119 in the secured gas pathway 116.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance detects, with a gas valve leak detector, a leak of the gas valve during the ignition phase of the burning unit by measuring a measured duration of time between the opening of the gas valve and the flame detector sensing the presence of a flame in the burning unit, and checking that this measured duration of time is shorter than the determined earliest flame appearance time.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 may detect, with gas valve leak detector 190, a leak of the gas valve 194 during the ignition phase of the burning unit 120 by measuring a measured duration of time between the opening of the gas valve 194 and the flame detector 150 sensing the presence of a flame 122 in the burning unit 120, and checking that this measured duration of time is shorter than the determined earliest flame appearance time.
  • the method may further include a handling step, comprising responding to the leak of the gas valve with a gas valve leak handling device by signalling the leak of the gas valve and accordingly putting the air-gas mixture burning appliance in one or more of a safe state, a non-operational state, or a restricted performance state.
  • a handling step comprising responding to the leak of the gas valve with a gas valve leak handling device by signalling the leak of the gas valve and accordingly putting the air-gas mixture burning appliance in one or more of a safe state, a non-operational state, or a restricted performance state.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 may use gas valve leak handling device 192 to signal the leak of the gas valve 194 and accordingly putting the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 in one or more of a safe state, a non-operational state, or a restricted performance state.
  • the determining step may further comprise determining the earliest flame appearance time based on at least the type of gas.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 may determine the earliest flame appearance time based on at least the type of gas.
  • the determining step may further comprise determining the earliest flame appearance time based at least on an elapsed time since the flame detector previously sensed a flame in the burning unit.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 may determine the earliest flame appearance time based at least on an elapsed time since the flame detector 150 previously sensed a flame 122 in the burning unit 120.
  • the determining step may further comprise determining the earliest flame appearance time by selecting from a continuous range of values, wherein all values in the continuous range of values are greater than a predetermined minimum earliest flame appearance time.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 may determine the earliest flame appearance time by selecting from a continuous range of values, wherein all values in the continuous range of values are greater than a predetermined minimum earliest flame appearance time.
  • the method may further comprise a leak test window step.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance may periodically shut off the gas valve for a predetermined period of time to provide the gas valve leak detector an opportunity for detecting a leak of the gas valve.
  • the air-gas mixture burning appliance 100 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 may periodically shut off the gas valve 194 for a predetermined period of time to provide the gas valve leak detector 190 an opportunity for detecting a leak of the gas valve 194.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Control Of Combustion (AREA)
  • Regulation And Control Of Combustion (AREA)
EP22202351.7A 2021-11-12 2022-10-19 Dispositif pour déterminer le temps d'apparition de flamme le plus precoce dans un appareil de combustion de mélange air-gaz Pending EP4191134A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2116393.6A GB2612831A (en) 2021-11-12 2021-11-12 A device for determining an earliest flame appearance time in an air-gas mixture burning appliance

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4191134A2 true EP4191134A2 (fr) 2023-06-07
EP4191134A3 EP4191134A3 (fr) 2023-10-18

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP22202351.7A Pending EP4191134A3 (fr) 2021-11-12 2022-10-19 Dispositif pour déterminer le temps d'apparition de flamme le plus precoce dans un appareil de combustion de mélange air-gaz

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP4191134A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2612831A (fr)

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4457692A (en) * 1983-08-22 1984-07-03 Honeywell Inc. Dual firing rate flame sensing system
AT405327B (de) * 1996-09-30 1999-07-26 Vaillant Gmbh Verfahren zum starten eines gasbrenners
DE19941978B4 (de) * 1999-09-03 2005-09-22 Stiebel Eltron Gmbh & Co. Kg Verfahren und Einrichtung zur Erzeugung eines Synthesegases
JP2010014336A (ja) * 2008-07-03 2010-01-21 Rinnai Corp ガスコンロ
JP5305518B2 (ja) * 2009-03-17 2013-10-02 パナソニック株式会社 ガス遮断装置
US10208954B2 (en) * 2013-01-11 2019-02-19 Ademco Inc. Method and system for controlling an ignition sequence for an intermittent flame-powered pilot combustion system
JP7099261B2 (ja) * 2017-11-07 2022-07-12 三浦工業株式会社 ボイラ

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP4191134A3 (fr) 2023-10-18
GB2612831A (en) 2023-05-17
GB202116393D0 (en) 2021-12-29

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