EP4249804A1 - Procédé de détection de gaz pour une chaudière à gaz - Google Patents

Procédé de détection de gaz pour une chaudière à gaz Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4249804A1
EP4249804A1 EP22163961.0A EP22163961A EP4249804A1 EP 4249804 A1 EP4249804 A1 EP 4249804A1 EP 22163961 A EP22163961 A EP 22163961A EP 4249804 A1 EP4249804 A1 EP 4249804A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
gas
combustion
combustion appliance
appliance
data
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP22163961.0A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Jelmer Woudstra
Job Rutgers
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.)
BDR Thermea Group BV
Original Assignee
BDR Thermea Group BV
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 BDR Thermea Group BV filed Critical BDR Thermea Group BV
Priority to EP22163961.0A priority Critical patent/EP4249804A1/fr
Priority to PCT/EP2023/057668 priority patent/WO2023180540A1/fr
Publication of EP4249804A1 publication Critical patent/EP4249804A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2231/00—Fail safe
    • F23N2231/18—Detecting fluid leaks

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a gas detection method for a combustion appliance, in particular a gas boiler. Also, the invention relates to a computer program product executed by a computer carrying out the above method, a data processing apparatus comprising a processor for executing said computer program product, a computer readable data carrier having stored thereon the computer program product, and a data carrier signal carrying the computer program product. In addition, the invention relates to a system for detecting a gas leakage for at least one combustion appliance, in particular a gas boiler and to a combustion appliance comprising means for carrying out the method and/or said system. Also, the invention relates to a use of the computer program, or the data processing apparatus, or the system for the detection of a gas leakage for at least one combustion appliance, in particular in a gas boiler.
  • Combustion appliances such as gas boilers combust gaseous fuel to heat water for domestic use and/or central heating system facilities in buildings.
  • a gas leak in or outside the appliance both considering the combustible fuel gas or the exhaust flue gas, can be very dangerous. For this reason, gas leakage detection systems using dedicated gas leakage sensors have been developed.
  • the gas detection systems known in the art are not always efficient. For example, if the gas leakage sensor is located far away from the leakage, the corresponding gas detection can be extremely delayed or cannot occur at all. In addition, based on the type of the sensor, only specific types of gases can be detected and only within a predefined measurement thresholds. Accordingly, these systems are not suitable for detecting relatively small gas leakage over time and for detecting different types of gases at the same time.
  • a gas leakage detection method for at least one combustion appliance, in particular a gas boiler comprising:
  • the leakage can be promptly detected independent form the source of the leakage (e.g. inside or outside the combustion appliance). Also, it is possible to detect relatively small gas leakage rates over time, independent from a measurement threshold of an individual leakage sensor and can be detected the leakage of different types of gases.
  • the inventive method can be used to detect leak rates in an installation as a result of switching from natural gas to hydrogen.
  • the measured gas can be a gas mixture that is supplied to the combustion application.
  • the gas mixture comprises air and combustion gas.
  • the measured gas can correspond to the combustion gas.
  • the presence of the gas leakage is determined if a consumption deviation based on the difference between the gas measuring data and the predicted gas consumption of the combustion appliance is greater than a leakage threshold, and/or if the quantity of combustion gas to be supplied to the gas consuming appliance increases over a reference period of time, when the combustion appliance is not operating.
  • a leakage threshold e.g., a leakage threshold
  • the quantity of combustion gas to be supplied to the gas consuming appliance increases over a reference period of time
  • the method comprises determining whether the combustion gas is supplied to a single combustion appliance or to a plurality of combustion appliances. In this way, it is excluded that difference between the measured gas and the predicted gas consumption of a combustion appliance is due to the presence of another gas consuming appliance present in the heating system.
  • the determination of the presence of a single combustion appliance or a plurality of combustion appliances is carried out by monitoring the gas consumption over a predefined monitoring period of time, in particular more than one day, more in particular between one day and sixty days, and/or by setting a parameter in the control unit.
  • the predicted gas consumption is determined based on the operation of a fan element, in particular the rotational velocity of the fan element, and/or based on sensor data, in particular gas flow sensor data.
  • the quantity of combustion gas to be supplied to the combustion appliance is measured using a digital flow meter or an analogic flow meter combined with a reading sensor, in particular an optical sensor.
  • the gas measuring data are acquired periodically, in particular every 15 minutes.
  • the method can furthermore comprise the step of monitoring a gas pressure in the combustion appliance over time by a pressure sensor. If a pressure decrease over time is detected, then the combustion appliance can be turned off, and/or a gas valve can be closed, and/or an information message can be sent to a user.
  • the method can additionally comprise: sending an alarm message to a user, and/or stopping or locking the combustion appliance. In this way, a more dangerous situation is prevented and a user (e.g. installer or technician) can be promptly informed of the leakage.
  • the method further comprises sending information data to a terminal or to a cloud platform.
  • the method can further comprise acquiring temperature data by a thermostat and combining said temperature data with the gas measuring data. In this way, it is possible to eventually predict energy labels of the combustion appliance.
  • a computer program product comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer or control unit, cause the computer or the control unit to carry out the inventive method.
  • a data processing apparatus comprises a processor for executing the inventive computer program product. Also, a computer readable data carrier is provided, the carrier having stored thereon the inventive computer program product. In addition, data carrier signal is provided, the signal carrying the computer program product.
  • a system for detecting a gas leakage for at least one combustion appliance, in particular a gas boiler comprises a control unit for determining a predicted gas consumption of the combustion appliance based on the operation of said combustion appliance, and at least a flow meter for measuring the quantity of combustion gas to be supplied to the combustion appliance and generating gas measuring data, wherein the control unit is configured to determine the presence of a gas leakage, based on the comparison between the gas measuring data and the predicted gas consumption of the combustion appliance.
  • a communication between the flow meter and the combustion appliance can be established through the control unit, thereby eventually realizing a smart Internet of Things system.
  • a system can detect even the lowest leak rates over time, even in periods when the combustion appliance is not running. Additionally, it is possible to recommend the customer to improve the installation by sending dedicated alert messages.
  • the system can be connected to Internet so that the control unit or the combustion appliance can send data to a cloud platform offering the possibility to combine this feature with several other features.
  • a combustion appliance in particular a gas boiler, the combustion appliance comprising means for carrying out the inventive method and/or comprising the inventive system.
  • combustion appliances can include furnaces, water heaters, boilers, direct/in-direct make-up air heaters, power/jet burners and any other residential, commercial or industrial combustion appliance.
  • the combustion gas can be a natural gas, methane, ethylene, propane, butane, coal gas, biogas etc., mixtures of the same, and mixtures of the same additionally comprising hydrogen or hydrogen, in particular pure hydrogen. Pure hydrogen is present if the fuel gas has a at least 98 vol% of hydrogen.
  • the appliance including the present system can be a gas boiler for the combustion of hydrogen gas. In this case, it is intended a fuel gas that comprises at least 20 mol%, in particular 90%, hydrogen or natural gas or mixtures thereof.
  • the use of the inventive computer program product or of the inventive system is provided.
  • the use is suitable for the detection of a gas leakage for at least one combustion appliance, in particular a gas boiler and more in particular a gas boiler using a fuel gas having at least 20% hydrogen or natural gas.
  • the method 100 comprises a prediction of the gas consumption at step S101. This can be carried out by a control unit 2 of the combustion appliance 1 shown in fig. 2A and 2B .
  • a step S102 the method 100 comprises reading and logging gas measuring data. In particular, the quantity of combustion gas, i.e. the volume of gas, supplied to the combustion appliance 1, is measured. This is done by the measurements of a gas meter. The gas measuring data are compared to the gas consumption prediction made by the control unit 2 to determine the presence of a gas leakage at step S103. Steps S101 and 102 can be performed at the same time.
  • the method 100 can determine whether or not the combustion appliance 1 is the only gas consumer after the gas meter.
  • An algorithm incorporated in the control unit 2 can determine if more consumers are installed by monitoring gas consumption over longer periods of time. For example, a couple of days or even months can be required to assess this information.
  • the installer or end user can set a parameter in the control unit 2 that no other gas consumers are installed, or that other gas consumers are installed (optionally including type of products). This method step can be extremely useful in order to exclude that a deviation between the gas supplied and the gas consumed is indeed due to the presence of a plurality of gas consuming appliances connected to the same gas source.
  • the method 100 can send an alarm message to a user by the control unit 2 that the installation should be checked.
  • the method 100 can turn off (stop or lock) the combustion appliance 1. In this way, dangerous situations can be promptly avoided.
  • FIGs 2A and 2B illustrate a system 4 for detecting a gas leakage for at least one combustion appliance 1, for example a gas boiler.
  • the system 4 comprises a control unit 2 for determining a predicted gas consumption of the gas boiler 1 based on the operation of said gas boiler 1.
  • the control unit 2 is outside the boiler 1 and is directly connected to the boiler 1 to predict the gas consumption of the boiler 1 based on the operative characteristics of said boiler 1. It is clear, however, that the control unit 2 can also be integrated in the boiler 1.
  • the prediction of gas consumption can be calculated by monitoring for example the speed of a fan element or by using a flow sensor or other dedicated sensors.
  • the system 4 also comprises a flow meter 3, for example a gas meter, for measuring the quantity of combustion gas to be supplied to the boiler 1.
  • the gas meter 3 is located between the gas boiler 1 and a gas source (indicated with an horizontal arrow in the figure) supplying the gas boiler 1.
  • Figure 2A shows an example where only one gas boiler 1 is supplied by the gas source
  • figure 2B shows an example where two gas boilers 1 are supplied by the gas source.
  • the gas measuring data can be acquired by a smart gas meter, in particular via a P1 port or online, or by an analogic gas meter adding a for example an optical sensor for reading the data.
  • the gas meter 3 communicates with the control unit 2 and then with the gas boiler 1 so that the control unit 2 is configured to determine the presence of a gas leakage, based on the comparison between the gas measuring data and the predicted gas consumption of the boiler 1.
  • a gas leakage can be detected if the gas boiler 1 and/or the other gas devices 1 are not used for longer periods of time (e.g. overnight, holidays, etc.), while the gas meter 3 measures gas consumption during this period of time. Additionally, a gas leakage can be detected if the gas meter 3 measures a significantly higher gas consumption than expected.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Regulation And Control Of Combustion (AREA)
  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
EP22163961.0A 2022-03-24 2022-03-24 Procédé de détection de gaz pour une chaudière à gaz Withdrawn EP4249804A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22163961.0A EP4249804A1 (fr) 2022-03-24 2022-03-24 Procédé de détection de gaz pour une chaudière à gaz
PCT/EP2023/057668 WO2023180540A1 (fr) 2022-03-24 2023-03-24 Procédé de détection de gaz pour chaudière à gaz

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22163961.0A EP4249804A1 (fr) 2022-03-24 2022-03-24 Procédé de détection de gaz pour une chaudière à gaz

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4249804A1 true EP4249804A1 (fr) 2023-09-27

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ID=80933217

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP22163961.0A Withdrawn EP4249804A1 (fr) 2022-03-24 2022-03-24 Procédé de détection de gaz pour une chaudière à gaz

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4249804A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2023180540A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60126517A (ja) * 1983-12-13 1985-07-06 Toshiba Electric Equip Corp ガス機器監視制御システム
WO2012125022A2 (fr) * 2011-03-14 2012-09-20 R.P. Van Der Donk Beheer B.V. Agencement comprenant un système de commande de distribution de gaz et une installation de chauffage central et procédé de commande de distribution de gaz
EP3557132A1 (fr) * 2018-04-20 2019-10-23 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Procédé pour détecter des anomalies associées à un appareil à gaz

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60126517A (ja) * 1983-12-13 1985-07-06 Toshiba Electric Equip Corp ガス機器監視制御システム
WO2012125022A2 (fr) * 2011-03-14 2012-09-20 R.P. Van Der Donk Beheer B.V. Agencement comprenant un système de commande de distribution de gaz et une installation de chauffage central et procédé de commande de distribution de gaz
EP3557132A1 (fr) * 2018-04-20 2019-10-23 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Procédé pour détecter des anomalies associées à un appareil à gaz

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2023180540A1 (fr) 2023-09-28

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