HEATING DEVICE COMPRISING A GAS SENSOR AND METHOD FOR OPERATION THEREOF

Abstract

A heating device as well as a method for the operation thereof. The heating device has an outer housing that surrounds an installation space. The components of heating device are arranged inside or on the outer housing, particularly a burner unit, a fan, a fuel valve and as an option a circulation pump. At least one of these units comprises at least one electrical and/or electronic component. On one or more of the anyway present electrical and/or electronic components at least one gas sensor is arranged on the outer housing and/or inside the installation space, particularly on a support or a circuit board of the respective electrical and/or electronic component. The at least one gas sensor is configured to create a sensor signal that describes the presence and/or concentration of at least one gas component in the atmosphere. Based thereon leakages, faults, undesired backflow, etc. can be determined. Thereupon a respective measure can be initiated, e.g. the output of a warning message and/or suction of the atmosphere by means of fan.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to the following German Patent Application No. 10 2021 105 962.3, filed on Mar. 11, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention refers to a heating device, e.g. for heating of a heat transfer medium, particularly water. The heating device can be configured to heat a building or a part of a building and/or to provide warm water by means of the heat transfer medium. The warm water can be provided for a kitchen, a bathroom, etc. in a building or part of a building.

BACKGROUND

A heating device that comprises a burner unit and a fan is known from DE 10 2006 004 506 A1. The fan is arranged downstream behind the burner unit. In an exhaust channel a mass flow sensor can be inserted, e.g. to detect the hydrogen mass flow or the carbon dioxide mass flow. On the basis of the sensor signal the control for the composition of the air gas mixture can be influenced that is supplied to the burner unit for combustion.

A similar heating device is also described in DE 10 2011 010 074 A1. The control of the heating device is realized depending on a sensor that is arranged in an exhaust channel.

EP 3 396 248 B1 describes a method for recognition of errors on a gas safety valve in heating devices. For this purpose the mass or volume flow of the supplied combustion air is detected by a sensor and the gradient of the measurement signal is formed. The gradient of the measurement signal is subsequently compared with stored gradient progresses that characterize errors in the heating device. Based on the comparison errors shall be recognized and signaled.

EP 3 388 756 A1 discloses a heating device having a gas sensor and an earthquake sensor in order to be able to determine a gas leakage in case of an earthquake.

In a heating device a mixture of fuel and an oxidizing agent, e.g. air, is supplied to a burner unit and combusted. A fossil or non-fossil and preferably gaseous fuel can be used as fuel. For example, natural gas, liquid gas, syngas, biogas, hydrogen or an arbitrary combination thereof can be used as fuel. The fuel supply into a mixing area in which the fuel and the oxidizing agent are mixed is blocked or released by means of a fuel valve. The volume or mass flow of the fuel can be adjusted by means of the fuel valve (open loop or closed loop control).

Due to defects or wear, leakages can occur at the fuel valve or at another location of the fuel supply such that fuel leaks. For this reason the fuel valve is usually exchanged after a certain operating duration and/or after a predefined number of switching processes preventively. Therefrom high expenditures and high costs result from such a preventive exchange involved with a maintenance service. Frequently fuel valves are exchanged that could have been used further on without concerns. In case leakage occurs upstream or downstream from the fuel valve (e.g. defective sealings), this leakage would not be remedied by means of a preventive exchange of the fuel valve.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Therefore, it can be considered as object of the present invention to provide and operate a heating device that is improved with regard to costs and expenditures of the service.

This object is solved by means of a heating device including: an outer housing that surrounds an installation space; a burner unit including a burner and a burner housing and being arranged on the outer housing and/or inside the installation space; a fuel valve being arranged on the outer housing and/or inside the installation space and being arranged in a fuel line and being configured to influence supply of fuel via the fuel line into a mixing area; a fan being arranged on the outer housing and/or inside the installation space that is configured to create a flow of an oxidizing agent and/or a mixture of fuel and oxidizing agent into the mixing area; at least one control device; and at least one gas sensor being arranged on an electrical and/or electronic component of the heating device on the outer housing and/or inside installation space and being configured to create a sensor signal that describes an atmosphere surrounding the outer housing and/or present inside the installation space and being configured to provide the sensor signal to the at least one control device that is configured to initiate a measure, if it is determined based on the sensor signal that the atmosphere deviates from an allowable condition. Also disclosed is a method for operating a heating device, wherein the heating device includes an outer housing surrounding an installation space, a burner unit having a burner and a burner housing, a fan, a fuel valve, at least one control device and at least one gas sensor that is arranged on an electrical and/or electronic component of the heating device on the outer housing and/or inside the installation space, wherein the method includes: creation of a sensor signal by means of the at least one gas sensor that characterizes an atmosphere surrounding the outer housing and/or an atmosphere present inside the installation space; providing the sensor signal to the at least one control device; and evaluating the sensor signal by means of the at least one control device and initiating a measure, if it is determined based on the sensor signal that the atmosphere deviates from an allowed condition.

The heating device according to the invention comprises an outer housing that surrounds an installation space. Installation space can allow a gas exchange with the environment of the installation location, i.e. the outer housing must not necessarily be gas-tight. A burner unit, a fan and a fuel valve are arranged at and/or in the installation space. The burner unit has a burner and a burner housing to which fuel and an oxidizing agent are supplied in a premixed condition or separately for mixture in the combustion chamber for combustion. The oxidizing agent and the fuel are mixed in a mixing area that can be arranged upstream of the burner housing or in the burner housing. For example, air from the environment (installation location within the building or from outside the building) and/or from the installation space can be sucked and supplied as oxidizing agent. For this purpose the fan is used that can supply the oxidizing agent and/or a mixture of fuel and oxidizing agent. The fuel valve is arranged in a fuel line in order to influence the fuel supply to the mixing area.

The heating device further comprises at least one control device. The at least one control device can be arranged inside 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 comprise a component control device for the fan and/or for the fuel valve and/or for another component or unit of the heating device and/or can be part of a user interface.

The heating device further comprises a gas sensor. The gas sensor is configured to detect the atmosphere surrounding the outer housing and/or the atmosphere existing in the installation space and can create a sensor signal characterizing the atmosphere. The sensor signal can, for example, indicate whether the atmosphere comprises one or multiple gas components to be detected, such as carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide and/or unburned gaseous fuel (natural gas and/or gas created from liquid gas and/or hydroxide), etc. For example, the gas sensor can also be configured to create a sensor signal that allows a determination of the portion and/or the concentration of the at least one gas component to be detected in the atmosphere. In doing so, particularly a normal air atmosphere can be distinguished from an atmosphere that comprises in addition a gas component in a non-allowed concentration.

As an option, the at least one gas sensor can create a sensor signal that describes at least one further 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 at least one gas component to be detected of the atmosphere can be achieved.

The at least one gas sensor can be an MOX semi-conductor gas sensor (metal oxide semi-conductor gas sensor) and/or a thermal conductivity sensor by means of which the thermal conductivity of the atmosphere can be determined. Also multiple gas sensors operating with different physical principles can be used. In general, 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 of the at least one gas sensor is supplied to the control device. The control device is configured to evaluate the sensor signal in order to determine whether the characteristic of the atmosphere detected by means of a sensor corresponds to an allowed condition or deviates therefrom. The evaluation can be executed in a time-controlled manner, e.g. cyclically, and/or event-triggered. For example, the evaluation can also be executed in the summer without intensified burner operation with longer operation pauses.

If an unallowed condition of the atmosphere is determined, the control device initiates a measure. For example, an acoustic and/or optic and/or haptic warning signal or warning message can be created. The warning signal can be transmitted via a communication connection to a remote unit, particularly a mobile unit, such as a smart phone, for example. The communication connection can thereby be established via a local network and/or the internet. Acoustical and/or optical warning signals or warning messages can also be created by the heating device itself and/or a further apparatus of a system networked with the heating device. For example, the speaker and/or warning lights of smoke detectors or of other warning systems in the building or in the part of the building can be used to output the warning signal or the warning message.

In addition or as an alternative for outputting a warning message, the measure can also be using the provided fan to feed the gas mixture forming the atmosphere by means of the fan into an exhaust channel of the heating device, (e.g. chimney). For this the fan can be preferably operated with the maximum possible feed power. In doing so, the danger can be avoided, for example, that an ignitable gas mixture is created or maintained in the atmosphere. In case of a recognized unallowed condition of the atmosphere, the control device can be further configured to interrupt the fuel supply to the burner by closing the fuel valve and/or to switch off the burner or to maintain the fuel valve in the closed condition or the burner in the switched-off condition. By means of one or more of these measures, the safety can be further increased.

The at least one gas sensor allows the recognition of at least one undesired or unallowed high proportion of a gas component in the atmosphere that can be detected by means of the gas sensor or one of the provided gas sensors. For example, thereby unintentionally exiting gaseous fuel can be determined at, upstream or downstream the fuel valve. It is therefore no longer necessary to preventively exchange the fuel valve prematurely.

By means of the at least one gas sensor, in addition further defects or faulty conditions can be determined, e.g. if exhaust flows back through an exhaust channel of the heating device. This can be the case in specific error conditions or depending on weather conditions or if multiple heating devices are connected to a common exhaust channel or chimney and one of the heating devices is switched off, while other heating devices are operated. Also in case of incorrectly installed coaxial exhaust systems, exhaust can enter into the air supply (fresh air channel). Also the possibility exists to determine outgassing due to defects of present components or units of the heating device, e.g. smoldering of electrical and/or electronic components.

In addition or as an alternative, also the quality of the oxidizing agent (e.g. air) supplied to the burner unit can be detected by means of the at least one gas sensor and can be evaluated by means of the control device.

In an embodiment a fan housing of the fan comprises at least one housing part consisting of plastic. The fan housing can exclusively consist of a plastic housing part or can be assembled of multiple plastic housing parts. To date metallic materials have been used for the fan housing of the fan in order to avoid leakages and a gas exit resulting therefrom. The detection of gas leakages according to the invention by means of the at least one gas sensor allows the use of a plastic fan housing and thereby lowers the costs for the fan. Because gas exiting due to a fault or damage of the plastic can be recognized. There upon a suitable measure can be initiated, such as closing of the gas valve and/or outputting a warning message.

The at least one gas sensor is preferably configured to determine one or multiple 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 that contain one or more of the indicated gas components.

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

Preferably at least one of the provided gas sensors or all of the provided gas sensors are arranged inside of the installation space.

At least one of the provided gas sensors or all of the provided gas sensors are arranged on an electrical and/or electronic component of the heating device that is present anyway, e.g. on a support (particularly circuit board) or on a housing of the electrical and/or electronic component of the heating device. The gas sensor can thereby be connected with the electrical and/or electronic component in a wireless manner. “Wireless” means here not a wireless connection, but a galvanic connection without the use of an additional separate cable. The connection is realized preferably by means of conducting tracks on a support (e.g. printed circuit board) of the electrical and/or electronic component. For example, the at least one gas sensor can be directly mounted on the support or circuit board of the electrical and/or electronic component in one embodiment and can be electrically connected with at least one conducting track, e.g. by means of a solder connection. The at least one gas sensor can be configured as so-called SMD-component (“Surface Mounted Device”), for example.

It is further advantageous, if the electrical and/or electronic component is part of a superordinate control device or the fan or the fuel valve or an optionally present circulation pump. For example, the electrical and/or electronic component can be part of a component control device, particularly a fan control device or a valve control device or a pump control device, or a superordinate control device. In turn the superordinate control device can be communicatively connected with the fan control device and/or the valve control device and/or the pump control device.

The arrangement of the at least one gas sensor on an already present electrical and/or electronic component simplifies the installation and reduces costs. Particularly wiring of the sensor within the installation space is not necessary. At least one gas sensor can be arranged on one or multiple separate electrical and/or electronic components respectively.

It can be advantageous to arrange multiple gas sensors at spatially different positions on the outer housing or in the installation space such that the atmosphere can be detected at different spatial locations. In doing so, different gas components of the atmosphere having different densities can be detected better or quicker, for example. Gas components having a lower density than air can accumulate at the top of the installation space and gas components having a higher density than air can accumulate at the bottom of the installation space. Due to the arrangement of multiple gas sensors vertically with distance to one another inside the installation space, gas components with lower and higher density than air can be detected in this manner more quickly.

It can be advantageous to arrange the gas sensor or one of the multiple gas sensors in a flow created by the fan. Particularly this flow can be an air flow of environmental air.

In a preferred embodiment of the heating device the fan comprises a main rotor for creation of the flow of the oxidizing agent or of a mixture of fuel and oxidizing agent and a cooling rotor for creation of a cooling flow for an electrical and/or electronic component of the fan. The flow of the oxidizing agent as well as the cooling flow can be preferably an air flow of environmental air. By means of the fan the atmosphere inside the installation space or in the environment of the outer housing can be swirled such that potential gas components, the density of which is different from the density of air, can be better determined.

It is advantageous, if the control device is configured to switch on the fan prior to and/or during the measurement of the atmosphere by means of the gas sensor or—if it has already been switched on—to keep it switch on. For example, the fan can be switched on, if the heating device is deactivated, for example on a warm summer day. The atmosphere in the area of the gas sensor is swirled by means of the fan and the determination of undesired gas components is improved. Also in case of switched off heating device, gas may exit, e.g. due to a fault, such as a leakage of the fuel valve, which can be detected by means of the at least one gas sensor and can be signaled.

As already explained in a recognized unallowed condition of the atmosphere, a warning message can be created and/or the fan can be operated for sucking the atmosphere in an exhaust channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are derived from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in detail based on the attached drawings. The drawings show:

FIGS. 1 and 2 schematic block-diagram-like illustration of an embodiment of a heating device respectively,

FIG. 3 a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method according to the invention and

FIG. 4 a schematic block-diagram-like illustration of an embodiment of a fan that can be used in a heating device, particularly the heating device according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 a block diagram of an embodiment of a heating device 10 is illustrated. The heating device 10 comprises an outer housing 11 surrounding an installation space 12. The outer housing 11 separates the installation space 12 from an outer environment 13 at the installation location of the outer housing 11 according to the example at least not in a complete gas-tight manner. A gas exchange between the outer 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 burner housing 15 in which a combustion chamber 16 is located. A mixture of a fuel B and an oxidizing agent, according to the example air L, is combusted in the combustion chamber 16 by means of a burner 17, whereby a hot exhaust stream is created. The hot exhaust stream flows along at least one and according to the example two heat exchanger units 18, 19 connected in series according to the example. The first heat exchanger unit 18 is arranged in a first zone 20 downstream of combustion chamber 16 and the second heat exchanger unit 19 is arranged in a second zone 21 downstream of the first heat exchanger unit inside the burner housing 15. The flow direction is thereby referred to the exhaust stream created in the combustion chamber 16. The exhaust stream transfers heat to a heat transfer medium W by means of the heat exchanger units 18, 19. Downstream of second zone 21 an exhaust channel opens out in the burner housing 15, such that exhausts A of the exhaust stream from the second zone 21 are discharged out of the burner housing 15 via exhaust channel 22. In the lower region of second zone 21 a discharge line 23 for condensate K is connected to the burner housing 15 in order to discharge condensate K out of the burner housing 15.

The heating device 10 according to FIG. 1 has a burner unit 14 that operates according to the calorific value principle. Also other burner units 14 could be used.

The burner 17 is fluidically connected to a fuel line 28. In the fuel line 28 inside the installation space 12 a fuel valve 29 is present. The fuel valve 29 comprises an electrically controllable valve control device 30 by means of which a through-opening of the fuel valve 29 can be opened or closed and preferably the desired flow cross-section can be adjusted. The supply of fuel B can be allowed or blocked and preferably the amount of fuel B (volume or mass flow) can be influenced that flows through the fuel line 28 toward a mixing area 27. In this embodiment the mixing area 27 is arranged upstream of the combustion chamber 16. The control of the fuel valve 29 can be carried out electrically and/or pneumatically, for example.

The oxidizing agent is supplied to the mixing area 27 via a supply opening or a supply channel 31. According to the example, the oxidizing agent is air L that is sucked out of the installation space 12 and/or the environment 13 by means of a fan 32. The air can be sucked from the ambient air inside the building or independent from the building ambient air by means of an external supply line from outside of the building. As an alternative also oxygen or an oxygen air mixture can be used as oxidizing agent.

The fan 32 comprises a fan control device 33. The fan control device 33 is configured to control a motor operating condition of a fan motor 34 in the embodiment. By means of the fan control device 33 at least one parameter of the flow of air L or the fuel air mixture can be influenced, e.g. the pressure downstream of the fan 32 and/or the volume flow rate and/or the mass flow rate of the flow.

The fan 32 has a fan housing 32a that surrounds the flow path for air L or fuel air mixture. In the embodiment described here the fan housing 32a can consist of one or multiple housing parts made of plastic. The entire fan housing 32a can thus consist of plastic at least for the most part or completely. Potentially used connection means, such as screws, can also consist from a different material.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the air flows past an outlet opening of the fuel line 28 and thereby sucks fuel B that is mixed with air L (or alternatively another oxidizing agent) in the mixing area 27. The fuel air mixture is fed further to the burner 17 by means of the fan 32 and is burned in the combustion chamber 16.

The embodiment of the heating device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 operates without premixing. Fuel B and air L (or alternatively another oxidizing agent) are supplied into the combustion chamber 16 separately and are mixed in the mixing area 27 that is arranged in the combustion chamber 16 here. The manner of supply of fuel and/or the oxidizing agent as well as the mixture thereof can vary depending on the embodiment of the heating device 10 and can be arbitrarily selected in principle.

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

For forming a heating circuit 43 in which the heat transfer medium W can circulate, a heat emission arrangement 44 is connected to the feed line 38 and the return line 39. The heat emission arrangement 44 can comprise radiators and/or heating coils of a panel heating, for example a floor 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 emission arrangement 44. There heat is emitted and the heat transfer medium W cools down. The cooled heat transfer medium W flows via return line 39 back to the second heat exchanger unit 19 and from there via a fluidic connection to the first heat exchanger unit 18. The heating device 10 can also be configured for heating water, e.g. drinking water, in addition or as an option.

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

The heating device 10 further comprises a user interface 45. A user can obtain information and/or input or select data by means of user interface 45. For example, the user interface 45 can comprise a display and at least one input field. The display and the input field can be configured as a unit in form of a touch screen. The user interface 45 can also comprise acoustical output means and keys or buttons as input means. Preferably the user interface 45 is arranged accessibly on the outer housing 11 on an operating side, wherein parts of the user interface 45 are arranged inside the installation space 12.

In the illustrated embodiment the heating device 10 further comprises a superordinate control device 46. The superordinate control device 46 is communicatively connected, for example via a data bus, with the fan control device 33 and/or the valve control device 30 and/or the pump control device 42 and/or the user interface 45. In the illustrated embodiment the superordinate control device 46 creates a first output signal O1 for the fan control device 33 and/or a second output signal O2 for the valve control device 30 and/or a third output signal O3 for the pump control device 42 and/or a fourth output signal O4 for the user interface 45. In addition, the superordinate control device 46 can receive input signals, e.g. input signals I from the user interface 45.

The superordinate control device 46 can also be configured with one of the other control devices 30, 33, 42 or the user interface 45 in an integrated manner.

At least one gas sensor 47 is arranged on the outer housing 11 and/or in the installation space 12. In the embodiments schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 multiple gas sensors and for example six gas sensors 47 are illustrated inside the installation space 12. The number of gas sensors 47 and the installation location thereof on or inside the outer housing 11 may vary. Preferably the gas sensor 47 is connected to the communication connection between the superordinate control device 46 and the at least one further control device 30, 33, 42 or the user interface 45 in a wireless manner (without separate cable). This is realized in that a gas sensor 47 or one of multiple provided gas sensors 47 is arranged at or on an electrical and/or electronic component 48 in the installation space 12. For example, gas sensor 47 can be directly arranged on a support, e.g. a circuit board, of an electrical and/or electronic component 48. The electrical and/or electronic component is anyway part of the heating device 10 and can be, for example, part of the fan 32, the fuel valve 29, the circulation pump 40, one or multiple of their control devices 30, 33, 42 or an arbitrary combination thereof. In addition or as an alternative the at least one gas sensor 47 can be arranged on or in the user interface 45 or directly on the superordinate control device 46. It is for example possible to realize the at least one gas sensor 47 as SMD component.

Each provided gas sensor 47 is configured to create a sensor signal S1-S5 that is provided to the superordinate control device 46, e.g. via the provided communication connection. The sensor signal S1-S5 of the at least one gas sensor 47 can be submitted to one single or multiple or all of the present control devices. For example, other evaluations of the respective sensor signal S1-S5 can be executed in different control devices 46, 30, 33, 42. In addition or as an alternative, the sensor signals of different gas sensors 47 can be submitted to different control devices 46, 30, 33, 42.

The sensor signal S1-S5 describes at least one characteristic of the atmosphere inside the installation space 12 and/or in the environment 13 of the outer housing 11. Each gas sensor 47 is configured to detect one or multiple gas types in the atmosphere. In the simplest case gas sensor 47 can indicate the presence of a respective gas type in the atmosphere. It is also possible that gas sensor 47 creates a sensor signal S1-S5 in addition or as an alternative that is characteristic for the ratio of multiple gas components of the atmosphere relative to one another and/or a proportion of a gas type in relation to the total composition of the atmosphere, etc. As an option the at least one gas sensor 47 can create a sensor signal S1-S5 that describes at least one physical parameter of the atmosphere, such as a biometric 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 inside installation space 12. The installation location can be selected depending on the gas component of the atmosphere that shall be detected by the gas sensor 47, for example. If a gas component shall be determined, the density of which is lower than the density of air, the respective gas sensor 47 is preferably arranged in the top area of the installation space 12. If a gas component shall be detected, the density of which is higher than the density of air, the gas sensor 47 is preferably arranged in the bottom area of the installation space 12. Multiple gas sensors 47 for detection of different gas components can be arranged at different installation locations.

As schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, gas sensor 47 can also be arranged independent from an electrical and/or electronic component 48 in or on the outer housing 11.

It is again indicated that the number of gas sensors 47 and their respective spatial installation location with reference to the outer housing 11 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is exemplary only. Preferably the at least one gas sensor 47 is arranged in combination with an electrical and/or electronic component 48 in the installation space 12, e.g. on a provided control device, such as the fan control device 33, the valve control device 30 or the pump control device 42.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, fan 32 can comprise a main rotor 52 and as an option in addition a cooling rotor 53. The two rotors 52, 53 are driven by means of the common fan motor 34. In case of a rotation, the main rotor 52 creates the flow of the oxidizing agent, according to the example air L, while the cooling rotor 53 creates a cooling flow C serving to cool the fan control device 33 and/or to circulate air at a gas sensor 47 arranged there.

As apparent from FIG. 3 and also from FIGS. 1 and 2, gas sensor 47 can be arranged inside a flow of oxidizing agent (air L) and/or inside cooling flow C. During operation of the fan 32 the atmosphere in the installation space 12 is swirled, such that their gas components are better mixed, particularly if they have densities remarkably different from one another. By arranging the at least one gas sensor 47 in a flow created by fan 32, their gas components that shall be detected by the respective gas sensor 47 can be detected quicker 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 combustion chamber 16. In addition, one or more additional gas sensors 47 can be provided.

According to the example, the superordinate control device 46 is configured for checking whether the condition of the atmosphere that has been detected by means of the at least one gas sensor 47 is allowable or non-allowable. If in an embodiment no superordinate control device 46 is provided, this function can also be taken over by another present control device, for example the fan control device 33, the valve control device 30 or the pump control device 42. An allowable condition of the atmosphere is determined, if the atmosphere does not contain undesired gas components that are present in a concentration above a limit value assigned to the gas component. For example, an allowable atmosphere is determined, if it comprises components in concentrations that are in the range of the usual air atmosphere inside a building or part of a building. If the atmosphere comprises undesired concentrations of one or more gas components (e.g. CO₂, CO, unburned gaseous fuel, etc.), this can be recognized.

By way of example, FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram for a method progress that can be carried out by the superordinate control device 46 or as an option by one of the other control devices.

After start of the method in a first method step V1 an actual measurement value is read in a second method step V2 that characterizes the atmosphere. For this a respective sensor signal S1-S5 from one or more gas sensors 47 is read. Based on the sensor signal S1-S5 it is then determined whether the condition of the atmosphere is allowable or not (third method step V3). For this purpose a threshold comparison or a comparison with an allowable value range can be carried out, for example. During this comparison—provided that multiple gas sensors 47 are present—different thresholds or allowable value ranges can be assigned to the different sensor signals S1-S5 respectively. Instead of at least one threshold, also characteristic curves, characteristic maps, look-up tables or similar can be used that consider parameters in addition to the measurement value or the sensor signal S1-S5, e.g. the actual operating condition of the heating device 10.

If it is determined in the third method step V3 that the atmosphere is normal and thus in an allowable range (branch OK from the third method step V3), the method is again continued in the second method step V2.

If however an unallowed condition of the atmosphere is determined, for example because the atmosphere comprises an unallowed concentration of a gas component (branch NOK from the third method step V3), the method is continued in a fourth method step V4 and a measure is initiated as reaction to the determined unallowed condition of the atmosphere.

The initiation of a measure can comprise the creation or submission of a warning message. For example, such a warning message can be output to an external unit, particularly a mobile unit, such as a smartphone. The transmission can be carried out via a local network and/or the internet and/or a telephone connection. The warning message can be of arbitrary type, for example acoustically and/or optically and/or haptically.

Such a warning message can also be output locally inside a building or part of a building, for example by means of the user interface 45 of heating device 10. If heating device 10 is part of a network system, also other system participants can output the warning message acoustically and/or optically, e.g. smoke detectors, warning lights, warning speakers, etc. that are present in the system.

As an alternative or preferably additional measure, heating device 10 can be transitioned into a predefined operating condition. In this operating condition fan 32 can be operated, however, the burner unit can be shut down. For this fuel valve 29 can be closed such that no fuel B is fed to burner 17. In addition, ignition of a combustion at burner 17 can be inhibited. In this operating condition the gas atmosphere in the installation space 12 is sucked and fed outward via exhaust channel 22. In doing so, the danger is reduced that an ignitable gas atmosphere forms inside the installation space 12 or the environment 13.

Checking of the atmosphere can be carried out in a time-controlled and/or event-triggered manner. This check can also be carried out, if the heating device 10 is shut down, e.g. on warm summer days on which no radiation heat is needed. It is thereby possible to switch on the fan 32 for a predefined period prior to and/or during measurement of the atmosphere by means of the at least one gas sensor 47 in order to achieve swirl and mixing of the atmosphere, such that an improved detection can be guaranteed. This is particularly advantageous, if the at least one gas sensor is arranged in the flow of air L and/or the cooling flow C (FIG. 4).

The invention refers to a heating device 10 as well as a method for the operation thereof. The heating device 10 has an outer housing 11 that surrounds an installation space 12. The components of heating device 10 are arranged inside or on the outer housing 11, particularly a burner unit 14, a fan 32, a fuel valve 29 and as an option a circulation pump 40. At least one of these units comprises at least one electrical and/or electronic component 48. On one or more of the anyway present electrical and/or electronic components 48 at least one gas sensor 47 is arranged on the outer housing 11 and/or inside the installation space 12, particularly on a support or a circuit board of the respective electrical and/or electronic component 48. The at least one gas sensor 47 is configured to create a sensor signal S1-S5 that describes the presence and/or concentration of at least one gas component in the atmosphere. Based thereon leakages, faults, undesired backflow, etc. can be determined. Thereupon a respective measure can be initiated, e.g. the output of a warning message and/or suction of the atmosphere by means of fan 32.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

• 10 heating device
• 11 outer housing
• 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 channel
• 23 discharge line
• 27 mixing area
• 28 fuel line
• 29 fuel valve
• 30 valve control device
• 31 supply channel
• 32 fan
• 32a fan housing
• 33 fan control device
• 34 fan motor
• 38 feed line
• 39 return line
• 40 circulation pump
• 41 pump motor
• 42 pump control device
• 43 heating circuit
• 44 heat emission arrangement
• 45 user interface
• 46 superordinate 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 method step
• V2 second method step
• V3 third method step
• V4 fourth method step
• W heat transfer medium

Claims

1. A heating device, comprising:

an outer housing that surrounds an installation space;

a burner unit comprising a burner and a burner housing and being arranged on the outer housing and/or inside the installation space;

a fuel valve being arranged on the outer housing and/or inside the installation space and being arranged in a fuel line and being configured to influence supply of fuel via the fuel line into a mixing area;

a fan being arranged on the outer housing and/or inside the installation space that is configured to create a flow of an oxidizing agent and/or a mixture of fuel and oxidizing agent into the mixing area;

at least one control device; and

at least one gas sensor being arranged on an electrical and/or electronic component of the heating device (on the outer housing and/or inside installation space and being configured to create a sensor signal that describes an atmosphere surrounding the outer housing and/or present inside the installation space and being configured to provide the sensor signal to the at least one control device that is configured to initiate a measure, if it is determined based on the sensor signal that the atmosphere deviates from an allowable condition.

2. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component comprises a support on which the at least one gas sensor is arranged.

3. The heating device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one gas sensor is wirelessly connected with the electrical and/or electronic component.

4. The heating device according to claim 2, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is arranged inside the installation space.

5. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is part of the at least one control device.

6. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is part of the fan.

7. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is part of the fuel valve.

8. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein further comprising a circulation pump, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is part of the circulation pump.

9. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the fan comprises a main rotor for producing the flow of the oxidizing agent and a cooling rotor for producing a cooling flow for an electrical and/or electronic component of the fan.

10. The heating device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one gas sensor of the provided gas sensors is arranged in the cooling flow or the flow of the oxidizing agent.

11. The heating device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one gas sensor is arranged in the flow of the oxidizing agent produced by the fan and the at least one control device is configured to evaluate a quality of the oxidizing agent.

12. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one control device is configured to switch on the fan or keep the fan switched on prior to and/or during measurement of the atmosphere by means of the at least one gas sensors, independent from whether the burner is in operation.

13. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one control device is configured to output a warning message as a measure in case of an unallowed condition of the atmosphere.

14. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one control device is configured to operate the fan as measure in case of an unallowed condition of the atmosphere in order to create a sucking flow of atmosphere out of the installation space into an exhaust channel.

15. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the fan comprises a fan housing that surrounds a flow path through fan and that comprises at least one housing part made of plastic.

16. A method for operating a heating device, wherein the heating device comprises an outer housing surrounding an installation space, a burner unit having a burner and a burner housing, a fan, a fuel valve, at least one control device and at least one gas sensor that is arranged on an electrical and/or electronic component of the heating device on the outer housing and/or inside the installation space, wherein the method comprises:

creation of a sensor signal by means of the at least one gas sensor that characterizes an atmosphere surrounding the outer housing and/or an atmosphere present inside the installation space;

providing the sensor signal (to the at least one control device; and

evaluating the sensor signal by means of the at least one control device and initiating a measure, if it is determined based on the sensor signal that the atmosphere deviates from an allowed condition.

17. The heating device according to claim 3, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is arranged inside the installation space.

18. The heating device according to claim 17, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is part of the at least one control device.

19. The heating device according to claim 18, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is part of the fan.

20. The heating device according to claim 19, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is part of the fuel valve.