METHOD FOR OPERATING A GAS BURNER APPLIANCE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating a gas burner appliance.

[0002] Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a gas burner appliance 10. The gas burner appliance 10 comprises a gas burner 11 for combusting a gas/air mixture. Figure 1 shows flames 12 resulting from the combustion of the gas/air mixture. The gas burner appliance 10 further comprises a primary heat exchanger 13 for heating service water 14 by the combustion of said gas/air mixture. The heated service water 14 can be provided to a heating system 15 having at least one radiator 16. A pump 17 circulates the service water 14. The gas burner appliance 10 further comprises a secondary heat exchanger 18 for heating domestic water 19 by the heated service water 14. The gas burner appliance 10 further comprises a valve 20.

[0003] In a first operation mode or winter operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10 the heated service water 14 is provided to the heating system 15 and/or to the secondary heat exchanger 18 depending on the position of the valve 20. If no heat demand for domestic hot water is present during the first operation mode or winter operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10, the heated service water 14 is only provided to the heating system 15 by switching the valve 20 to a first position. If a heat demand for domestic hot water is present during the first operation mode or winter operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10, the valve 20 is switched to a second position and the heated service water 14 is partially or completely provided to secondary heat exchanger 18.

[0004] In a second operation mode or summer operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10 the heated service water 14 is only provided to the secondary heat exchanger 18 to provide domestic hot water 19. In the second operation mode or summer operation mode there occurs no heat demand from the heating system. In the second or summer operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10 the gas burner 11 is usually only started if a heat demand for domestic hot water is present.

[0005] As mentioned above, a gas/air mixture is combusted by the gas burner 11. The gas/air mixture has a defined mixing ratio of gas and air. The gas/air mixture having the defined mixing ratio of gas and air is provided by mixing an air flow 21 with a gas flow 22. The quantity of the gas/air mixture provided to the gas burner 11 is adjusted by a fan 23. So, the modulation of the gas burner load is effected by controlling the speed of the fan 23. The defined mixing ratio of gas and air within the gas/air mixture is controlled by a controller 24 on basis of a signal provided by an electrical or electronic sensor 25. In Figure 1, the electrical or electronic sensor 25 is provided by a flame ionization sensor. The controller 24 generates a control variable for an actuator 26 of a gas valve 27 to control the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture based on the signal provided by the electrical or electronic sensor 25.

[0006] A gas burner appliance making use of a signal provided by an electrical or electronic sensor to control the mixing ratio of gas and air within the gas/air mixture is also called electronic gas/air-control gas burner appliance.

[0007] It should be noted that other electrical or electronic sensors can be used to establish an electronic gas/air-control. Example given, a signal of a pressure sensor or flow meter or a signal of a temperature sensor can be provided to the controller 24 in order to generate the control variable for controlling the defined mixing ratio of gas and air within the gas/air mixture.

[0008] US 5 775 582 discloses a method for operating a gas burner appliance, said gas burner appliance comprising a primary heat exchanger 6 for heating service water 20 by the combustion of gas/air mixture, and a secondary heat exchanger 19B for heating domestic water 19A using the heated service water, wherein during burner-on phases caused by a heat demand of the gas burner the gas/air mixture is provided to the gas burner. The document mentions a sensor calibration routine.

[0009] EP 1 084 369 B1 and EP 1 179 159 B1 each disclose a method to control the mixing ratio of gas and air within the gas/air mixture on basis of a signal provided by an electrical or electronic pressure sensor or flow meter. An actual value corresponding to a pressure ratio between a gas pressure in a gas duct and an air pressure in an air duct or corresponding to a pressure ratio between the gas pressure in the gas duct and the air pressure at the reference point is provided by the electrical or electronic sensor, wherein this actual value is compared with a nominal value. A control variable for a gas valve assigned to the gas duct is generated on basis of the control deviation between the actual value and nominal value, wherein the gas valve is adjusted on basis of this control variable in order to control the defined mixing ratio of gas and air in the gas/air mixture.

[0010] Electronic gas/air-control gas burner appliances need to be calibrated example given to compensate different gas qualities to ensure an optimum and complete combustion of the gas. DE 10 2004 051 270 A1 discloses a method to calibrate an electronic gas/air-control gas burner appliance on basis a signal provided by a flame ionization sensor. DE 10 2008 031 979 A1 also discloses a calibration of the defined gas air mixing ratio of a gas/air mixture to compensate different gas qualities on basis of a signal provided by a flame ionization sensor.

[0011] In EP 1 084 369 B1 and EP 1 179 159 B1 the calibration can be effected on basis of the signal provided by the electrical or electronic pressure sensor or flow meter.

[0012] Other prior art is known from EP 2 631 541 A1, EP 1 522 790 A2, US 2017/292698 A1 and EP 1 207 340 A2.

[0013] In the first operation mode or winter operation mode of the gas burner appliance the calibration of a gas burner appliance, namely the calibration of the mixing ratio of gas and air within the gas/air mixture to e.g. compensate different gas qualities, can be effected without any loss of comfort for the end user when the gas burner is running in order to provide hot service water for the heating system.

[0014] However, in the second operation mode or summer operation mode of the gas burner appliance the calibration of a gas burner appliance would result into a loss of comfort for the end user, because the calibration requires a burner start which would usually only occurs when a heat demand for domestic hot water is present. During the calibration of the gas burner appliance a modulation of the burner load is not allowed which would then cause the loss of comfort for the end user.

[0015] Against this background, a novel method for operating a gas burner appliance is provided.

[0016] The method for operating a gas burner according to the present invention is defined in the claim 1.

[0017] In the second operation mode or summer operation mode of the gas burner appliance the calibration of the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture is initiated in such a way that a value being representative of a number of starts and/or of an operating time of the gas burner and a temperature being representative of the temperature of the gas burner are monitored.

[0018] If the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts and/or of the operating time reaches or crosses a first threshold, and if further the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below or is below a second threshold, then the gas burner is started without presence of a heat demand to calibrate the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture.

[0019] The method according to the present invention allows the calibration of a gas burner appliance without loss of comfort for the end user.

[0020] If the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts and/or of the operating time reaches or crosses a security threshold, and if no heat demand for domestic hot water is present, and if the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below or is below the second threshold, then the gas burner appliance is switched to the first or winter operation mode and thereafter the gas burner is started without presence of a heat demand for domestic hot water to calibrate the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture. This allows the calibration of a gas burner appliance without loss of comfort for the end user.

[0021] If the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts and/or of the operating time reaches or crosses the security threshold, and if a heat demand for domestic hot water is present, and if the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below or is below the second threshold, then the gas burner is started to calibrate the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture. However, if in this scenario the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature is above the second threshold, then the gas burner start is delayed and the gas burner becomes started when the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below the second threshold. If the calibration has been started when a heat demand for domestic hot water is present, a modulation of the gas burner loads is delayed and allowed after the calibration is finished. This allows the calibration of a gas burner appliance with almost no loss of comfort for the end user.

[0022] The temperature being representative of the temperature of the gas burner is also monitored after the gas burner and the calibration have been started, wherein the gas burner is stopped either if the calibration is finished or if during calibration the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or exceeds a third threshold. This avoids an overheating of the gas burner during calibration of the gas burner appliance.

[0023] Preferred developments of the invention are provided by the dependent claims and the description which follows. Exemplary embodiments are explained in more detail on the basis of the drawing, in which:

Figure 1

shows a schematic view of a gas burner appliance;

Figure 2

shows a schematic signal flow diagram illustrating the method according to present invention.

[0024] As already explained above, Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a gas burner appliance 10.

[0025] The gas burner appliance 10 comprises a gas burner 11 for combusting a gas/air mixture. Figure 1 shows flames 12 resulting from the combustion of the gas/air mixture. The gas burner appliance 10 further comprises a primary heat exchanger 13 for heating service water 14 by the combustion of said gas/air mixture. The heated service water 14 can be provided to a heating system 15 having at least one radiator 16. A pump 17 circulates the service water 14.

[0026] The gas burner appliance 10 further comprises a secondary heat exchanger 18 for heating domestic water 19 by the heated service water 14. The gas burner appliance 10 further comprises a valve 20. The valve 20 is preferably a three-way valve.

[0027] The gas/air mixture provided to the gas burner 11 has a defined mixing ratio of gas and air. The gas/air mixture is provided by mixing an airflow 21 with a gas flow 22. The quantity of the gas/air mixture provided to the gas burner 11 is adjusted by a fan 23. So, the modulation of the gas burner load is effected by controlling the speed of the fan 23.

[0028] The defined mixing ratio of gas and air within the gas/air mixture provided to the gas burner 11 is controlled by a controller 24 on basis of a signal provided by an electrical or electronic sensor 25.

[0029] In Figure 1, the electrical or electronic sensor 25 is provided by a flame ionization sensor. The controller 24 generates a control variable for an actuator 26 of a gas valve 27 to control the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture based on the signal provided by the electrical or electronic sensor 25.

[0030] The gas burner appliance 10 can be operated in a first operation mode, also often called winter operation mode, or in a second operation mode, also often called summer operation mode. Usually, an end user chooses the operation manually by pressing a button on the controller 24.

[0031] In the first operation mode or winter operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10 the heated service water 14 is provided to the heating system 15 and/or to the secondary heat exchanger 18 depending on the position of the valve 20. In the first operation mode or winter operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10 there is usually a heat demand from the heating system 15 present causing that the gas burner 11 is started and running.

[0032] If no heat demand for domestic hot water is present during the first operation mode or winter operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10, the heated service water 14 is only provided to the heating system 15 by automatically switching the valve 20 to a first position.

[0033] If a heat demand for domestic hot water is present during the first operation mode or winter operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10, the valve 20 is automatically switched to a second position and the heated service water 14 is partially or completely provided to secondary heat exchanger 18.

[0034] In the second operation mode or summer operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10 the heated service water 14 is only provided to the secondary heat exchanger 18 to provide domestic hot water 19. In the second operation mode or summer operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10 the valve 20 is switched to a position in which the heated service water 14 is completely provided to secondary heat exchanger 18. In the second operation mode or summer operation mode there occurs no heat demand from the heating system 15. In the second operation mode or summer operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10 the gas burner 11 is usually only started if a demand for domestic hot water is present.

[0035] The present invention relates to a method to calibrate the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture in the second operation mode or summer operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10, namely when the end user has chosen the second operation mode or summer operation mode and when no heat demand from the heating system 15 occurs.

[0036] For the calibration of the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture in the second operation mode or summer operation mode of the gas burner appliance 10 a value being representative of the number of starts of the gas burner 11 and/or being representative of the operating time of the gas burner 11 is monitored, and further a temperature being representative of the temperature of the gas burner 11 is monitored.

[0037] If the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts and/or being representative of the operating time of the gas burner 11 reaches or crosses a first threshold, and if further the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below or is below a second threshold, then the gas burner 11 is started for the calibration without presence of a heat demand for domestic hot water to calibrate the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture to compensate example given different gas qualities. This allows the calibration of a gas burner appliance 10 when the second operation mode or summer operation mode of the same has been chosen without loss of comfort for the end user.

[0038] Further details of the invention will be described under reference to the flow diagram 100 of Figure 2.

[0039] Preferably, a value being representative of a number of starts of the gas burner 11 is monitored. This can be accomplished by monitoring a value of a down counter which reduces the counter value by 1 with each burner start. It is also possible to monitor a value being representative of the operating time of the gas burner 11. In the following description making reference to Figure 2 it is assumed that a value being representative of a number of starts of the gas burner 11 is monitored.

[0040] Block 101 of Figure 2 illustrates that the value of the down counter is compared with a first threshold, In block 102 of Figure 3 the value of the down counter is compared with a security threshold being smaller than the first threshold.

[0041] If the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts reaches or crosses, namely falls below the first threshold (block 101 Y - YES), and if the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts does not reach the security threshold (block 102 N - NO), then in block 103 the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature is compared with the second threshold.

[0042] If the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below or is below a second threshold (block 103 Y - YES), then for calibration the pump 17 is automatically started in block 104 and the gas burner 11 is automatically started in block 105 without presence of a heat demand for domestic hot water. A calibration routine becomes automatically executed. Calibration routines as such are known to the person skilled in the art.

[0043] After the gas burner 11 and calibration routine have been started and during the calibration routine is executed, the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature is still monitored. In block 106 it is checked if the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or exceeds a third threshold or if the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature does not reach or exceed the third threshold.

[0044] If the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature does not reach or exceed the third threshold (block 106 Y - YES) and if the calibration is in block 107 determined to be finished (block 107 Y - YES), then the gas burner 11, namely the combustion of the gas/air mixture by the gas burner 11, is stopped in block 108.

[0045] If the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or exceeds the third threshold (block 106 N - NO), then then the gas burner 11, namely the combustion of the gas/air mixture by the gas burner 11, is also stopped in block 108.

[0046] If in block 107 the calibration is determined to be not finished (block 107 N - NO), the calibration is continued by turning back to block 106.

[0047] The gas burner appliance 10 may be operated in a comfort mode during the second operation mode or summer operation mode. Such a comfort mode keeps the secondary heat exchanger 18 at a defined temperature so that domestic hot water can be provided in a short time frame after a heat demand for domestic hot water occurs. If the gas burner appliance 10 can be operated in such a comfort mode, the comfort mode is automatically switched off in optional block 109 before block 103 is executed.

[0048] If the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts reaches or crosses, namely falls below the first threshold (block 101 Y - YES), and if the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts reaches or crosses the security threshold (block 102 Y - YES), then in block 110 the presence of a heat demand for domestic hot water is checked. If the gas burner appliance 10 can be operated in a comfort mode, the comfort mode is automatically switched off in optional block 109 before block 110 is executed.

[0049] If no heat demand for domestic hot water is present (block 110 N - NO), then in block 103 the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature is compared with the second threshold.

[0050] If the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below or is below a second threshold (block 103 Y - YES), then the gas burner appliance 10 is switched in block 111 automatically to the first operation mode or winter operation mode by switching the valve 20 to the first position, and afterwards blocks 104, 105, 106, 107 and 108 are executed as described above.

[0051] The switching of the gas burner appliance 10 to the first operation mode or winter operation mode while no heat demand for domestic hot water is present is allowed only for a limited number of times, preferably only once. So, the blocks framed by dashed lines in Figure 1 will therefore be executed only for the limited number of times, preferably only once.

[0052] If the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts reaches or crosses, namely falls below the first threshold (block 101 Y - YES), and if the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts reaches or crosses the security threshold (block 102 Y - YES), and if no heat demand for domestic hot water is present is (block 110 N - NO), and if the limited number of times is reached, then is it assumed a heat demand would be present and block 110 is continued with the path Y-YES.

[0053] Is a heat demand for domestic hot water is present or assumed to be present (block 110 Y - YES), then in block 103 the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature is compared with the second threshold.

[0054] If the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below or is below a second threshold (block 103 Y - YES), then the pump 17 is automatically started in block 104 and the gas burner 11 and calibration is automatically started in block 105.

[0055] If the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature is above the second threshold (block 103 N - NO) while a heat demand for domestic hot water is present or assumed to be present (block 110 Y - YES), then the pump 17 is automatically started in block 104 and the start of gas burner 11 in block 105 is delayed until it is detected in block 103a that the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below the second threshold.

[0056] After the gas burner 11 and calibration 11 have been started in block 105 than blocks 112, 113 become executed.

[0057] In block 112 (corresponding to block 106) it is checked if the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or exceeds a third threshold or if the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature does not reach or exceed the third threshold.

[0058] In block 113 (corresponding to block 107) it is checked in the calibration is finished.

[0059] If it is detected that the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature does not reach or exceed the third threshold (block 112 Y - YES) and if it is further detected that the calibration is finished (block 113 Y - YES), then in block 114 the modulation of the gas burner load is allowed to provide domestic hot water according to the corresponding heat demand.

[0060] If it is detected that the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or exceeds the third threshold (block 112 N - NO), then the gas burner appliance 10 is switched in block 111 automatically to the first operation mode or winter operation mode by switching the valve 20 to the first position, and afterwards blocks 112a and 113a are executed as described above. Block 112a corresponds to block 112 and block 113a corresponds to block 113.

[0061] After the calibration is finished (block 113a Y - YES), then in block 115 the gas burner appliance 10 is switched back in block 115 automatically to the second operation mode or summer operation mode by switching the valve 20, and afterwards in block 114 the modulation of the gas burner load is allowed to provide domestic hot water according to the corresponding heat demand.

[0062] If it is detected that the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or exceeds the third threshold (block 112a N - NO), then the gas burner 11 is stopped in block 108.

List of reference signs

[0063] 

10

gas burner appliance

11

gas burner

12

flame

13

primary heat exchanger

14

service water

15

heating system

16

radiator

17

pump

18

secondary heat exchanger

19

domestic water

20

valve

21

airflow

22

gas flow

23

fan

24

controller

25

ionization sensor

26

actuator

27

gas valve

100

flow diagram

101

block

102

block

103

block

103a

block

104

block

105

block

106

block

107

block

108

block

109

block

110

block

112

block

112a

block

113

block

113a

Block

114

block

115

block

Claims

1. Method for operating a gas burner appliance (10), wherein

said gas burner appliance (10) comprises a gas burner (11) for combusting a gas/air mixture,

said gas burner appliance (10) further comprises a primary heat exchanger (13) for heating service water (14) by the combustion of said gas/air mixture, and a secondary heat exchanger (18) for heating domestic water (19) using the heated service water (14),

wherein in a first operation mode or winter operation mode of the gas burner appliance (10) the heated service water (14) is provided to a heating system (15) and/or to the secondary heat exchanger (18),

wherein in a second operation mode or summer operation mode of the gas burner appliance (10) the heated service water (14) is only provided to the secondary heat exchanger (18),

during burner-on phases caused by a heat demand of the gas burner (11) the gas/air mixture having a defined mixing ratio of gas and air is provided to the gas burner (11),
during burner-on phases caused by a heat demand of the gas burner (11) the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture can be controlled and/or calibrated on basis of a signal provided by an electrical or electronic sensor (25), wherein in the second operation mode or summer operation mode of the gas burner appliance (10) the calibration of the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture is initiated in such a way that

a value being representative of a number of starts and/or of an operating time of the gas burner (11) is monitored,

a temperature being representative of the temperature of the gas burner (11) is monitored,

if the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts and/or of the operating time reaches or crosses a first threshold, and

if further the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below or is below a second threshold,

then the gas burner (11) is started without presence of a heat demand to calibrate the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein

if the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts and/or of the operating time reaches or crosses a security threshold, and

if no heat demand is present, and

if the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below or is below the second threshold,

then the gas burner appliance (10) is switched to the first or winter operation mode and thereafter the gas burner (11) is started without presence of a heat demand to calibrate the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the switching of the gas burner appliance (10) to the first operation mode or winter operation mode while no heat demand is present is allowed only for a limited number of times, preferably only once.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

if the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts and/or of the operating time reaches or crosses a security threshold, and

if a heat demand is present, and

if the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below or is below the second threshold,

then the gas burner (11) is started to calibrate the defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

if the value being representative of the number of gas burner starts and/or of the operating time reaches or crosses a security threshold, and

if a heat demand is present, and

if the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature is above the second threshold,

then the gas burner start is delayed and the gas burner (11) becomes started when the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or falls below the second threshold.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the temperature being representative of the temperature of the gas burner (11) is also monitored after the gas burner and the calibration have been started, wherein the gas burner (11) is stopped either if the calibration is finished or if during calibration the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or exceeds a third threshold.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein

if the calibration has been started when a heat demand is present, and

if during calibration the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature reaches or exceeds said third threshold,

then the gas burner appliance (10) is switched to the first operation mode or winter operation mode, the calibration is continued and the temperature being representative of the temperature of the gas burner (11) is monitored, wherein the gas burner (11) is stopped either if the calibration is finished or if the temperature being representative of the gas burner temperature remains above the third threshold.

8. Method according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein if the gas burner and the calibration have been started when a heat demand is present and if the gas burner appliance (10) has been switched to the first operation mode or winter operation mode for calibration, then the gas burner appliance (10) is switched back to the second operation mode or summer operation mode before modulating of the gas burner load.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zum Betreiben eines Gasbrennergerätes (10), wobei
das Gasbrennergerät (10) einen Gasbrenner (11) zum Verbrennen eines Gas/Luft-Gemischs umfasst,
das Gasbrennergerät (10) ferner einen primären Wärmetauscher (13) zum Erhitzen von Brauchwasser (14) durch die Verbrennung des Gas/Luft-Gemischs und einen sekundären Wärmetauscher (18) zum Erhitzen von Brauchwasser (19) unter Verwendung des erhitzten Brauchwassers (14) umfasst,

wobei in einer ersten Betriebsart oder Winterbetriebsart des Gasbrennergerätes (10) das erhitzte Brauchwasser (14) einem Heizsystem (15) und/oder dem sekundären Wärmetauscher (18) zugeführt wird,

wobei in einer zweiten Betriebsart oder Sommerbetriebsart des Gasbrennergerätes (10) das erhitzte Brauchwasser (14) nur dem sekundären Wärmetauscher (18) zugeführt wird,

während Brenner-Ein-Phasen, die durch einen Wärmebedarf des Gasbrenners (11) verursacht werden, das Gas/Luft-Gemisch mit einem definierten Mischungsverhältnis von Gas und Luft dem Gasbrenner (11) zugeführt wird,
während durch einen Wärmebedarf des Gasbrenners (11) verursachten Brenner-Ein-Phasen das definierte Mischungsverhältnis von Gas und Luft des Gas/LuftGemisches basierend auf einem durch einen elektrischen oder elektronischen Sensor (25) gelieferten Signal gesteuert und/oder kalibriert werden kann,
wobei
in der zweiten Betriebsart oder Sommerbetriebsart des Gasbrennergerätes (10) die Kalibrierung des definierten Mischungsverhältnisses von Gas und Luft des Gas/Luft-Gemisches so eingeleitet wird, dass

ein für eine Anzahl von Einschaltungen und/oder für eine Betriebszeit des Gasbrenners (11) repräsentativer Wert überwacht wird,

eine für die Temperatur des Gasbrenners (11) repräsentative Temperatur überwacht wird,

wenn der für die Anzahl der Gasbrennereinschaltungen und/oder die Betriebszeit repräsentative Wert einen ersten Schwellenwert erreicht oder durchquert, und

wenn ferner die für die Temperatur des Gasbrenners repräsentative Temperatur einen zweiten Schwellenwert erreicht oder unterschreitet oder darunter liegt,

dann der Gasbrenner (11) ohne Vorhandensein eines Wärmebedarfs eingeschaltet wird, um das definierte Mischungsverhältnis von Gas und Luft des Gas/LuftGemisches zu kalibrieren.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei
wenn der für die Anzahl der Gasbrennereinschaltungen und/oder die Betriebszeit repräsentative Wert einen Sicherheitsschwellenwert erreicht oder durchquert, und
wenn kein Wärmebedarf vorhanden ist, und
wenn die für die Temperatur des Gasbrenners repräsentative Temperatur den zweiten Schwellenwert erreicht oder unterschreitet oder darunter liegt,
dann das Gasbrennergerät (10) in die erste oder Winterbetriebsart geschaltet wird und danach der Gasbrenner (11) ohne Vorhandensein eines Wärmebedarfs eingeschaltet wird, um das definierte Mischungsverhältnis von Gas und Luft des Gas/LuftGemisches zu kalibrieren.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, wobei
das Umschalten des Gasbrennergerätes (10) in die erste Betriebsart oder Winterbetriebsart, während kein Wärmebedarf vorhanden ist, nur für eine begrenzte Anzahl von Malen, vorzugsweise nur einmal, zulässig ist.

4. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei
wenn der für die Anzahl der Gasbrennereinschaltungen und/oder die Betriebszeit repräsentative Wert einen Sicherheitsschwellenwert erreicht oder durchquert, und
wenn ein Wärmebedarf vorhanden ist und
wenn die für die Temperatur des Gasbrenners repräsentative Temperatur den zweiten Schwellenwert erreicht oder unterschreitet oder darunter liegt,
dann der Gasbrenner (11) eingeschaltet wird, um das definierte Mischungsverhältnis von Gas und Luft des Gas/Luft-Gemisches zu kalibrieren.

5. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei
wenn der für die Anzahl der Gasbrennereinschaltungen und/oder die Betriebszeit repräsentative Wert einen Sicherheitsschwellenwert erreicht oder durchquert, und
wenn ein Wärmebedarf vorhanden ist und
wenn die für die Temperatur des Gasbrenners repräsentative Temperatur über dem zweiten Schwellenwert liegt,
dann das Einschalten des Gasbrenners verzögert und der Gasbrenner (11) eingeschaltet wird, wenn die für die Temperatur des Gasbrenners repräsentative Temperatur den zweiten Schwellenwert erreicht oder unterschreitet.

6. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei die für die Temperatur des Gasbrenners (11) repräsentative Temperatur auch überwacht wird, nachdem der Gasbrenner eingeschaltet und die Kalibrierung begonnen wurde, wobei der Gasbrenner (11) entweder ausgeschaltet wird, wenn die Kalibrierung beendet ist oder wenn während der Kalibrierung die für die Temperatur des Gasbrenners repräsentative Temperatur einen dritten Schwellenwert erreicht oder überschreitet.

7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6, wobei
wenn die Kalibrierung begonnen wurde, wenn ein Wärmebedarf vorhanden ist, und
wenn während der Kalibrierung die für die Temperatur des Gasbrenners repräsentative Temperatur den dritten Schwellenwert erreicht oder überschreitet,
dann das Gasbrennergerät (10) in die erste Betriebsart oder Winterbetriebsart geschaltet, die Kalibrierung fortgesetzt und die für die Temperatur des Gasbrenners (11) repräsentative Temperatur überwacht wird, wobei der Gasbrenner (11) entweder ausgeschaltet wird, wenn die Kalibrierung beendet ist oder wenn die für die Gasbrennertemperatur repräsentative Temperatur über dem dritten Schwellenwert bleibt.

8. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 7, wobei
wenn der Gasbrenner eingeschaltet und die Kalibrierung begonnen wurde, wenn ein Wärmebedarf vorhanden ist und wenn das Gasbrennergerät (10) zur Kalibrierung in die erste Betriebsart oder Winterbetriebsart geschaltet wurde, dann das Gasbrennergerät (10) vor dem Modulieren der Gasbrennerlast wieder in die zweite Betriebsart oder Sommerbetriebsart geschaltet wird.

Revendications

1. Procédé pour faire fonctionner un appareil (10) à brûleur à gaz,
ledit appareil (10) à brûleur à gaz comportant un brûleur (11) à gaz servant à brûler un mélange gaz/air,
ledit appareil (10) à brûleur à gaz comportant en outre un échangeur (13) de chaleur primaire servant à chauffer de l'eau (14) de service par la combustion dudit mélange gaz/air, et un échangeur (18) de chaleur secondaire servant à chauffer de l'eau domestique (19) en utilisant l'eau (14) de service chauffée,

dans un premier mode de fonctionnement, ou mode de fonctionnement d'hiver, de l'appareil (10) à brûleur à gaz, l'eau (14) de service chauffée étant fournie à un système (15) de chauffage et/ou à l'échangeur (18) de chaleur secondaire,

dans un deuxième mode de fonctionnement, ou mode de fonctionnement d'été, de l'appareil (10) à brûleur à gaz, l'eau (14) de service chauffée étant uniquement fournie à l'échangeur (18) de chaleur secondaire,

pendant des phases d'allumage du brûleur causées par une demande de chaleur du brûleur (11) à gaz, le mélange gaz/air présentant un rapport de mélange défini de gaz et d'air étant fourni au brûleur (11) à gaz,
pendant des phases d'allumage du brûleur causées par une demande de chaleur du brûleur (11) à gaz, le rapport de mélange défini de gaz et d'air du mélange gaz/air pouvant être régulé et/ou étalonné sur la base d'un signal fourni par un capteur électrique ou électronique (25),
dans le deuxième mode de fonctionnement, ou mode de fonctionnement d'été, de l'appareil (10) à brûleur à gaz, l'étalonnage du rapport de mélange défini de gaz et d'air du mélange gaz/air étant lancé de telle manière que

une valeur qui est représentative d'un nombre de démarrages et/ou d'un temps de fonctionnement du brûleur (11) à gaz est surveillée,

une température qui est représentative de la température du brûleur (11) à gaz est surveillée,

si la valeur qui est représentative du nombre de démarrages du brûleur à gaz et/ou du temps de fonctionnement atteint ou franchit un premier seuil, et

si en outre la température qui est représentative de la température du brûleur à gaz atteint ou tombe au-dessous ou se situe au-dessous d'un deuxième seuil,

alors le brûleur (11) à gaz est démarré sans la présence d'une demande de chaleur pour étalonner le rapport de mélange défini de gaz et d'air du mélange gaz/air.

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel
si la valeur qui est représentative du nombre de démarrages du brûleur à gaz et/ou du temps de fonctionnement atteint ou franchit un seuil de sécurité, et
si aucune demande de chaleur n'est présente, et
si la température qui est représentative de la température du brûleur à gaz atteint ou tombe au-dessous ou se situe au-dessous du deuxième seuil,
alors l'appareil (10) à brûleur à gaz est placé dans le premier mode ou mode de fonctionnement d'hiver, puis le brûleur (11) à gaz est démarré sans la présence d'une demande de chaleur pour étalonner le rapport de mélange défini de gaz et d'air du mélange gaz/air.

3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, le passage de l'appareil (10) à brûleur à gaz au premier mode de fonctionnement, ou mode de fonctionnement d'hiver, alors qu'aucune demande de chaleur n'est présente n'étant autorisé qu'un nombre limité de fois, de préférence une seule fois.

4. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel
si la valeur qui est représentative du nombre de démarrages du brûleur à gaz et/ou du temps de fonctionnement atteint ou franchit un seuil de sécurité, et
si une demande de chaleur est présente, et
si la température qui est représentative de la température du brûleur à gaz atteint ou tombe au-dessous ou se situe au-dessous du deuxième seuil,
alors le brûleur (11) à gaz est démarré pour étalonner le rapport de mélange défini de gaz et d'air du mélange gaz/air.

5. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel
si la valeur qui est représentative du nombre de démarrages du brûleur à gaz et/ou du temps de fonctionnement atteint ou franchit un seuil de sécurité, et
si une demande de chaleur est présente, et
si la température qui est représentative de la température du brûleur à gaz est supérieure au deuxième seuil,
alors le démarrage du brûleur à gaz est retardé et le brûleur (11) à gaz est démarré lorsque la température qui est représentative de la température du brûleur à gaz atteint ou tombe au-dessous du deuxième seuil.

6. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, la température qui est représentative de la température du brûleur (11) à gaz étant également surveillée après que le brûleur à gaz et l'étalonnage ont été démarrés, le brûleur (11) à gaz étant arrêté soit si l'étalonnage est fini soit si, pendant l'étalonnage, la température qui est représentative de la température du brûleur à gaz atteint ou dépasse un troisième seuil.

7. Procédé selon la revendication 6, dans lequel
si l'étalonnage a été démarré lorsqu'une demande de chaleur est présente, et
si pendant l'étalonnage la température qui est représentative de la température du brûleur à gaz atteint ou dépasse ledit troisième seuil,
alors l'appareil (10) à brûleur à gaz est placé dans le premier mode de fonctionnement, ou mode de fonctionnement d'hiver, l'étalonnage est poursuivi et la température qui est représentative de la température du brûleur (11) à gaz est surveillée, le brûleur (11) à gaz étant arrêté soit si l'étalonnage est fini, soit si la température qui est représentative de la température du brûleur à gaz reste supérieure au troisième seuil.

8. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 4 à 7, dans lequel, si le brûleur à gaz et l'étalonnage ont été démarrés lorsqu'une demande de chaleur est présente et si l'appareil (10) à brûleur à gaz a été placé dans le premier mode de fonctionnement, ou mode de fonctionnement d'hiver, pour l'étalonnage, alors l'appareil (10) à brûleur à gaz est ramené au deuxième mode de fonctionnement, ou mode de fonctionnement d'été, avant la modulation de la charge du brûleur à gaz.

Drawing