GAS-BURNER DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A GAS-BURNER DEVICE

Abstract

A gas-burner device and a method for operating a gas-burner device, includes a conveyor device for conveying a gaseous fuel to a burner and includes a recirculation device for recirculating an exhaust gas quantity produced during the combustion of the fuel to the burner. A sensor device ascertains the composition of the fuel, and the recirculation device is designed to be controlled on the basis of the fuel composition detected by the sensor device.

Claims

1. A gas-burner device comprising a conveying apparatus (1) for conveying a gaseous fuel to a burner (2) and a recirculation apparatus (3) for returning to the burner (2) a quantity of exhaust gas produced during a combustion of the fuel, wherein a sensor apparatus (4) is provided for ascertaining a composition of the fuel and the recirculation apparatus (3) is configured so as to be controlled as a function of the composition of the fuel detected by the sensor apparatus (4).

2. The gas-burner device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor apparatus (4) is selectively configured as a gas chromatograph, as a gas thermal conductivity sensor, as an ionization sensor, as a UV sensor, as an oxygen sensor and/or as a temperature sensor.

3. The gas-burner device according to claim 1, wherein the recirculation apparatus (3) comprises a recirculation valve (3.1).

4. The gas-burner device according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed in the direction of flow of the fuel, a fuel-air mixing apparatus (5) is arranged upstream of the burner (2).

5. The gas-burner device according to claim 4, wherein the fuel-air mixing apparatus (5) has, in addition to a fuel supply connection (5.1) and an air supply connection (5.2), an exhaust gas supply connection (5.3) which is connected to the recirculation apparatus (3).

6. The gas-burner device according to claim 1, wherein the burner (2) is arranged in a combustion chamber (2.1) with an exhaust gas discharge connection (2.2) and the recirculation apparatus (3) has an exhaust gas connection (3.2) which is connected to the exhaust gas discharge connection (2.2).

7. The gas-burner device according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas connection (3.2) of the recirculation apparatus (3) is configured so as to be connected to an exhaust gas supply connection (5.3) of a fuel-air mixing apparatus (5) via a connecting line (3.3).

8. A method for operating a gas-burner device in which a gaseous fuel is conveyed by a conveying apparatus (1) to a burner (2) and a quantity of exhaust gas produced during a combustion of the fuel is returned to the burner (2) by a recirculation apparatus (3), wherein a composition of the fuel is ascertained by a sensor apparatus (4) and the recirculation apparatus (3) is controlled as a function of the composition of the fuel detected by the sensor apparatus (4).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the conveying apparatus (1) and the recirculation apparatus (3) in each case are controlled individually as a function of the composition of the fuel.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein selectively hydrogen and/or natural gas are or is used as the gaseous fuel.

Description

[0017] In the schematic drawing

[0018] FIG. 1 shows the gas-burner device according to the invention with a sensor apparatus which is arranged upstream of the fuel-air mixing apparatus, when viewed in the direction of flow of the fuel.

[0019] The gas-burner device shown in the FIGURE firstly consists in the known manner of a conveying apparatus 1 for conveying a gaseous fuel to a burner 2 and a recirculation apparatus 3 for returning to the burner 2 a quantity of exhaust gas produced during a combustion of the fuel. The conveying apparatus 1 preferably comprises a blower in this case.

[0020] Expressed in terms of the method, accordingly a method for operating a gas-burner device is provided in which a gaseous fuel is conveyed by a conveying apparatus 1 to a burner 2 and a quantity of exhaust gas produced during a combustion of the fuel is returned to the burner 2 by a recirculation apparatus 3.

[0021] It is thus essential to the gas-burner device according to the invention that a sensor apparatus 4 is provided for ascertaining a composition of the fuel and the recirculation apparatus 3 is configured to be controlled as a function of the composition of the fuel detected by the sensor apparatus 4.

[0022] Once again expressed in terms of the method, according to the invention it is provided that a composition of the fuel is ascertained by a sensor apparatus 4 and the recirculation apparatus 3 is controlled as a function of the composition of the fuel detected by the sensor apparatus 4.

[0023] Considered in more detail, it is particularly preferably provided that the sensor apparatus 4 is selectively configured as a gas chromatograph, as a gas thermal conductivity sensor, as an ionization sensor, as a UV sensor, as an oxygen sensor and/or as a temperature sensor (in particular a flame temperature sensor).

[0024] In this case, when viewed in the direction of flow of the fuel, the gas chromatograph and the gas thermal conductivity sensor are arranged upstream (i.e. in the region upstream of a combustion) and the ionization sensor, the UV sensor, the oxygen sensor and/or the temperature sensor are arranged downstream or on the burner 2 (i.e. in the region of the combustion). The only FIGURE shows schematically the option of a gas chromatograph or a gas thermal conductivity sensor on the fuel supply line. The remaining options are not specifically shown, since they are easily conceivable.

[0025] Relative to the above-mentioned UV sensor, it is particularly preferably provided here that this UV sensor is configured to detect OH bands in the wavelength range of 300 nm to 320 nm, preferably 308 nm, and CH bands in the wavelength range of 410 nm to 450 nm, preferably 430 nm (see also https://www.uni.due.de/ivg/rf/forschung/chemilumineszenz.php)

[0026] As described in the introduction, each sensor apparatus 4 is suitable for ascertaining the composition of the fuel used.

[0027] It is particularly preferably provided here that hydrogen and/or natural gas are or is selectively used as the gaseous fuel.

[0028] It is also particularly preferably provided here that, when using pure hydrogen as fuel, a greater quantity of exhaust gas is returned to the burner 2 than when using pure natural gas as fuel.

[0029] It is also preferably provided that, when using a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas as fuel, a smaller quantity of exhaust gas is returned to the burner 2 than when using pure hydrogen and a greater quantity of exhaust gas is returned to the burner than when using pure natural gas.

[0030] It is also preferably provided that the recirculation apparatus 3 comprises a recirculation valve 3.1 which is preferably and selectively arranged on the connecting line 3.3 (still to be described) and/or connected to a control apparatus 6. Alternatively, expressed in terms of the method: a quantity of exhaust gas returned to the burner 2 is controlled by a recirculation valve 3.1 belonging to the recirculation apparatus 3. As shown in the only FIGURE by the dotted line, the aforementioned control apparatus 6 is configured in terms of data technology to be selectively connected to the conveying apparatus 1, the sensor apparatus 4 and/or (as explained above) to the recirculation apparatus 3 or the (preferably electrically actuatable) recirculation valve 3.1. The conveying apparatus 1 and the recirculation apparatus 3 in each case are preferably controlled individually as a function of the composition of the fuel (preferably by the control apparatus 6).

[0031] Moreover, it is also particularly preferably provided that, when viewed in the direction of flow of the fuel, a fuel-air mixing apparatus 5 is arranged upstream of the burner 2, and preferably also upstream of the conveying apparatus 1, as shown. Alternatively, in other words: a fuel-air mixing apparatus 5, which is provided for mixing the gaseous fuel with air, is preferably controlled by the control apparatus 6 as a function of the composition of the gaseous fuel. It is further preferably provided here that this fuel-air mixing apparatus has, in addition to a fuel supply connection 5.1 and an air supply connection 5.2, an exhaust gas supply connection 5.3 which is connected to the recirculation apparatus 3.

[0032] It is also preferably provided that the burner 2 (for example—as shown schematically—a cylinder burner) is arranged in a combustion chamber 2.1 with an exhaust gas discharge connection 2.2 and the recirculation apparatus 3 has an exhaust gas connection 3.2 which is connected to the exhaust gas discharge connection 2.2. Finally, the exhaust gas connection 3.2 of the recirculation apparatus 3 is preferably configured so as to be connected to the exhaust gas supply connection 5.3 of the fuel-air mixing apparatus 5 via a connecting line 3.3.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0033] 1 Conveying apparatus [0034] 2 Burner [0035] 2.1 Combustion chamber [0036] 2.2 Exhaust gas discharge connection [0037] 3 Recirculation apparatus [0038] 3.1 Recirculation valve [0039] 3.2 Exhaust gas connection [0040] 3.3 Connecting line [0041] 4 Sensor apparatus [0042] 5 Fuel-air mixing apparatus [0043] 5.1 Fuel supply connection [0044] 5.2 Air supply connection [0045] 5.3 Exhaust gas supply connection [0046] 6 Control apparatus