HEATER

Abstract

This invention relates to a heater. A combustion air blower feeds combustion air to a burner device. The burner device burns a gas-air mixture from the combustion air and a fuel and serves for heating air. A circulating air blower discharges heated air from the heater. A control device acts on at least one component of the heater, wherein a night mode parameter set associated with an operation of the heater in a night mode and a default parameter set are stored in a data storage device. After an activation of the night mode, the control device accesses the night mode parameter set and uses the same for acting on the component. The night mode parameter set effects a reduction of background noise generated by the heater.

Claims

1. A heater, comprising a burner device, a combustion air blower, a circulating air blower, a control device and a data storage device, wherein the combustion air blower feeds combustion air to the burner device, wherein the burner device burns a gas-air mixture consisting of the combustion air and a gaseous fuel or fuel converted into a gaseous state, wherein the burner device at least serves for heating air, wherein the circulating air blower discharges heated air from the heater, wherein the control device acts on at least one component of the heater, wherein at least one night mode parameter set associated with an operation of the heater in a night mode and a default parameter set associated with an operation of the heater in a mode different from the night mode are stored in the data storage device, wherein after activation of the night mode, the control device accesses to the associated night mode parameter set and uses the same for acting on the at least one component, and wherein the night mode parameter set effects a reduction of background noise generated by the heater.

2. The heater according to claim 1, wherein the control device takes a lower temperature tolerance value from the night mode parameter set, wherein in the case that a temperature dependent on the heater is lower than a specifiable temperature setpoint value by more than the lower temperature tolerance value, the control device acts on the heater in a correcting manner, and wherein an amount of the lower temperature tolerance value is greater than an amount of a lower temperature tolerance value of the default parameter set.

3. The heater according to claim 1, wherein the control device takes an upper temperature tolerance value from the night mode parameter set, wherein in the case that a temperature dependent on the heater is higher than a specifiable temperature setpoint value by more than the upper temperature tolerance value, the control device acts on the heater in a correcting manner, and wherein an amount of the upper temperature tolerance value is greater than an amount of an upper temperature tolerance value of the default parameter set.

4. The heater according to claim 1, wherein the control device takes a temperature tolerance range from the night mode parameter set, wherein in the case that a temperature dependent on the heater lies outside the temperature tolerance range by a specifiable temperature setpoint value, the control device acts on the heater in a correcting manner. wherein an amount of the temperature tolerance range is greater than an amount of a temperature tolerance range of the default parameter set.

5. The heater according to claim 1, wherein the heater can be operated at a plurality of power levels, wherein the control device takes an upper temperature limit value from the night mode parameter set, and wherein in the case that a temperature dependent on the heater is higher than a specifiable temperature setpoint value by more than the upper temperature limit value, the control device reduces a set power level of the heater to a weaker power level and maintains an existing burning process of the burner device.

6. The heater according to claim 1, wherein the heater can be operated at a plurality of power levels, wherein the control device takes a limit power level from the night mode parameter set, and wherein the control device permits operation of the heater at only one power level which is lower than the limit power level.

7. The heater according to claim 1, herein the circulating air blower can be operated at a plurality of power levels, wherein the control device takes a circulating air blower power level from the night mode parameter set, and wherein in the case that heated air is to be discharged from the heater, the control device sets the circulating air blower to the circulating air blower power level, and wherein the circulating air blower power level is the weakest power level of the plurality of power levels of the circulating air blower,

8. The heater according to claim 1, wherein the control device takes an acceleration time period from the night mode parameter set, wherein in the case that the control device increases the circulating air blower to a specified setpoint speed, the control device increases the speed to the specified setpoint speed within the acceleration time period, and wherein the acceleration time period is greater than an acceleration time period of the default parameter set.

9. The heater according to claim 1, wherein the control device takes a burner start scheme from the night mode parameter set for starting a burning process of the burner device and uses said scheme for starting a burning process, wherein the burner start scheme of the night mode provides at least the following steps: that in an initialization step—in particular as part of the night mode or as part of a mode different from the night mode—the control device varies the speed of a motor of the combustion air blower, until the burning process starts in the burner device, that the control device stores the speed at which the burning process starts as a default value in the data storage device, and that on starting of the burning process in the night mode, the control device takes the stored default value from the data storage device and sets the speed of the motor to the default value, and wherein according to a burner start scheme of the default parameter set the control device varies the speed of the motor at each start of the burning process, until the burning process starts in the burner device.

10. The heater according to claim 1, herein the control device takes a reduction value from the night mode parameter set, and wherein on control of the burner device to a specified temperature setpoint value, the control device controls the burner device to the temperature setpoint value reduced by the reduction value.

11. The heater according to claim 1, wherein a fluid container is present, wherein the burner device serves for heating air and also for heating a fluid contained in the fluid container, wherein the control device takes a prioritization from the night mode parameter set, and wherein in the case that air and fluid are to be heated at the same time, the control device acts on the component of the heater in dependence on the prioritization such that a thermal energy generated by the burner device primarily serves for heating the air or for heating the fluid.

12. The heater according to claim 11, wherein the prioritization is such that the thermal energy primarily serves for heating the air.

13. The heater according to claim 1, wherein the control device takes a display information from the night mode parameter set and transmits the same to an indicating unit for display.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0026] In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the heater.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] FIG. 1 schematically shows the components of an exemplary embodiment of a heater 1, which here serves for heating air and a fluid.

[0028] The central component is the burner device 2, in which a gas-air mixture is burnt and the resulting thermal energy is transmitted to the air, which in particular is room air sucked in, and to the fluid. The gas-air mixture consists of combustion air and a gaseous fuel or fuel converted into a gaseous state. The feeding of the fuel and a fuel source (e.g. a gas cylinder) are not shown for better clarity. The feeding of the combustion air is accomplished by the combustion air blower 3. The motor 3′ of the combustion air blower 3 is operated at an adjustable speed, whereby the air is sucked in and fed to the burner device 2.

[0029] The flue gas generated by the burner device 2 is fed to a heat exchanger 4 in order to transmit the thermal energy to the air to be heated. The heated air is then discharged from the heater 1 via a circulating air blower 5 in order to thereby heat for example an interior space—not shown here. The heat exchanger 4 furthermore is in thermal interaction with a fluid container 6. The fluid—not shown here—for example is service water.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, a control device 7 acts on the combustion air blower 3, on the burner device 2 and on the circulating air blower 5 in a controlling manner. To do so, the control device 7 accesses a data storage device 8 in which at least two different parameter sets are stored: This on the one hand is a default parameter set and on the other hand a night mode parameter set. The default parameter set for example is associated with a usual day mode. In further embodiments additional parameter sets are present, which describe the control of the components in further modes of the heater 1. The night mode in particular is characterized in that background noise generated by the heater 1 is reduced as far as possible. Hence, noise disturbing during night time will be avoided. Alternatively, the night mode therefore can also be referred to as sleep mode.

[0031] For triggering the night mode an input device 9 is provided, which for example is a touch display. However, any other input possibility can be realized, e.g. via a smartphone.

[0032] For controlling the components—and hence also the heater 1—two sensors are present here: On the one hand, this is a temperature sensor 10 which here provides for determining the temperature generated by the heater 1 in the vicinity of the circulating air blower 5. In one embodiment, for example, the temperature of the discharged air is determined. In an alternative or supplementary embodiment, the temperature sensor 10 serves for determining the temperature of the fluid container 6. As here the burning behavior of the burner device 2 is controlled as well, an ionization electrode 11 also is present. The ionization electrode 11 serves the measurement of a voltage or current as an indicator of whether a burning process takes place or has been started.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment—not shown here—at least four sensors are present, which each allow a temperature measurement. The same include a sensor for measuring the temperature of the liquid; a sensor for measuring the temperature of the air blown out, i.e. the air heated by the heater 1; a sensor for the temperature of the room air, i.e. the air to be heated; and a sensor for measuring the temperature of the combustion air with which the fuel is mixed for the burning process.

[0034] There is also provided an indicating unit 12 via which the control device 7 outputs information for a user, the implementation of which can effect further reductions of the background noise.