A DEVICE FOR HEATING ROOM AIR AND A LIQUID

Abstract

Example embodiments relate to a device for heating room air and a liquid. Room air enters and exits the device via an air inlet and an air outlet, and the liquid enters and exits the device via a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. The heat transfer device transfers the thermal energy produced by an energy unit to the liquid in an interaction area of a medium line. A conveying device moves liquid between a medium container and the medium line. A control unit controls the conveying device and/or the energy unit. In case the device is intended to heat only room air in an air mode, the control unit, in a preparation step, controls the conveying device and/or the energy unit such that liquid runs out of the medium line due to the gravitational force and/or liquid in the medium line is heated up to an evaporation temperature.

Claims

1. A device for heating room air and a liquid, comprising: an air inlet, an air outlet, a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, an energy unit, a heat transfer device, a medium container, a medium line, a conveying device and a control unit, wherein room air to be heated enters the device via the air inlet, wherein heated room air exits the device via the air outlet, wherein liquid to be heated enters the device via the liquid inlet, wherein heated liquid exits the device via the liquid outlet, wherein the energy unit produces thermal energy, wherein the heat transfer device transfers the thermal energy produced by the energy unit to the room air and/or the liquid, wherein the medium container serves to receive the liquid, wherein the medium line serves to conduct the liquid, wherein the heat transfer device and the medium line are configured and arranged relative to each other such that the heat transfer me device transfers thermal energy to liquid present in the medium line, wherein the conveying device serves to move liquid from the medium container to the medium line, and from the medium line to the medium container, wherein the control unit controls the conveying device and/or the energy unit, and wherein in case the device is intended to heat only room air in an air mode, the control unit, in a preparation step, controls the conveying device and/or the energy unit such that liquid runs out of the medium line due to the gravitational force and/or liquid in the medium line is heated up to an evaporation temperature of the liquid.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the medium container serves to receive liquid and air, and wherein an air cushion is present in the medium container.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the medium line serves to conduct liquid and air, and wherein the conveying device serves to move liquid and/or air from the medium container to the medium line, and from the medium line to the medium container.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein in case the device is intended to heat either only liquid or liquid and room air, the control unit controls the conveying device such that liquid flows from the medium container to the medium line, and from the medium line to the medium container.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further has a fan for conveying the room air from the air inlet to the air outlet.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured such that in case the device is intended to heat only room air in an air mode, the control unit, in a preparation step, controls the conveying device and/or the energy unit such that liquid in the medium line is heated up to an evaporation temperature of the liquid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] More specifically, there are a large number of possibilities to configure and further develop the device according to the invention. To this end, reference is made to the description below of example embodiments in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device.

[0013] FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of a device for heating room air and a liquid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The room air enters the device through the air inlet 1 and exits it in a heated state through the air outlet 2. The liquid, water, for example, enters the device via the liquid inlet 3 and leaves it in a warmed up (heated) state via the liquid outlet 4. In the variant shown, the thermal energy for heating is generated by the energy unit 5 by the combustion of a fuel-air-mixture. Depending on the mode, the heat transfer means 6 transfers the thermal energy to the room air or to the liquid or, for example, both to the room air and the liquid. To this end, the room air is guided from the air inlet 1 through a fan 12, along or past the heat transfer means 6 to the air outlet 2. A medium container 7 is provided for the liquid, which is connected to the liquid inlet 3 and to the liquid outlet 4 and a medium line 8. The medium container 7 does not only receive the liquid, but also air in an air cushion 11. This air is not the room air to be heated by the device, but is used for the functioning of the device and the cooperation of the individual components. The liquid flowing through the medium line 8 can absorb thermal energy from the heat transfer means 6. The flow of the liquid is generated by the conveying device 9 which comprises at least one pump, for example. The conveying device 9 is controlled by the control unit 10, which in this configuration also switches between the different modes of operation based on a user setting.

[0015] It is indicated that the medium line 8 which is in contact with the heat transfer means 6 is located above the medium container 7. This is to illustrate that in case no liquid is conveyed through the medium line 8, the liquid, due to the gravitational force, can flow out of the relevant section of the medium line 8 and thus downwards in the direction of the gravitational force. Due to the geometry of the medium line 8, a certain residual liquid can remain in the interaction area of the medium line 8 and the heat transfer means 6.

[0016] If only room air is to be heated in an air mode, the control unit 10 frees the medium line 8 from any remaining liquid in a preparation step by heating the liquid above the evaporation temperature thereof. To this end, the control unit 10 acts both on the conveying device 9 and the energy unit 5. In one variant, evaporation takes place by not conveying any liquid through the medium line 8 for a sufficiently long time so that only the remaining liquid receives thermal energy from the heat transfer means 6. Alternatively, the energy unit 5 is controlled so as to supply more thermal energy. Furthermore, the conveying device 9 alternatively or additionally acts as a fan which removes the already evaporated liquid from the medium line 8.

[0017] While the disclosure has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.