A DEVICE FOR HEATING AIR AND A LIQUID

Abstract

Example embodiments relate to a device for heating air and a liquid. A control unit controls an air conveying device and a liquid conveying device depending on whether the device heats only air in an air mode or liquid in a different mode.

Claims

1. A device for heating air and a liquid, comprising: an air inlet, an air outlet, an air interaction area an air conveying device, a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a liquid interaction area, a liquid conveying device, an energy unit, a heat exchanger, and a control unit, wherein air to be heated enters the device via the air inlet, wherein heated 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 generates thermal energy, wherein the heat exchanger transfers the thermal energy generated by the energy unit to the air in the air interaction area and to the liquid in the liquid interaction area, wherein the air conveying device conveys the air into the air interaction area, wherein the liquid conveying device conveys the liquid into the liquid interaction area, and wherein the control unit controls the air conveying device and the liquid conveying device depending on whether the device heats only air in an air mode or liquid in a different mode.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the air conveying device and the liquid conveying device depending on whether the device heats only air in an air mode or only liquid in a liquid mode.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the air conveying device and the liquid conveying device depending on whether the device heats only air in an air mode, only liquid in a liquid mode, or air and liquid in a mixed mode.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the liquid conveying device prior to the air mode such that the liquid interaction area is substantially free from the liquid.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the event of a change from the air mode to the other mode, the control unit controls the liquid conveying device such that the liquid does not enter the liquid interaction area until a critical temperature of the heat exchanger is below a predeterminable starting value.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the device further includes a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heat exchanger, and wherein the control unit evaluates the temperature detected by the temperature sensor with regard to the critical temperature of the heat exchanger.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the event of a change from the air mode to the other mode, the control unit controls the liquid conveying device such that the liquid does not enter the liquid interaction area until at least a predeterminable cooling time period has elapsed after an end of the air mode.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the energy unit generates thermal energy by burning a fuel-air mixture and/or by converting electrical energy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] There are a large number of possibilities of designing and further developing the device according to the present disclosure. To this end, reference is made, on the one hand, to the claims, and, on the other hand, to the description below of example embodiments in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 schematically shows a structure of a device for heating air and a liquid, according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] The air enters the device through the air inlet 1 and exits it in a heated state through the air outlet 2. The liquid, for example water, enters the device via the liquid inlet 5 and exits it in a heated state via the liquid outlet 6. In a variant which is not shown here, a liquid container is provided through which the liquid passes from the liquid inlet 5 to the liquid outlet 6. In the variant shown, the thermal energy for heating is generated by the energy unit 9 by the combustion of a fuel-air mixture. In the embodiment shown, the heat exchanger 10 transfers this thermal energy depending on the mode to the air, to the liquid, or both to the air and to the liquid. To this end, two interaction areas are provided for transferring the thermal energy: an air interaction area 3 and a liquid interaction area 7. For heating, the air or the liquid is conveyed by the two conveying devices 4, 8 through the respectively associated interaction area 3, 7. This is controlled by the control unit 11 which switches between the modes of operation. To this end, a temperature sensor 12 detecting the temperature values of the heat exchanger 10 is present. The control unit 11 evaluates the measurement signals with regard to a temperature which is critical for the liquid. In the event of a change from an air mode to another mode, the liquid conveying device 4 conveys the liquid into the liquid interaction area 3 only when the heat exchanger 10 has cooled down sufficiently.

[0008] In the device according to example embodiments, there are at least two different modes of operation: either only air is heated orat least alsoliquid is heated. Depending on the mode, air or liquid is conveyed by the two associated conveying devices to the appropriate interaction areas in which they obtain thermal energy from the heat exchanger. The liquid conveying device is for example a pump and the air conveying device a fan. The control unit switches between the modes. The air is preferably room air in a room and the liquid is for example service water.

[0009] According to one configuration, the control unit is configured so as to control the air conveying device and the liquid conveying device depending on whether the device heats only air in an air mode or only liquid in a liquid mode. In this configuration, there are thus two modes in which only air or only the liquid is respectively heated. In the liquid mode, the small amount of room air which may be heated by the provision of the thermal energy is not taken into account as a by-product.

[0010] According to a further configuration, it is provided that the control unit controls the air conveying device and the liquid conveying device depending on whether the device heats only air in an air mode, only liquid in a liquid mode, or air and liquid in a mixed mode. In this configuration, there are three modes. Either only one medium (air or liquid) or both media (air and water) are heated in the different operating modes. Depending on the mode, only one medium or both media are conveyed by the two associated conveying devices to the appropriate interaction areas in which they obtain thermal energy from the heat exchanger.

[0011] One configuration consists in that the control unit controls the liquid conveying device prior to the air mode such that the liquid interaction area is substantially free from the liquid. In this configuration, the liquid is removed from the interaction area of the liquid prior to the air mode and in particular not refilled, so that no liquid and therefore only air is heated in the air mode.

[0012] One configuration provides that in the event of a change from the air mode to the other mode (for example the liquid mode or the mixed mode, if implemented), the control unit controls the liquid conveying device such that the liquid does not enter the liquid interaction area until a critical temperature of the heat exchanger is below a predeterminable starting value. In this configuration, it is provided that the liquid is only heated when a certain temperature of the heat exchanger is sufficiently low and is in particular lower than a predeterminable starting value. This prevents undesired noises or pressure surges, for example. The starting value is the temperature value at which the liquid mode or the mixed mode (as examples for the other mode of operation in which only liquid is heated or liquid is also heated) is started. The critical temperature relates in particular to an area of the heat exchanger the temperature of which affects the liquid.

[0013] One configuration consists in that the device further includes a temperature sensor, that the temperature detects a temperature of the heat exchanger, and that the control unit evaluates the temperature detected by the temperature sensor with regard to the critical temperature of the heat exchanger. In this configuration, the control unit determines on the basis of the measurement signals of a temperature sensor whether the heat exchanger has cooled down sufficiently.

[0014] An alternative or additional configuration provides that in the event of a change from the air mode to the other mode (for example the liquid mode or the mixed mode), the control unit controls the liquid conveying device such that the liquid does not enter the liquid interaction area until at least a predeterminable cooling time period has elapsed after an end of the air mode. The cooling time period is the time required by the heat exchanger for cooling down from a temperature of the air mode to a temperature below the starting value and may be determined from the cooling behavior of the heat exchanger.

[0015] One configuration consists in that the energy unit generates thermal energy by burning a fuel-air mixture and/or by converting electrical energy. In the present configuration, the thermal energy is generated by burning a fuel, for example a combustible gas or a diesel fuel converted into the gaseous state, or by converting electrical energy.

[0016] 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.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0017] 1 air inlet [0018] 2 air outlet [0019] 3 air interaction area [0020] 4 air conveying device [0021] 5 liquid inlet [0022] 6 liquid outlet [0023] 7 liquid interaction area [0024] 8 liquid conveying device [0025] 9 energy unit [0026] 10 heat exchanger [0027] 11 control unit [0028] 12 temperature sensor