CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HEATING SYSTEMS

• US 20110073101A1
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FPI Fireplace Products International, Ltd. (NIBE Industrier AB)
• Original Assignee: FPI Fireplace Products International, Ltd. (NIBE Industrier AB)
• Inventors: Tham, Chi Ming Gavin, Coutts, Gordon Arthur Lloyd, Lau, George H.K., Little, Robert A., Lal, Davinder Gopal
• Application Number:
  US12/958,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20110073101A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/501
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 3/14 feeding by screw
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/024 for pulverulent fuels
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/028 with means for regulating combustion

Abstract

Provided are exemplary embodiments, which may include a heating system controller, which may be capable of controlling a heating system to reduce inefficiencies, and/or allow the heating system to operate in a relatively optimum manner.

Claims

1. A heating system, comprising:

a fuel input, configured to receive a plurality of fuels;

a fuel key; and

a controller in electronic communication with said fuel key;

wherein said fuel key is configured to provide said controller with operating parameters such that said heating system operates during a change from a first fuel type to a second fuel type.

2. The heating system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor configured to provide a measured pressure to said controller.

3. The heating system of claim 2, wherein said controller is further capable of controlling one or more variables of the heating system based at least in part upon the measured pressure.

4. The heating system of claim 1, further comprising a feed auger, wherein said controller is configured to control the operation of said feed auger.

5. The heating system of claim 1, further comprising a content sensor in electronic communication with said controller.

6. The heating system of claim 5, wherein the content sensor is configured to measure at least one of carbon content and moisture content of said fuel.

7. The heating system of claim 5, further comprising a fuel bed configured to contain said fuel during combustion, wherein said content sensor is operatively coupled to said fuel bed.

8. The heating system of claim 1, further comprising a convection fan in electronic communication with said controller, wherein said controller is configured to control the operation of the convection fan.

9. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a user interface configured to receive inputs from a user to affect the operation of said heating system.

10. A fireplace system, comprising:

a fuel input, configured to receive a plurality of fuels;

a controller configured to adjust an operating variable of said fireplace to achieve a relatively optimum operation; and

a fuel key configured to provide operating parameters to said controller such that said fireplace system continues to operate during a change from a first fuel type to a second fuel type.

11. The fireplace system of claim 10, further comprising a feed auger, wherein said operating variable is a speed of said feed auger.

12. The fireplace system of claim 10, further comprising a combustion fan, wherein said operating variable is a speed of said combustion fan.

13. The fireplace system of claim 10, further comprising a fuel hopper, wherein said operating variable is an amount of fuel in said fuel hopper.

14. The fireplace system of claim 10, wherein the controller comprises a user interface capable of receiving inputs from a user to manipulate operation of said fireplace system.

15. The fireplace system of claim 14, wherein the user input is has plurality of selectable operating modes, and wherein the plurality of operating modes includes at least one of a high efficiency burn mode and a clean burn mode.

16. A method for reducing inefficiencies in a heating system, comprising:

providing a fuel input configured to receive a plurality of fuel types;

receiving, by a controller, operating parameters from a fuel key;

generating heating with a first fuel type; and

adjusting, by the controller, an operating condition of said heating system in response to receiving a second fuel type based on said operating parameters;

wherein said residential stove system operates during a change from said first fuel type to said second fuel type.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving, by said controller, a signal from a sensor, wherein the signal represents at least one of an operating characteristic of said heating system which corresponds to operation of a component of said heating system and a combustion characteristic of a combusting fuel type.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said sensor is a content sensor and said signal corresponds to at least one of a level of carbon of said combusting fuel and a level of moisture of said combusting fuel.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising, adjusting said combustion fan speed to adjust a pressure of a combustion chamber.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising, receiving, by said controller, a user input to manipulate an operating condition of said heating system, wherein said controller comprises a user interface configured with selectable inputs.

21. A heating system, comprising:

a combustion chamber in which a fuel is utilized to create heat;

a content sensor configured within said combustion chamber, said content sensor configured to monitor at least one of a moisture content and a carbon content of said fuel within said combustion chamber;

a controller in electronic communication with said content sensor and capable of controlling said heating system to operate to reduce inefficiencies of the heating system,

wherein said content sensor are configured in a closed-loop feedback arrangement to facilitate control of said heating system.

22. The heating system of claim 21, further comprising a fuel level sensor configured to sense a fuel level wherein the controller is configured to deliver a message in response to the fuel level being at least one of above a first predetermined threshold and below a second predetermined threshold.

23. The heating system of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to receive a removable key and wherein said removable key is configured with operating parameters for said plurality of fuels.

24. The heating system of claim 21, further comprising

an ash pan configured to receive ash from said combustion chamber

an ash sensor operatively coupled to said ash pan and configured to monitor a level of ash in said ash pan, wherein in response to said ash reaching a predetermined level said controller adjusts said heating system to prevent damage to said heating system.

25. The heating system of claim 21, further comprising an ash auger in electronic communication with said controller, wherein said ash auger removes ash from the combustion chamber in response to at least one of the moisture content and the carbon content being at a level to indicate that said fuel is sufficiently burnt such that the ash can be removed by said ash auger.

26. A heating system, comprising:

a controller configured to reduce operating inefficiencies of said heating system;

a combustion chamber in which fuel is utilized to create heat;

an ash sensor in electronic communication with said controller and coupled to said combustion chamber and configured to monitor a level of ash; and

an ash auger in electronic communication with said controller and operatively coupled to said combustion chamber, said ash auger configured to remove ash from said combustion chamber in response to a command from said controller, wherein said command is generated by said controller in response to a signal from said ash sensor indicating said level of ash exceeds a predetermined amount.

27. The heating system of claim 26, further comprising a fuel key in electronic communication with said controller, said fuel key configured to communicate a fuel type to said controller, such that said controller adjusts said heating system to reduce said inefficiencies for one of said plurality of fuel types.

28. The heating system of claim 26, further comprising a heat exchanger in thermal communication with said combustion chamber such that thermal energy generated in said combustion chamber is conducted through said heat exchanger to an environment.

29. The heating system of claim 28, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of pipes in fluid communication with the environment.

30. The heating system of claim 26, further comprising a pressure sensor operatively coupled to said combustion chamber and in electronic communication with said controller, wherein a pressure in said combustion chamber is measured and communicated to said controller.