Burner firing rate determination for modulating furnace
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a modulating furnace having a burner that is configured to operate at a plurality of burner firing rates, and a burner controller configured to accept a call for heat, the method comprising:
- receiving a call for heat at the burner controller;
after receiving the call for heat, operating the burner at a burning firing rate for a first period of time, wherein the burner firing rate is dependent on one or more historical operating parameters, the one or more historical operating parameters including a weighed set or weighted average of a predefined minimum burner firing rate and one or more previous burner firing rates;
increasing the burner firing rate of the burner after the first period of time expires if the burner controller is still receiving the call for heat; and
ceasing operation of the burner when the call for heat terminates.
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Abstract
A modulating furnace having a variable rate burner and a controller is operated at a first burner firing rate for a first period of time, and a higher burner firing rate once the first period of time has expired. In some instances, the burner may be operated only while the controller is receiving a call for heat from a thermostat or the like.
125 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of operating a modulating furnace having a burner that is configured to operate at a plurality of burner firing rates, and a burner controller configured to accept a call for heat, the method comprising:
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receiving a call for heat at the burner controller; after receiving the call for heat, operating the burner at a burning firing rate for a first period of time, wherein the burner firing rate is dependent on one or more historical operating parameters, the one or more historical operating parameters including a weighed set or weighted average of a predefined minimum burner firing rate and one or more previous burner firing rates; increasing the burner firing rate of the burner after the first period of time expires if the burner controller is still receiving the call for heat; and ceasing operation of the burner when the call for heat terminates.
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2. A method of operating a modulating furnace having a variable rate burner that is configured to have an off state, and three or more different burner firing rates, the modulating furnace further having a burner controller configured to accept a call for heat, the method comprising:
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receiving a call for heat at the burner controller; after receiving the call for heat, operating the variable rate burner at a burning firing rate selected from the three or more different burner firing rates for a first period of time, wherein the selected burner firing rate is dependent on one or more historical operating parameters, wherein the one or more historical operating parameters include a weighed set or weighted average of a predefined minimum burner firing rate and one or more previous burner firing rates; increasing the burner firing rate of the variable rate burner after the first period of time expires if the burner controller is still receiving the call for heat; and ceasing operation of the variable rate burner by placing the variable rate burner into the off state when the call for heat terminates. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A burner controller for a modulating furnace, wherein the modulating furnace includes a variable rate burner that is configured to operate at multiple burner firing rates, the burner controller comprising:
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an input for receiving a call for heat; an output for commanding the variable rate burner to operate at a selected burner firing rate; a memory for storing one or more historical operating parameters; a controller coupled to the input, the output, and the memory, the controller configured to; operate the variable rate burner while the burner controller is receiving the call for heat, and placing the variable rate burner into the off state when the call for heat terminates; read one or more of the historical operating parameters from the memory; determine a selected burner firing rate that is based at least in part on one or more of the historical operating parameters read from the memory, wherein the one or more historical operating parameters include a weighed set or weighted average of a predefined minimum burner firing rate and one or more previous burner firing rates; operate the variable rate burner at the selected burner firing rate for a predetermined period of time after the call of heat is received; and adjust the burner firing rate after the predetermined period of time expires. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification