US 12,674,578 B2 · Hydronic surface heater with auto-adjusting burner

Abstract

A surface heater automatically adjusts the supply of fuel and/air to the burner in order to maintain a desired air/fuel ratio despite changes in ambient air temperature and/or pressure. The adjustment may be performed on a periodic or continuous basis and on either an open-loop basis or a closed-loop basis. The adjustment includes actuating one or more control devices that control the flow of air and/or fuel to the burner. If the adjustment is performed on a closed-loop basis, signals from a sensor can be used as feedback to control the flow of air and/or fuel into the burner to maintain a setpoint of a controlled parameter. The controlled parameter may include one or more of air mass flow rate, an intake O2 concentration, an exhaust O2 concentration, an exhaust gas composition, and an exhaust gas temperature.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A surface heater;

comprising:
a fuel tank;
a burner, the burner having a fuel inlet connected to the fuel tank and an air inlet;
a heat transfer system that directs a fluid heated by the burner to a surface to be heated;
at least one sensor transmitting an electrical signal providing data indicative of an air/fuel ratio in the burner;
and
an electronic controller that is coupled to the sensor and to the burner and that is configured, in response to electrical signals received from the sensor, to transmit electronic signals to at least one control device to actuate the at least one control device to control the supply of fuel and/or air to the burner to maintain a desired air/fuel ratio in the burner despite changes in ambient air temperature and/or ambient air pressure.

4 more elements

A surface heater, comprising:

a mobile support including wheels and a frame supported on the wheels;
a fuel tank supported on the mobile support;
a burner supported on the mobile support, the burner having a fuel inlet connected to the fuel tank and an air inlet;
a tank that is supported on the mobile support and that is configured to store a liquid that is heated by the burner;
at least one hose through which the liquid is configured to circulate between the burner and the surface to be heated, thereby heating the surface;
at least one sensor that generates and transmits an electrical signal providing data indicative of an air/fuel ratio in the burner;
and
an electronic controller that is coupled to the sensor and to the burner and that is configured, in response to signals received from the sensor, to transmit electronic signals to the at least one control device to actuate at least one control device to control the supply of fuel and/or air to the burner to maintain a controlled parameter at a setpoint in order to maintain a desired air/fuel ratio despite changes in prevailing ambient air temperature and ambient air pressure.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hydronic surface heater with auto-adjusting burner

Life of this patent

Hydronic surface heater with auto-adjusting burner

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20