Device to control a gas-fired appliance

US5333591A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Ruhrgas Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Wilhelm Korsmeier · Recklinghausen, DE
• Dieter Wolf · Dorsten, DE
• Manfred Hoppe · Dorsten, DE
• Holns J. Schollmeyer · Raesfeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 10, 1993
• Grant date: Aug 2, 1994
• Expiry date: Mar 10, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/30
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A device to control a gas-fired appliance as a function of the composition of a gaseous fuel. The device includes a thermal conductivity sensor emitting a measurement signal dependent upon the thermal conductivity of the gaseous fuel. An analyzing unit receives the measurement signal and uses it to develop a control signal dependent upon the composition of the gaseous fuel. A control unit receives the control signal and uses it to control the operating parameters of the gas-fired appliance, in the case of a gas engine particularly the parameters of air/fuel ratio, output and angle of advance. The analyzing unit may include an input interface into which data on the type of gaseous fuel components may be entered, which are used for the generation of the control signal. Preferably the control signal is proportional to the available methane number of the gaseous fuel, whereby the operating parameters of the gas engine are controlled so that the methane number required is adjusted to the methane number available. This leads in particular to an improvement in the knocking behavior of the gas engine.