Method of controlling a mobile heating device

Abstract

A method of controlling a mobile heating device which is adapted for generating heat by combustion of fuel with combustion air is provided, the method comprising the steps: operating the mobile heating device with a predetermined fuel supply rate and a predetermined combustion air supply rate, monitoring the signal of at least one temperature sensor over time, temporarily changing at least one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate, analyzing the response in the signal of the at least one temperature sensor, and based on the response, operating the mobile heating device with at least one of an adapted fuel supply rate and an adapted combustion air supply rate.

1 . A method of controlling a mobile heating device which is adapted for generating heat by combustion of fuel with combustion air, the method, comprising the steps of:
 operating the mobile heating device with a predetermined fuel supply rate and a predetermined combustion air supply rate;   monitoring a signal from at least one temperature sensor over time;   temporarily changing at least one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate;   analyzing a response in the signal from the at least one temperature sensor; and   based on the response, operating the mobile heating device with at least one of an adapted fuel supply rate and an adapted combustion air supply rate.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of operating the mobile heating device with the at least one of an adapted fuel supply rate and an adapted combustion air supply rate comprises the step of operating the mobile heating device with an adapted air-fuel ratio. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of analyzing the response comprises attributing the response to one of an initial λ value which is equal to or higher than 1 and an initial λ value lower than 1. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of operating the mobile heating device with an adapted air-fuel rate comprises the step of operating the mobile heating device with an increased air-fuel ratio if the initial λ value is found to be lower than 1. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of temporarily changing the at least one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate further comprises the step of abruptly changing the at least one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of temporarily changing the at least one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate further comprises the step of changing one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate in the manner of a square wave signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of temporarily changing the at least one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate further comprises the step of abruptly changing the air-fuel ratio. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of monitoring at least one temperature sensor comprises the step of monitoring an exhaust gas temperature sensor for the step of measuring the temperature of exhaust gas discharged from a combustion chamber of the mobile heating device. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of temporarily changing at least one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate comprises the step of temporarily reducing one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate by a factor of 0.67 or lower. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of temporarily changing at least one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate comprises the step of temporarily enhancing one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate by a factor of 1.3 or higher. 
     
     
         11 . A mobile heating device comprising:
 a combustion chamber for combusting fuel with combustion air;   a fuel supply for supplying fuel to the combustion chamber with a fuel supply rate;   a combustion air supply for supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber with a combustion air supply rate;   at least one temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the mobile heating device, and   a control unit for controlling operation of the mobile heating device, the control unit being adapted such that it operates the mobile heating device with a predetermined fuel supply rate and a predetermined combustion air supply rate, monitors the signal of the at least one temperature sensor over time,   temporarily changes at least one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate, analyzes the response in the signal of the at least one temperature sensor; and based on the response, operates the mobile heating device with at least one of an adapted fuel supply rate and an adapted combustion air supply rate.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile heating device according to  claim 11 , wherein the mobile heating device operates with at least one of an adapted fuel supply rate and an adapted combustion air supply rate comprises the mobile heating device operating with an adapted air-fuel ratio. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile heating device according to  claim 12 , wherein the device analyzes the response by attributing the response to one of an initial 2 value that is equal to or higher than 1 and an initial 2 value lower than 1. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile heating device according to  claim 13 , wherein the mobile heating device operating with an adapted air-fuel ratio comprises operating the mobile heating device with an increased air-fuel ratio if the initial λ value is found to be lower than 1. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile heating device according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises an exhaust gas temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber.