Hybrid Domestic Fireplace

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hybrid domestic fireplace, configured to burn a fuel mixture of a first combustible fuel and a second combustible fuel, comprising a combustible long chain hydrocarbon fuel, the fireplace comprising: a mixing device, configured to mix the first fuel and the second fuel to form the fuel mixture and, a first fuel supply, configured to supply the first fuel to the mixing device, a second fuel supply, configured to supply the second fuel to the mixing device, and a burner, configured to combust the fuel mixture, wherein the mixing device is further configured to heat the second fuel to a mixing temperature, and wherein the mixing device is configured to mix the first fuel with the heated second fuel to form the fuel mixture.

1 . A hybrid domestic fireplace comprising:
 a mixing device, configured to:
 heat a second fuel comprising a combustible long chain hydrocarbon fuel to a mixing temperature; and 
 mix a first fuel and the heated second fuel to form a fuel mixture; 
   a first fuel supply, configured to supply the first fuel to the mixing device;   a second fuel supply, configured to supply the second fuel to the mixing device; and   a burner, configured to combust the fuel mixture.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fuel supply is further configured to supply the first fuel to the mixing device in a liquid state; and
 wherein the mixing device is further configured to heat the first fuel to a vaporizing temperature to vaporize the first fuel in the mixing device.   
     
     
         3 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 2 , wherein the first fuel is in a liquid state at room temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 2 , wherein the vaporizing temperature is in the range between 50° C. and 130° C. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to a  claim 1 , wherein the mixing temperature is in the range between 250° C. and 350° C. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixing device comprises a first heating element for heating the first fuel. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 1  further comprising a control unit, configured to control the mixing device to set the vaporizing temperature or the mixing temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 7  further comprising a temperature sensor located in the mixing device, configured to emit a temperature sensor signal representative for the temperature in the mixing device;
 wherein the control unit is configured to control the mixing device on the basis of the temperature signal to set the vaporizing temperature or the mixing temperature. 
 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fuel supply is further configured to supply the first fuel to the mixing device in a gaseous state. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fuel supply comprises:
 a first fuel storage, configured to store the first fuel;   a first fuel line, extending between the first fuel storage and the mixing device; and   a first fuel pump, configured to pump the first fuel through the first fuel line, i.e. from the first fuel storage to the mixing device.   
     
     
         11 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 10 , wherein the first fuel storage is further configured to store the first fuel in a liquid state. 
     
     
         12 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 10 , wherein the first fuel pump is a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         13 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to any of the preceding  claim 1 , wherein the second fuel supply comprises:
 a second fuel storage, configured to store the second fuel;   a second fuel line, extending between the second fuel storage and the mixing device; and   a second fuel pump, configured to pump the second fuel through the second fuel line, i.e. from the second fuel storage to the mixing device.   
     
     
         14 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 13 , wherein the second fuel storage is, at least during use of the fireplace, configured to store the second fuel in a liquid state at an elevated storage temperature compared to the temperature of the surroundings of the fireplace. 
     
     
         15 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 14 , wherein the second fuel storage comprises a storage heating device, configured to heat the second fuel in the second fuel storage to the elevated storage temperature, and to keep the second fuel in the second fuel storage in the liquid state; and
 wherein the elevated storage temperature is in the range between 60° C. and 100° C.   
     
     
         16 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 15 , wherein the storage heating device is an inductive heating device. 
     
     
         17 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 14 , wherein the second fuel storage and the second fuel line are substantially closed-off. 
     
     
         18 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 14 , wherein the second fuel line comprises a line heating device, configured to heat the second fuel in the second fuel line to the elevated fuel line temperature and to keep the second fuel in the second fuel line in the liquid state; and
 wherein the elevated fuel line temperature is for example in the range between 50° C. and 90° ° C.   
     
     
         19 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 18 , wherein the fuel line heating device is a resistive fuel line heating device, extending over substantially the entire length of the second fuel line. 
     
     
         20 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 18 , further comprising a second fuel state sensor, configured to emit a second fuel state sensor signal representative for the state of aggregation of the second fuel in the second fuel line;
 wherein the second fuel pump is further configured to be selectively activated in dependence of the second fuel state sensor signal.   
     
     
         21 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 13 , wherein the second fuel pump is a pulse pump. 
     
     
         22 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according  claim 13 , wherein the second fuel storage comprises a second fuel level sensor, configured to emit a second fuel level sensor signal representative for the amount of second fuel remaining in the second fuel storage. 
     
     
         23 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 22  further comprising a control unit, configured to control the mixing device to set the vaporizing temperature or the mixing temperature;
 wherein the control unit is further configured to emit a fuel level warning signal when the amount of second fuel remaining in the second fuel storage is below a desired threshold amount. 
 
     
     
         24 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 13 , wherein the second fuel storage comprises a fuel capsule holder, which is configured to receive a fuel capsule containing the second fuel. 
     
     
         25 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 2  further comprising a control unit, configured to emit a fuel level warning signal when the amount of second fuel remaining in the second fuel storage is below a desired threshold amount;
 wherein the threshold fluid level represents that the fuel capsule in the fuel capsule holder is empty; and 
 wherein the fluid level warning signal comprises a user notification that the empty fuel capsule needs to be replaced with a new fuel capsule. 
 
     
     
         26 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to claim  claim 24 , wherein the storage heating device is an inductive heating device; and
 wherein the fuel capsule comprises an inductively heatable element configured to be heated by the inductive storage heating device.   
     
     
         27 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 1  further comprising an air supply, projecting into the mixing device and configured to provide a flow of air through the mixing device;
 wherein the mixing device is further configured to mix the fuel mixture with the air supplied by the air supply. 
 
     
     
         28 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 27 , wherein the air supply comprises an air pump and an air hose, extending between the air pump and the mixing device; and
 wherein the air pump is configured to pump the air through the air hose.   
     
     
         29 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 27 , wherein the first fuel supply is configured to supply the first fuel to the mixing device in a gaseous state; and
 wherein the air supply forms part of the first fuel supply, configured to supply a gas mixture to the mixing device, which gas mixture comprises the flow of air and the gaseous first fuel.   
     
     
         30 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 10  further comprising a control unit, configured to control the mixing device to set the vaporizing temperature or the mixing temperature;
 wherein the control unit is further configured to control the first fuel pump, the second fuel pump and the air pump. 
 
     
     
         31 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 30 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the storage heating device and the fuel line heating device. 
     
     
         32 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fuel comprises an alcohol and is in a liquid state at room temperature. 
     
     
         33 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 1 , wherein the second fuel comprises wax and is in a solid state at room temperature. 
     
     
         34 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 1 , wherein the second fuel comprises an oil and is in a liquid state at room temperature. 
     
     
         35 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a combustion chamber, in which the burner is accommodated; and 
 a flue gas discharge configured to discharge flue gasses out of the combustion chamber. 
 
     
     
         36 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 35 , wherein the flue gas discharge further comprises a filter device configured to purify the flue gasses. 
     
     
         37 . A method of creating a fire in a hybrid domestic fireplace comprising:
 supplying a first combustible fuel to a mixing device of the fireplace;   supplying a second combustible fuel, comprising a combustible long chain hydrocarbon fuel, to the mixing device;   heating, in the mixing device, the second fuel to a mixing temperature;   mixing, in the mixing device, the first fuel with the heated second fuel to form a fuel mixture; and   combusting the fuel mixture with a burner of the fireplace to create the fire.   
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37  further comprising:
 heating, in the mixing device, the first fuel to a vaporizing temperature to vaporize the first fuel. 
 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 37 , further comprising:
 measuring, with a temperature sensor, the temperature of the mixing device; and   controlling, with a control unit, the heating of the first fuel and the second fuel on the basis of the measured temperature to set the vaporizing temperature and the mixing temperature.   
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the first fuel is in a liquid state at room temperature. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the second fuel is in a solid state at room temperature. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the second fuel is in a liquid state at room temperature. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 37  further comprising; a
 preheating the burner according to a preheating cycle to a predetermined preheating temperature, the preheating cycle comprising the steps of:
 supplying the first combustible fuel to the burner, via the mixing device; 
 combusting the first fuel with the burner of the fireplace to create the fire; and 
 heating the burner by means of the fire, wherein; 
 whereupon, when a temperature of the burner exceeds the predetermined preheating temperature, the preheating cycle is terminated and the second combustible fuel is supplied to the mixing device and mixed with the first fuel. 
 
 
     
     
         44 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixing device comprises a second heating element for heating the second fuel. 
     
     
         45 . The hybrid domestic fireplace according to  claim 2 , wherein the second fuel is in a solid state at room temperature.