Continuously Modulating Actuator In A Combustion Apparatus

Abstract

Various embodiments include a combustion apparatus comprising: a burner; a supply channel in fluid communication with the burner; an actuator affecting a supply of a fluid through the supply channel; and a control facility communicatively coupled to the actuator. The control facility is configured to: generate a first change signal from a first end value and to send the first change signal to the actuator; and generate a second change signal from a second end value and to send the second change signal to the actuator. The actuator comprises a processing unit configured to: receive the first and the second change signal; determine a first change speed with the aid of the processing unit, based on the first and the second change signal; and begin a first change of a speed or of a position of the actuator using the first change speed.

1 . A combustion apparatus comprising:
 a burner;   a supply channel in fluid communication with the burner;   an actuator affecting a supply of a fluid through the supply channel; and   a control facility communicatively coupled to the actuator;   wherein the control facility is configured to:
 generate a first change signal from a first end value and to send the first change signal to the actuator; and 
 generate a second change signal from a second end value and to send the second change signal to the actuator; 
   the actuator comprises a processing unit configured to:
 receive the first and the second change signal; 
 determine a first change speed with the aid of the processing unit, based on the first and the second change signal; and 
 begin a first change of a speed or of a position of the actuator using the first change speed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control facility comprises a memory with a first plurality of part changes and is configured to:
 load the first plurality of part changes from the memory; and   determine the first end value based on the first plurality of part changes.   
     
     
         3 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control facility comprises a memory with a second plurality of part changes and is configured to:
 load the second plurality of part changes from the memory; and   determine the second end value based on the first and/or the second plurality of part changes.   
     
     
         4 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first end value is equal to the second end value; and   the control facility is configured to generate the second change signal from the second end value and to send the second change signal to the actuator.   
     
     
         5 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first end value is different from the second end value; and   the control facility is configured to generate the second change signal from the second end value and to send the second change signal to the actuator.   
     
     
         6 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor coupled to the actuator;   wherein the actuator is configured to:   receive a first sensor signal from the sensor;   determine with the aid of the processing unit from the first sensor signal a first actual variable selected from: a first actual speed of the actuator or a first actual position of the actuator; and   determine the first change speed with the aid of the processing unit, based on the first and the second change signal and the first actual variable.   
     
     
         7 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control facility is configured to:
 generate a third change signal from a third end value and to send the third change signal to the actuator;   wherein the actuator is configured to:
 receive the third change signal; 
 determine the first change speed with the aid of the processing unit, based on the first and the second and the third change signal; and 
 begin the first change of a speed or of a position of the actuator using the first change speed. 
   
     
     
         8 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein a third plurality of part changes is stored in the memory of the control facility and the control facility is configured to:
 load the third plurality of part changes from the memory; and   determine the third end value based on the third plurality of part changes.   
     
     
         9 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second end value is equal to the third end value and wherein the control facility is configured to generate the third change signal from the third end value and to send the third change signal to the actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the second end value is different from the third end value; and   the control facility is configured to generate the third change signal from the third end value and to send the third change signal to the actuator.   
     
     
         11 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control facility is configured to:
 generate a fourth change signal from a fourth end value and to send the fourth change signal to the actuator; and   the actuator is configured:
 receive the fourth change signal during the first change; 
 determine a second change speed with the aid of the processing unit, based on the second and/or the fourth change signal; and 
 begin a second change of the speed or the position of the actuator using the second change speed. 
   
     
     
         12 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the control facility comprises a memory with a fourth plurality of part changes and is configured to:
 load the fourth plurality of part changes from the memory; and   determine the fourth end value based on the fourth plurality of part changes.   
     
     
         13 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the second end value is the same as the fourth end value; and   the closed-loop control and/or open-loop control and/or supervision facility is configured to:   generate the fourth change signal from the fourth end value and to send the fourth change signal to the actuator;   wherein the actuator is configured:
 determine the second change speed with the aid of the processing unit, based on the second and the fourth change signal, wherein the second change speed is zero; and 
 begin the second change of the speed or of the position of the actuator using the second change speed. 
   
     
     
         14 . The combustion apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the second end value is different from the fourth end value; and   the control facility is configured to generate the fourth change signal from the fourth end value and to send the fourth change signal to the actuator.   
     
     
         15 . A method for closed-loop control and/or open-loop control of a combustion apparatus including: a burner, a supply channel in fluid communication with the burner, an actuator affecting a supply of a fluid through the supply channel, and a control facility communicatively coupled to the actuator, the method comprising:
 generating a first change signal from a first end value and sending the first change signal to the actuator;   generating a second change signal from a second end value and sending the second change signal to the actuator;   receiving the first and the second change signal at the actuator;   determining a first change speed based on the first and the second change signal by the actuator; and   beginning a first change of a speed or of a position of the actuator using the first change speed.