Patent ID: 7931467
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: F23N,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell heater with a burner having an ionization sensor ( 30 ) in the range of the flame and which is fed with two different gases for combustion, one of said gases coming from a gas treatment, characterized in that a signal evaluation unit ( 32 ) is provided which evaluates the measurement signal of the ionization sensor ( 30 ) and ascertains an actual value for the air ratio, wherein signals ( 34 ) are applied to the signal evaluation unit ( 32 ) for one or a plurality of variable/s of states for the gas treatment unit and the measurement signal of the ionization sensor ( 30 ) is converted into an actual value for the air ratio depending on one or more variable/s of states of the gas treatment unit, and a regulating unit is provided which adjusts a volume of air and/or a volume of gas supplied for combustion depending on the actual value thus determined for the air ratio, characterized in that characteristic maps for the air ratio depending on the measurement signal of the ionization sensor for different hydrogen conversions in the fuel cell are stored in the evaluation unit ( 32 ).