Intelligent and adaptive control system and method for wood burning stove

Abstract

A control system and method for a wood stove adjustably operates in accordance with operational characteristics of the wood stove. The system operates air vents to the combustion chamber of the stove to control operating temperatures of the stove. The air vents are adjusted proportionally to changes in temperature of the stove. The temperature of the stove may be controlled to achieve desired operational and burn characteristics. The system further includes a heat exchange fan. The system controls the speed of the heat exchange fan based upon the operational characteristics of the stove.

1 . A method for controlling operation of a wood stove having at least one adjustable vent for controlling an amount of air entering a combustion chamber of the wood stove and at least one temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining a change in temperature; and   adjusting the at least one adjustable vent based upon the change in temperature.   
   
   
       2 . The method for controlling operation of a wood stove according to  claim 1 , wherein an extent of adjustment of the adjustable vent is proportional to the change in temperature. 
   
   
       3 . The method for controlling operation of a wood stove according to  claim 1 , wherein an extent of adjustment of the adjustable vent depends upon a rate of temperature change. 
   
   
       4 . The method for controlling operation of a wood stove according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving an input representing an operational mode for the wood stove; and wherein an extent of adjustment of the adjustable vent depends upon the an operational mode for the wood stove. 
   
   
       5 . The method for controlling operation of a wood stove according to  claim 4 , wherein the operational mode includes at one of a maximum burn time mode, a maximum heat output mode, and a heating efficiency mode. 
   
   
       6 . The method for controlling operation of a wood stove according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining a rate of temperature change for a vent opening level; and   wherein the adjusting step includes adjusting the at least one adjustable vent based upon the rate of temperature change.   
   
   
       7 . The method for controlling operation of a wood stove according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting step includes adjusting the at least one adjustable vent based upon an external temperature. 
   
   
       8 . The method for controlling operation of a wood stove according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining temperature of the wood stove at periodic intervals during manual operation of the stove;   determining vent opening levels for the at least one adjustable vent at the periodic intervals during manual operation of the stove;   storing the determined temperature and vent opening levels; and   wherein the adjusting step includes adjusting the at least one adjustable vent based upon the stored determined temperatures and vent opening levels.   
   
   
       9 . The method for controlling operation of a wood stove according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of forcing air into the combustion chamber of the wood stove based upon the change in temperature. 
   
   
       10 . The method for controlling operation of a wood stove according to  claim 1 , wherein the wood stove includes a fan for moving air to transfer heat from the stove to a room, the method further comprising the step of:
 adjusting a speed of the fan based upon the change in temperature.   
   
   
       11 . The method for controlling operation of a wood stove according to  claim 10 , wherein the speed of the fan is adjusted based upon a selected mode of operation of the wood stove. 
   
   
       12 . A method for controlling operation of a wood stove having a fan for moving air to transfer heat from the stove to a room and at least one temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining a change in temperature; and   adjusting a speed of the fan based upon the change in temperature.   
   
   
       13 . The method for controlling operation of a wood stove according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of receiving an input representing a operational mode for the wood stove; and wherein an extent of adjustment of the adjustable vent depends upon the an operational mode for the wood stove. 
   
   
       14 . A system for controlling a wood stove having at least one adjustable vent for controlling an amount of air entering a combustion chamber of the wood stove, the system comprising:
 a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the wood stove;   a actuator connected to the at least one adjustable vent for changing an opening of the at least one adjustable vent; and   a programmable controller connected to the temperature sensor and the actuator for controlling the actuator based upon an output from the temperature sensor and operational characteristics of the wood stove.   
   
   
       15 . The system for controlling a wood stove according to  claim 14 , wherein the programmable controller includes a training mode for determining operational characteristics of the wood stove. 
   
   
       16 . The system for controlling a wood stove according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a external temperature sensor for sensing an external air temperature connected to the programmable controller; and   wherein the programmable controller controls the actuator based upon an output from the external sensor.   
   
   
       17 . The system for controlling a wood stove according to  claim 14 , wherein the programmable controller includes an input representing a desired operational mode of the wood stove. 
   
   
       18 . The system for controlling a wood stove according to  claim 14 , wherein the wood stove includes a fan for moving air to transfer heat from the stove to a room, the system further comprising:
 a second actuator connected to the programmable controller for controlling a speed of the fan; and   wherein the programmable controller controls the second actuator based upon the output from the temperature sensor and the operational characteristics of the wood stove.   
   
   
       19 . A method for controlling operation of a wood stove having at least one adjustable vent for controlling an amount of air entering the combustion chamber of the wood stove and at least one temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
 selecting a operational mode;   sensing a temperature of the wood stove;   determining an opening level of the at least one adjustable vent based upon the selected operational mode and the sensed temperature; and   adjusting the at least one adjustable vent to the determined opening level.   
   
   
       20 . A method for controlling operation of a wood stove having at least one adjustable vent for controlling an amount of air entering the combustion chamber of the wood stove and at least one temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
 during a first operational mode:   sensing changes to an opening level of the at least one adjustable vent made by a user of the wood stove;   sensing a temperature when a change in the opening level of the at least one adjustable vent is sensed; and   storing the temperature level and opening level; and   during a second operational mode:   sensing a temperature level; and   adjusting an opening level of the at least one adjustable vent based upon the sensed temperature level and the stored temperature level and opening level.