Method and controller for operating a gas burner appliance

Abstract

Method for operating a gas burner appliance () comprising: a combustion chamber (), an ignition device (), a fan (), a gas safety valve unit () assigned to the gas duct (), an electric gas flow modulator () assigned to the gas duct (), a sensor () positioned between the gas safety valve unit () and the gas flow modulator (), wherein the gas burner appliance () is operated to determine the gas family of the gas of the gas/air mixture by the following steps: Before the gas burner appliance becomes started measuring the ambient air pressure by the sensor (), wherein the ambient air pressure is measured when the safety valve unit () is closed, the gas flow modulator () is opened and the fan () is stopped. When the gas burner appliance () becomes started running the fan () at a defined fan speed, increasing the opening of the gas flow modulator () while activating the ignition device () trying to ignite the gas/air mixture until the activation of ignition device results into a combustion of the gas/air mixture. Determining from the fan speed of the fan () and from the measured ambient air pressure an air volume flow. Measuring the gas pressure by the sensor () when the safety valve unit () is opened, the gas flow modulator () is opened and the fan () is running. Determining from the opening of the gas flow modulator () at which the combustion started and from the measured gas pressure a gas volume flow. Determining a ratio between the gas volume flow and the air volume and from said ratio the gas family of the combusted gas.