Reserve Power of the Household Gas Boiler Control Module

The paper deals with problems caused by interruptions in the power supply of a gas boiler. It is proposed to use the Stirling engine to ensure uninterrupted power supply of electronic automation devices. The work also describes the principle of operation of the engine in question and calculates the evaluation of its efficiency when using the backup power supply as a source. The Stirling engine operates behind the closed Stirling cycle. The unchanging amount of the working substance circulates between two chambers with different temperatures, which alternately heats and cools. Due to this, the pressure of the working substance, which moves the working pistons, changes.

The work of a modern gas boiler is impossible without an electronic control module. But when the network voltage disappears, the heating also disappears. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure uninterrupted supply of electric current to the control module. Today, the market is full of gas air heaters or gas heat guns of various manufacturers, and there are already attempts to use them to generate electricity. To generate mechanical energy, which in the future turns into electric and thermal energy, allow thermal motors. Modern directions of transformation of thermal energy into mechanical and electric are: Stirling's engines; cars working on the Renkin cycle; thermoelectric generators on the effects of Seebeck, Thomson and Peltier.

A review of the advantages and disadvantages of individual components of the Stirling enginewas made. Compared to internal combustion engines, the Stirling engine has a number of advantages. It does not have complex fuel systems, it is practically silent, can operate on any type of fuel or thermal energy, has high adaptability, and also high theoretical efficiency of 50%. The disadvantages of Peltier elements include very low efficiency and high element cost. However, in spite of this, Peltier elements are used to cool various devices and as generators for power generation for the on-board networks. It is proposed to use the Stirling's engine to ensure uninterrupted power supply of electronic automation devices.

On the basis of the performed calculations of the efficiency, a conclusion was drawn on the potential for further development of the proposed solution. These calculations show that, given the device's power is 525 Watts and considering that the boiler electrical equipment consumes 250-400 W, the proposed idea has the potential for further development.

Ref. 10, fig. 3.