BURNER CONTROL

• US 20130081581A1
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Cook
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Cook
• Inventors: Cook, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,956,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 122/14.21
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/08 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2225/16 burner temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2231/02 using electric energy accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/107 using mechanical means, e.g. safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/14 using thermo-sensitive resistors
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/242 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/104 Inspection; Diagnosis; Trial operation
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/20 characterised by control inputs
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/25 Temperature of the heat-generating means in the heater
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/254 Room temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/36 of burners
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/421 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2035 using fluid fuel

Abstract

A fuel-fired water heater is shut down when a predicted steady state combustion chamber temperature is below a known threshold. The predicted steady state temperature is based on combustion chamber temperatures during heat up of the burner and appliance

Claims

1. A method for disabling a burner in a water heater before the water heater produces carbon monoxide in excess of allowable levels due to restrictions or blockages in the combustion system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) storing an array of target temperatures each having a corresponding elapsed operational time for reaching said temperature;

b) igniting a burner in a combustion chamber to commence a heating cycle;

c) checking said combustion chamber temperature at one of said elapsed operational times and comparing said temperature with the associated target temperature;

d) disabling said burner when a sensed temperature is below a target temperature for a predetermined number of heating cycles.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of combustion chamber temperatures are sensed and compared to stored temperatures over several time intervals and said burner is disabled if a predetermined number of said plurality of said temperatures are below said target temperatures.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said temperature is sensed by a sensor mounted on a surface of said combustion chamber.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of detecting ambient temperature and using the detected ambient temperature to adjust said target temperatures or said combustion chamber temperature when a target temperature is being compared to a sensed temperature.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a succeeding detected temperature is compared to a preceding detected temperature to determine whether the temperature in said combustion chamber is increasing.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a carbon monoxide detector is connected to said combustion system and said burner is disabled upon receiving a predetermined signal from said carbon monoxide detector.

7. A method for disabling a burner that forms part of a combustion apparatus in a water heater when the combustion apparatus becomes restricted or partially blocked, the method comprising the steps of:

a) igniting said burner to begin a heating cycle during which water in said water tank is heated;

b) checking the temperature of said combustion apparatus after a predetermined interval of time;

c) determining whether the detected temperature is in a normal operating range of said combustion apparatus; and

d) shutting down the lit burner if the temperature is below said normal operating range for a predetermined number of heating cycles.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of monitoring ambient temperature and using said monitored ambient temperature in determining if said detecting temperature is below said normal operating range of said water heater.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of monitoring the temperature of water in said water heater and using said water temperature to arrive at the normal operating range of said water heater.