METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STARTING AN INTERMITTENT FLAME-POWERED PILOT COMBUSTION SYSTEM

• US 20170115005A1
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Chian, Brent, Bird, Douglas, Anderson, Peter, Nordberg, Timothy J., Johnson, Thomas, Strand, Rolf L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,429,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F23Q 5/00 Make-and-break ignition, i.e. with spark generated between electrodes by breaking contact therebetween specially adapted for internal-combustion engines F02P15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F23Q 7/26 Provision for re-ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/12 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 18/00 Small-scale combined heat and power [CHP] generation systems specially adapted for domestic heating, space heating or domestic hot-water supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2101/60 Thermoelectric generators, e.g. Peltier or Seebeck elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/186 using fluid fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/174 Supplying heated water with desired temperature or desired range of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/20 characterised by control inputs
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/223 in the water storage tank
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/269 Time, e.g. hour or date
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/281 Input from user
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/31 of valves having only one inlet port and one outlet port, e.g. flow rate regulating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/36 of burners
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/479 for programming the system
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2035 using fluid fuel

Abstract

A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a first power source and a second power source separate from the first power source, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, an igniter and a controller. The thermal electric and/or photoelectric device may charge the first power source when exposed to a flame. The controller and the igniter may receive power from the first power source when the first power source has sufficient available power, and may receive power from the second power source when the first power source does not have sufficient available power.

Claims

1. A method of igniting a pilot flame of a gas-powered appliance having a flame powered intermittent pilot ignition system, comprising:

using power from a first energy source to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance in a first ignition following installation of the gas-powered appliance; and

using power from a second energy source and not the first energy source to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance after the first ignition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy source comprises a pre-charged capacitor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy source comprises a battery.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy source comprises a line voltage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy source comprises a hand powered generator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second energy source comprises a rechargeable battery.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second energy source comprises a capacitor.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an ignition command from a user via a momentary switch to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance for the first ignition, wherein the ignition command causes power from the first energy source to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging the second energy source from a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that is exposed to the pilot flame during subsequent operation of the gas-powered appliance following the first ignition.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein if, during subsequent operation of the gas-powered appliance following the first ignition, the energy stored in the second energy source falls below a threshold level, using power from the first energy source to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance.

11. A method of igniting a pilot flame of a gas-powered appliance having a flame powered intermittent pilot ignition system, comprising:

using power from a first energy source to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance for initial startup after installation of the gas-powered appliance; and

using power from a second energy source and not the first energy source to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance after initial startup of the gas-powered appliance.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

charging the second energy source from a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that is exposed to the pilot flame during subsequent operation of the gas-powered appliance following initial startup; and

using power from the first energy source to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance during subsequent operation of the gas-powered appliance if the energy stored in the second energy source falls below a threshold level.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first energy source comprises a pre-charged capacitor.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first energy source comprises a battery.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first energy source comprises a line voltage.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first energy source comprises a hand powered generator.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the second energy source comprises a rechargeable battery.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the second energy source comprises a capacitor.

19. A method of igniting a pilot flame of a gas-powered appliance having a flame powered intermittent pilot ignition system, comprising:

using power from a first energy source to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance for initial startup after installation of the gas-powered appliance; and

using power from a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that is exposed to the pilot flame during subsequent operation of the gas-powered appliance following initial startup, and not the first energy source, to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance after initial startup of the gas-powered appliance.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

charging a second energy source using power from the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device; and

using power from the first energy source to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance during subsequent operation of the gas-powered appliance following initial startup if the energy stored in the second energy source falls below a threshold level.