Method of operating an ignition element of a gas burner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas burners in oven appliances experience delays between ignition and heat output due to the time required for ignition and extinction, leading to inconsistent heat delivery, which existing control methods fail to compensate for.
Innovation Solution
A controller-activated method that starts a timer after igniting the gas burner, accounts for ignition and extinction delays by determining an adjusted flame time, ensuring the burner remains active until the target heat time is achieved, thereby compensating for these delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional fixed ON time control is used for burner relays, then the control method is simple, but the actual heat output is inconsistent due to ignition and extinction delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses flame sensing feedback to detect when the burner is actually producing heat and adjusts the relay ON time dynamically based on measured ignition and extinction delays, ensuring consistent heat output while maintaining simple control operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-determines ignition delay and extinction delay values through initial measurements, then uses these predetermined values to calculate appropriate relay ON times in advance, compensating for delays before they affect heat output consistency
2Device complexity
If the ignition element is deactivated immediately after the target flame time is reached, then the control timing is simple, but the burner continues to burn due to extinction delay causing inconsistent heat delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines the extinction delay value and uses it to calculate the optimal time to deactivate the ignition element, ensuring the burner extinguishes exactly when needed for consistent heat delivery without adding complex real-time monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the ignition element deactivation timing based on the predetermined extinction delay, making the control timing adaptive to the actual burner behavior while maintaining simple overall control logic
3Speed
If the burner is ignited immediately when heat is requested, then the response time is fast, but the actual heat output is delayed due to ignition time required
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines the ignition delay value and uses it to calculate the appropriate relay ON time in advance, so that the burner is activated early enough to compensate for the ignition delay and deliver heat at the expected time
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method ensures precise and consistent heat output by adjusting the burner operation based on measured ignition and extinction delays, reducing the time between requesting heat and actual heat delivery.
Implementation Method 1
Hot surface igniters are commonly used in these systems and can require 30 to 60 seconds to sufficiently heat up
Implementation Method 2
heating element for generating thermal energy by burning a flow of fuel
Data Source
AI summary
An oven appliance and a method of operating the same are provided. The oven appliance includes a heating element such as a gas burner that is provided with a flow of fuel and an ignition element for igniting the flow of fuel. The method includes activating the ignition element by closing an ignitor relay and determining an adjusted flame time based on a target flame time and an ignition delay. The ignition element is deactivated when the adjusted flame time has passed since the activation of the ignition element. The method may further include compensating for the extinction delay of the gas burner to achieve the desired heating time.