Gas-Burning Fire Igniter Control With Proof-of-Flame Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas-burning fire installations, particularly outdoor fireplaces, face challenges in initiating, controlling, and managing flames under adverse environmental conditions such as cold temperatures, rain, and wind, with igniters being difficult to adequately control.
Innovation Solution
A gas-burning fire installation with an igniter control system that includes a control unit operatively coupled to a control valve, sensor, and igniter, which operates in ignition and run modes to manage fuel gas flow, igniter activation, and Proof of Flame (POF) detection, retrying ignition attempts if POF is not achieved, and terminating operations if unsuccessful.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional igniters are used in outdoor gas-burning fireplaces, then ignition function is provided, but reliable control under adverse environmental conditions (cold temperatures, rain, wind) is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors flame presence through the sensor and adjusts igniter operation accordingly. When flame is detected, the system knows to stop igniter operation; when flame is lost, the system automatically reignites. This closed-loop feedback ensures reliable operation regardless of environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects flame status and manages its own ignition operations without manual intervention. The control unit monitors the sensor continuously and self-adjusts igniter and valve operations, making the system self-sufficient in handling environmental variations.
2Reliability
If the control system continuously monitors and retries ignition, then flame control reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor provides continuous feedback to the control unit about flame presence. This simple feedback mechanism enables automatic monitoring and retry operations without requiring complex control logic, maintaining system simplicity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs periodic checks of flame status through the sensor and executes retry ignition at predetermined intervals when flame loss is detected. This structured periodic operation simplifies control logic compared to continuous complex monitoring.
3Reliability
If the igniter is allowed to heat up for an extended period, then ignition success rate improves, but energy consumption and operation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors the sensor during the igniter heating period to detect when flame has been successfully established. This feedback allows the system to terminate heating as soon as ignition succeeds, optimizing the heating duration based on actual ignition conditions rather than using a fixed extended period.
Solution Approach 2:
The igniter heating period is dynamically adjusted based on sensor feedback rather than being a fixed static duration. The system extends heating only as long as necessary to achieve ignition, adapting to varying environmental conditions and fuel states.
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
Enhances flame control and reliability in challenging environments by ensuring consistent ignition and flame maintenance through adaptive control strategies, reducing the need for manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
the control unit is configured to turn on power to the control valve, the sensor, and the igniter, so as to allow the igniter to heat up for an igniter heating period
Implementation Method 2
allows the igniter to ignite the flow of fuel gas at or adjacent to the burner
Implementation Method 3
The control unit checks for Proof of Flame (POF) gain based on data from the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to gas-burning fire installations, such as gas-burning fireplace assemblies, fire table assemblies, gas lamps, gas torches, lanterns, other gas-burning lighting features, heated fountains, etc., that have fuel igniters and igniter control systems. Some embodiments provide a gas-burning fire installation that has a control unit configured to operate in an ignition mode or a run mode, and check for Proof of Flame (POF) gain or loss based on temperature readings by a sensor coupled to a burner and the control unit.