Provided is an ignition device of a burner which allows the burner to stably ignite even when a portion of the burner member is damaged, the ignition device including: a plate-shaped sparker disposed in an upper central region of a burner head so as to realize ignition to burn the gas ejected from the burner head and having a plurality of ignition portions formed therein; and a supporting member which has one end inserted in a center of the sparker and the other end inserted in a central region of the burner head such that the sparker is disposed in the upper central region of the burner head.

A biomass or bio-fuel combustion system is provided utilizing oxygen as the source of combustion. The system generally includes a primary combustion chamber defining an internal space for receipt of the biomass and a directional oxygen injector positioned within the combustion chamber and having a plurality of injection nozzles for injecting oxygen into the internal space, preferably at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the combustion chamber. A transfer chamber extends from the primary combustion chamber to a secondary combustion chamber for further combustion of any remaining particulates. A cooling and exhaust system extends from the secondary combustion chamber for drawing off and condensing out any exhaust and moisture contained in the remaining exhaust particulates. A method of burning a biomass of bio-fuel with producing nitrogen dioxide is also disclosed.

A spark detector indicates the presence of a spark by analyzing sound waves generated when an electrical spark is produced from an electrical spark generator located on an igniter rod. The spark detector includes an acoustic sensor that is in communication with the igniter rod to determine the time for the spark sound wave to travel through the igniter rod to the acoustic sensor. If a spark is not detected, the spark detector may output a signal indicating at least one of (i) the spark was not detected, (ii) to replace the electrical spark generator immediately, or (iii) replace the electrical spark generator soon such as at the next scheduled maintenance. Furthermore, the spark detector may be calibrated based on current temperature of the igniter rod based upon time of propagation of a pulse sound wave, generated by a pulse-echo generator, to reflect off an end of the igniter rod.

According to some embodiments gas cooking appliances are provided that include at least one burner, an electrode, and a push button unit with a push button for activating the electrode. A gas valve is provided for each burner for regulating gas flow arriving from a gas conduit. An electromagnetic shut-off valve is arranged in the gas conduit and includes a closure member for closing the passage of gas. A control unit controls the shut-off valve. The closure member includes a stable closed position and a stable open position, the closure member changing position upon receiving electric current pulses. The push button unit is configured for pushing the closure member of the shut-off valve to the open position while at the same time activating the control unit and the electrode when the push button is pressed when the gas cooking appliance off. The control unit controls the shut-off valve by means of electric current pulses once the push button has been pressed.

A flame ignition and control system includes at least one gas burner, which is connected to a gas source via a flame control system, and a safety valve controlled by a flame sensor consisting of a thermocouple. The safety valve has an open state, in which the source supplies gas to the burner, and a closed state, in which gas flow is obstructed, the switching from the open state to the closed state and vice versa being controlled by the electric signal generated by the thermocouple. An igniter device is provided, which consists of an ignition electrode and a power supply unit thereof. Furthermore, at least the operation of the igniter device is controlled according to the current strength of the electric signal generated by the thermocouple.

Example embodiments relate to a burner including a control unit and an ignition and ionization electrode for igniting and monitoring the burner flame, wherein the ignition and ionization electrode is arranged in the flame area of the burner, is electrically coupled to a discharge circuit and provides an ionization signal when the flame of the burner is switched on, wherein the control unit provides an output signal for actuating the burner on the basis of the ionization signal, and wherein the discharge circuit is connected to a DC voltage source. Example embodiments further relate to a method of monitoring and igniting the flame of a burner and to a circuit arrangement for a burner.

An ignition controlling device of a gas appliance includes a high-voltage provider, a controller, and a flame sensor. The gas appliance includes an ignition electrode and a burner, and the ignition electrode is beside burner. The high-voltage provider has an output terminal, and the output terminal is electrically connected to the ignition electrode to provide high-voltage pulses to the ignition electrode. The controller controls the high-voltage provider to provide the high-voltage pulses. The flame sensor is electrically connected to the output terminal of the high-voltage provider to detect a flame around the ignition electrode and the burner. After a flame is detected by the flame sensor, the controller controls the high-voltage provider to stop the high-voltage pulses.

A system for controlling a gas burning appliance is disclosed. The system includes a central control unit. A pilot valve and main valve controls the flow of fuel from a fuel source to the pilot and main valve, respectively, and are configured for accepting an electrical current from a thermopile and from a power source. A spark generator generates for igniting fuel received by the pilot thereby generating a pilot flame. A flame sensor is adapted for monitoring the presence of a pilot flame. A thermopile proximate to the pilot burner is configured for generating an output electrical current for powering the pilot and main valve control devices. A relay routes electrical current between the power source and thermopile to the pilot and main valve control devices. A flame height regulating device conductively coupled with the power source is configured for adjusting a height of a main flame.

A sensor device for detecting a flame comprises a carbon dioxide sensor for detecting a CO.sub.2 concentration, a fuel sensor for detecting the combustion of a fuel, an electrostatic charge variation sensor for detecting electrostatic charge variations generated by the flame, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to acquire a carbon dioxide signal indicative of the concentration of carbon dioxide, a fuel signal indicative of the fuel combustion, and an electrostatic charge variation signal indicative of a difference between the electrostatic charge variations detected by a first and a second electrode of the electrostatic charge variation sensor, determine a quantized signal based on the electrostatic charge variation signal, determine an aggregate datum based on the carbon dioxide signal, the fuel signal and the electrostatic charge variation signal, and generate, based on the aggregate datum, a flame signal indicative of the presence or absence of the flame.

An ignition system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The ignition system may include an igniter operatively associated with the combustor, and an electrode operatively associated with the combustor and spaced from the igniter, wherein an electrical potential is created between the igniter and the electrode to produce an electric arc therebetween.