A pilot fuel nozzle for a combustor includes an igniter forming a central body extending along a longitudinal center of the nozzle. A nozzle tip includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced fuel passages and a plurality of circumferentially spaced air passages extending to an outer side of the nozzle tip. The central body extends through a center of the nozzle tip for producing a spark to ignite a fuel/air mixture adjacent to the nozzle tip. A plurality of fuel tubes extend along the central body, each of the fuel tubes having an outlet end engaged on the nozzle tip for delivery of fuel from the nozzle tip into a combustion chamber of the combustor An outer sleeve surrounds the fuel tubes and defines an annular space in fluid communication with the air passages of the nozzle tip between the outer sleeve and the central body.

An automated torch for generating and sustaining a flame is provided that includes a head, the head including a burning chamber, the burning chamber being open to the atmosphere and weather elements to expose the flame to the atmosphere and weather elements, a pole, a valve, a programmable computer module, the module configured to convert a low voltage to a high voltage, the module further configured to actuate a valve, the module still further configured to control the rotation of the valve to vary the amount of fuel introduced into the burning chamber to modify the aesthetics of the flame, a sleeve nut, the sleeve nut configured to be adjustable to control the amount of air introduced in the burning chamber to modify the aesthetics of the flame, at least one fuel supply tube, a diffuser assembly and an igniter. The igniter positioned within the burning chamber and the igniter including an anode and a cathode. The anode and the cathode are positioned such that the anode is proximate the cathode to create a sufficient gap such that when the high voltage is applied to said igniter a spark is induced across the gap. The anode and the cathode of the igniter are configured to detect the presence of a flame within the burning chamber. The igniter is configured to be electrically connected to the programmable computer module, the programmable computer module programmed to interpret a signal from the igniter to determine whether the high voltage should be induced across the gap to create the spark or a flame is present in the burning chamber.

An automated torch for generating and sustaining a flame is provided that includes a head, the head including a burning chamber, the burning chamber being open to the atmosphere and weather elements to expose the flame to the atmosphere and weather elements, a pole, a valve, a programmable computer module, the module configured to convert a low voltage to a high voltage, the module further configured to actuate a valve, the module still further configured to control the rotation of the valve to vary the amount of fuel introduced into the burning chamber to modify the aesthetics of the flame, a sleeve nut, the sleeve nut configured to be adjustable to control the amount of air introduced in the burning chamber to modify the aesthetics of the flame, at least one fuel supply tube, a diffuser assembly and an igniter. The igniter positioned within the burning chamber and the igniter including an anode and a cathode. The anode and the cathode are positioned such that the anode is proximate the cathode to create a sufficient gap such that when the high voltage is applied to said igniter a spark is induced across the gap. The anode and the cathode of the igniter are configured to detect the presence of a flame within the burning chamber. The igniter is configured to be electrically connected to the programmable computer module, the programmable computer module programmed to interpret a signal from the igniter to determine whether the high voltage should be induced across the gap to create the spark or a flame is present in the burning chamber.