A water heater venting system, the water heater venting system comprising a main exhaust vent; and a first water heater in communication with a second water heater. The first water heater including an inlet, a blower assembly including a motor, an exhaust vent coupled to the main exhaust vent, a fluid flowpath created by fluid communication between the inlet, the blower assembly, and the exhaust vent, a sensor positioned along the fluid flowpath, and a controller electrically coupled to the sensor and the motor of the blower assembly, the controller controlling the speed of the motor based on at least one of an input from the sensor and an input from the second water heater.

A furnace is monitored by monitoring a statistical variable calculated from a draft measurement and monitoring a process variable related to the operation of the furnace. An abnormal operation of the furnace is determined based upon the statistical variable and the process variable.

A motor controller for a draft inducer motor that operates an inducer blower in a furnace is provided. The motor controller includes a communication interface operable to receive a signal from a system controller. The signal represents a command to operate the draft inducer motor. The motor controller includes a processor operable to operate the draft inducer motor in accordance with a predefined motor speed profile during at least one of an ignition stage and a combustion stage of the furnace.

Method for operating a gas burner appliance (10) comprising: a combustion chamber (11), an ignition device (27), a fan (14), a gas safety valve unit (19) assigned to the gas duct (16), an electric gas flow modulator (18) assigned to the gas duct (16), a sensor (21) positioned between the gas safety valve unit (19) and the gas flow modulator (18), wherein the gas burner appliance (10) is operated to determine the gas family of the gas of the gas/air mixture by the following steps: Before the gas burner appliance becomes started measuring the ambient air pressure by the sensor (21), wherein the ambient air pressure is measured when the safety valve unit (19) is closed, the gas flow modulator (18) is opened and the fan (14) is stopped. When the gas burner appliance (10) becomes started running the fan (14) at a defined fan speed, increasing the opening of the gas flow modulator (18) while activating the ignition device (27) trying to ignite the gas/air mixture until the activation of ignition device results into a combustion of the gas/air mixture. Determining from the fan speed of the fan (14) and from the measured ambient air pressure an air volume flow. Measuring the gas pressure by the sensor (21) when the safety valve unit (19) is opened, the gas flow modulator (18) is opened and the fan (14) is running. Determining from the opening of the gas flow modulator (18) at which the combustion started and from the measured gas pressure a gas volume flow. Determining a ratio between the gas volume flow and the air volume and from said ratio the gas family of the combusted gas.

A burner control system for improving burner performance and efficiency. The system may determine fuel and air channel or manifold parameters. Determination of parameters may be performed with a sensor connected across the air and fuel channels. A signal from the sensor may control the parameters which in turn affect the amounts of fuel and air to the burner via a controller. Parameter control of the fuel and air in their respective channels may result in more accurate fuel and air ratio control. One or more flow restrictors in fuel and/or air bypass channels may further improve accuracy of the fuel and air ratio. The channels may be interconnected with a pressure or flow divider. Byproducts of combustion in the exhaust, temperatures of gas and air, flame quality and/or other items may be monitored and adjusted with control of the fuel and air ratio for optimum combustion in the burner.

Methods and systems for controlling a gas valve assembly and/or combustion appliance may include identifying a flow rate of gas to a burner of a combustion appliance and determining if the flow rate is sufficient for a burner load of the combustion appliance. If the flow rate is sufficient for a burner load, a position of the valve member of the valve assembly and/or the burner load may be adjusted such that the flow rate of gas meets a target flow rate of gas for the current burner load. If the flow rate is insufficient to meet the current burner load, the valve member of the valve assembly may be positioned in a fully open position to at least partially meet the current burner load. If the flow rate is below a minimum flow rate threshold, the valve member may be moved to a fully closed position.

The present invention relates to a flow measurement system arranged for controlling a gas fireplace (1). It comprises a flow passage (11) in fluid communication with the gas fireplace to be controlled by use of a differential pressure pressostat (13). A first gauge connector (14) is arranged in the flow passage and connected to a first pressure sensor in the differential pressure pressostat for measuring a total pressure in a fluid flowing in the flow passage. A second gauge connector (15) is arranged near the first gauge connector and connected to a second pressure sensor in the differential pressure pressostat for measuring a static pressure in the fluid flowing in the flow passage. Based on these measures a dynamic pressure, and there from the flow velocity, in the fluid flowing in the flow passage is determined. This parameter is used to switch off the gas fireplace, when the flow becomes below a set threshold value. The second gauge connector (15) is arranged within a space defined by a surrounding wall (16) having at least one opening (17) facing towards the first gauge connector. The surrounding wall and the at least one opening is dimensioned and shaped so that the static pressure in the space is the same or substantially the same as around the first gauge connector, and there is no or substantially no flow of fluid in the space. Hereby the formation of water droplets on the second gauge connector is prevented, whereby a more reliable and fault-safe system is obtained.

A combustion air proving (CAP) system for a burner assembly having a burner for providing heated air to a location, a controller, and a back plate, where outside air is fed to the burner via a conduit. The CAP system is connected to an inlet of the system. An outlet of the system is connected to the burner via the back plate. A damper within the system is translatable between open and closed positions for allowing and blocking air flow, respectively. A sensor measures an air flow parameter of air flow to the burner. The sensor communicates with the controller, which shuts down the burner if the parameter measured by the sensor meets a predetermined threshold value. An assembly installer may test for proper sensor and controller functions by translating the damper to the closed position and blocking outside air flow.

The invention relates to a method for operating a gas heater, in particular a gas heater for providing central heating and/or for providing domestic hot water, in particular a gas boiler, in particular a condensing boiler, wherein the method comprises the following steps: supplying a gas and a fuel gas into a mixing chamber of the gas heater and supplying a mixed gas from the mixing chamber to a burner of the gas heater, measure the differential pressure per unit time and/or provide a sensor signal to the control unit for determining a gas quantity, defined by a volume per unit time or a mass per unit time, before the gas is supplied to the mixing chamber, measure the differential pressure per unit time and/or provide a sensor signal to the control unit for determining a fuel gas quantity, defined by a volume per unit time or a mass per unit time, before the fuel gas is supplied to the mixing chamber and determining whether at least one operation condition of the gas heater is fulfilled based on the determined gas quantity and/or the determined fuel gas quantity

A system and method of monitoring for sand plugging in a gas turbine engine includes sensing differential pressure across a combustor during engine operation. The sensed differential pressure is processed to determine an amount of sand plugging of combustor cooling holes, and an alert is generated when the amount of sand plugging exceeds a predetermined threshold.