A gas powered water heater includes a storage tank, a main burner, a flame sensor assembly, and a controller communicatively coupled to the flame sensor assembly. The flame sensor assembly includes a probe positioned proximate the main burner to couple an electric current to the main burner through a flame on the main burner and not to couple an electric current to the main burner when the flame is not present on the main burner, and a detector that provides signals representative of the electric current provided through the probe. The controller is programmed to determine a length of time taken for a transition between a signal representative of no electric current and a signal representative of a steady state electric current, and determine, based at least in part on the determined length of time, a strength of the flame on the main burner.

A control system of a water heater apparatus with a combustible gas burner is presented where the apparatus includes a pilot burner with an intermittent-type pilot flame, a main burner, a pilot valve and a main valve, a control unit, a flame detection electrode, introduced into the flame of the pilot burner, and which is configured to conduct an ionization current. The control unit is configured to measure/detect a variation involving increase/decrease of the intensity of ionization current detected, the variation in intensity of ionization current being generated during the change between a first condition, in which the ionization current identifies the ignition state of only the pilot burner, and a second condition, in which the ionization current identifies the simultaneous ignition state of the pilot burner and the main burner so that, by detection of the measurement/variation of ionization current, the effective ignition of the main burner is recognized.

Embodiments of a high temperature fluid generator are adapted to heat a fluid to a high temperature using a heat source. The generator employs a forced circulation counter flow design including a furnace section, a convection section and a pair of L-shaped headers connected to tubes in the furnace and convection sections. In various embodiments, the headers are positioned on diagonally opposite corners and convection tubes are positioned at least partially outside of a flue path for the combustion gas.

A burner assembly includes a plurality of burner units including, on front sides thereof, fuel inlets through which fuel is introduced into the plurality of burner units, in which the plurality of burner units cause a combustion reaction using the introduced fuel, a case to which the plurality of burner units are coupled with a predetermined separation distance therebetween, and a flow passage guide that is coupled to a front side of the case and that includes a plurality of fuel openings corresponding to the fuel inlets of the plurality of burner units, and the flow passage guide is implemented as separate from the case.

A processor for a controller of a water heater is configured to receive water heater control parameters and an output from a sensor indicating a measured temperature of water in the water heater. The processor is also configured to determine whether to enter an anti-stacking control mode or to enter a demand anticipation control mode. In the anti-stacking control mode the processor is configured to initiate a call for heat when the measured temperature reaches a trigger temperature, calculate a burner on delay value and set a second timer with the calculated value, and calculate a reduced activation time. In the demand anticipation control mode the processor is configured to increase the variable offset based on a frequency of the demand anticipation control mode being activated, initiate a call for heat, and control, based on the reduced activation time or the increased offset value, the burner.

A method of controlling a gas powered water heater includes attempting to pick a main gas valve of the main burner using a first pick method. The first pick method includes closing a switch of a valve pick system to couple a capacitor of the valve pick system to the main gas valve for a first length of time to discharge energy stored in the capacitor to the main gas valve, and opening the switch of the valve pick system after the energy stored in the capacitor is discharged to the main gas valve. The controller determines if the main gas valve is open after using the first pick method. When the controller determines the main gas valve is not open, the controller attempts to pick the main gas valve using a second pick method different than the first pick method.

A water heater control system the water heater system comprising a rechargeable and non-rechargeable power source. In one or more examples, a controller such as a microcontroller of the water heater system is configured to receive power from the non-rechargeable power source and does not receive power from the rechargeable power source. Various other components of the water heater system are configured to receive power from the rechargeable power source. The system may comprise an energy storage system electrically connected to a pilot valve operator and electrically isolated from a main valve operator. The controller may be configured to recognize a call for main burner operation and may also be configured to check an available voltage of the energy storage system against a setpoint.

A water heater comprising a thermoelectric device to power components of the water heater, a valve configured to control gas flow, and a controller. The controller may be configured to periodically determine one or more electrical parameters for holding the valve in the open state. The controller may be configured to alter the one or more parameters with the valve in an open state until the valve deviates from the open state. The controller may cause a current to flow through the valve based on the determined one or more electrical parameters.

A combined heat and power system generates energy and efficiently captures a percentage of such energy that would otherwise be lost to, among other things, control the temperature and humidity of a house or dwelling.

A combustion device includes: a gas proportional valve; a control portion; a driving circuit; and a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit includes: a voltage generating portion configured to generate monitoring voltages corresponding to a driving current; and a branch output portion configured to output the monitoring voltages to a plurality of terminals of the control portion. When a voltage difference between the monitoring voltages input to the plurality of terminals is a determination reference value or more, the control portion determines that there is a failure of the monitoring circuit. When the voltage difference between the monitoring voltages is less than the determination reference value, and at least one of the monitoring voltages does not fall within a predetermined normal range while the gas proportional valve is controlled to become a predetermined state, the control portion determines that there is the failure of the monitoring circuit.