A burner (1) for producing a flame for a heat generation system, comprising a fuel supply line (3) and at least one a comburent intake system operatively connected to the combustion head (2) for supplying a flow rate of fuel and a flow rate of comburent, respectively, to the burner (1). The burner (1) comprises a turbogas unit having an auxiliary combustion chamber (6) in which combustion takes place and for the generation and conveying, downstream, of a flow of flue gases; and a turbine (7) activated by the flue gases produced by the auxiliary combustion chamber (6). In particular, the turbine (7) is operatively active to contribute at least partially to the movement of the fuel in said comburent supply system (4).

A gas meter (10) includes a normal measurement mode in which the flow rate is measured in a predetermined sampling period and a detailed measurement mode in which the flow rate is measured in a sampling period shorter than the predetermined sampling period in the normal measurement mode. A center device (40) gives an instruction to the gas meter (10) to measure the flow rate in the detailed measurement mode. The center device (40) further collects flow rate data measured in the detailed measurement mode from the gas meter (10), and generates, based on the collected flow rate data, failure diagnosis information for diagnosing a failure in a gas appliance. With this configuration, the failure part in the gas appliance can be remotely identified, which accelerates the repair work.

A burner tip apparatus which is resistant to plugging, and a staged air method of operation which reduces the peak temperature of the flame of the burner tip to provide low levels of NO.sub.x and other emissions. The burner tip can be used as an auxiliary burner tip for stabilizing a main burner flame, or for other purposes.

Example methods and apparatus for automating startup processes of gas grills are disclosed. An example grill includes a first burner, a second burner, a first burner valve operatively positioned between the first burner and a manifold of the grill, a second burner valve operatively positioned between the second burner and the manifold, a first ignitor operatively positioned relative to the first burner, and a second ignitor operatively positioned relative to the second burner. The example grill further includes a controller operatively coupled to the first burner valve, the second burner valve, the first ignitor, and the second ignitor. In response to determining that a user-based startup request has been received at the grill, the controller is to instruct the first burner valve and the second burner valve to open, and instruct the first ignitor and the second ignitor to ignite corresponding ones of the first burner and the second burner.

A gas valve for a cooking appliance is provided and includes a valve housing defining a valve chamber therein. A plug is disposed within the valve chamber. A valve stem interacts with the plug such that rotation of the valve stem correspondingly rotates the plug to selectively permit a flow of gas through the gas valve. The valve stem is axially translatable between a locked position wherein rotation thereof is inhibited and an unlocked position wherein rotation thereof is permitted. A first spring exerts a compressive force against the valve stem, toward the plug, to bias the valve stem into the locked position. A second spring exerts a compressive force against the plug in order to seat the plug within the valve chamber regardless whether the valve stem is in the locked or the unlocked position.

Cooktop appliances are provided. A cooktop appliance can include a gas burner; a manifold having a gas input; a primary line extending between the manifold and the gas burner, wherein the primary line operates as a non-modulated minimum gas flow line when the cooktop appliance is in an automatic mode; a secondary line extending between the manifold and the gas burner, wherein a gas flow rate of the secondary line is controllable by a flow control valve; a primary valve in fluid communication with at least the primary line; and a control system including: a sensor configured to detect a temperature corresponding to the gas burner; and a controller regulating: (i) the flow control valve in response to the detected temperature to achieve a desired temperature, and (ii) the primary valve when the flow control valve is closed and the detected temperature exceeds the desired temperature.

Cooktop appliances are provided. A cooktop appliance can include a manifold having a gas input; a first burner in fluid communication with the manifold through a first burner supply line having a first valve; and a second burner in fluid communication with the manifold through a second burner supply line having a second valve, the second burner arranged coaxially with respect to the first burner, wherein the second burner supply line comprises a primary line, a secondary line, and a sum line, the sum line providing a combined flow of gas from the primary line and the secondary line to the second burner, wherein the secondary line of the second burner comprises a third valve.

Cooktop appliances are provided. A cooktop appliance can include a gas burner; a manifold having a gas input; a primary line extending between the manifold and the gas burner, wherein a gas flow rate in the primary line is controllable by a user selectable interface; and a secondary line extending between the manifold and the gas burner, wherein a gas flow rate in the secondary line is controllable by a flow control valve.

A flow distribution system for distributing and dividing the flows of at least two separate fluids, the distribution system comprising: a three-dimensional nested structure of at least two fluid transporting fractals comprising at least a first fluid transporting fractal and a second fluid transporting fractal, each fluid transporting fractal having a respective fluid inlet which bifurcates to a plurality of fluid outlets, each fluid transporting fractal being configured to facilitate a flow therethrough independent from a flow in the other fluid transporting fractal, each fluid transporting fractal extending along and about a central axis between fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlets; wherein each fluid transporting fractals comprises of a series of recursive bifurcation units assembled in a selected number of stages, each bifurcation unit comprising a Y-shaped bifurcated element which is fluidly connected to two successive bifurcation units, each successive bifurcation unit being rotated relative to the central axis by an angle of between 60 and 120 degrees relative to the previous stage; each fluid transporting fractal is intertwined with the other fluid transporting fractal; each fluid transporting fractal is positioned offset from the other fluid transporting fractal about the central axis and are arranged such that each fluid outlet from one of the fluid transporting fractals is located adjoining a fluid outlet of the other fluid transporting fractal, and each fluid transporting fractal is centered about a flow axis which is laterally inclined from greater than 0 to 20 degrees from the central axis and longitudinally inclined from greater than 0 to 20 degrees from the central axis.

A multi-deck burner assembly for a conveyor-type oven can include a central manifold feeding fuel to upstream and downstream arrays of burners. Other burner assemblies can include pilot burners disposed at approximately a midway point along a longitudinal direction of the burners, thereby enabling the use of longer burners, and thus more efficient burner assembly design. Some burner assemblies can include both a centrally located manifold feeding upstream and downstream arrays and pilot burners disposed at approximately midpoints along the longitudinal lengths of both the upstream and downstream arrays.