A method of controlling water heater pilot flame ignition includes receiving, by a controller of a water heater, a user input and controlling a pilot gas valve to start a gas flow to a pilot burner in response to the user input. The method further includes, in response to the user input, controlling, by the controller, an igniter to generate an ignition spark for lighting a pilot flame. The method also includes controlling, by the controller, the pilot gas valve to maintain the gas flow to the pilot burner if the pilot flame is lit.

A cooking appliance and method generate an audible and/or visual indication to a user when a user control for a gas burner is in a position within which an igniter is active and a gas valve is supplying sufficient gas flow to the gas burner to support ignition and thereby assist a user in properly positioning the user control during ignition of the burner.

A cooking appliance and method generate an audible and/or visual indication to a user when a user control for a gas burner is in a position within which an igniter is active and a gas valve is supplying sufficient gas flow to the gas burner to support ignition and thereby assist a user in properly positioning the user control during ignition of the burner.

A method for controlling a fuel-oxidizer mixture in a premix gas burner includes: receiving a flame signal representing the presence of a flame deriving from the combustion of a fuel of a first predetermined type or a second predetermined type inside a combustion cell; accessing fuel data representing the fact that the gas fuel belongs to the first type or the second type; generating drive signals to control a gas flow regulating valve that supplies gas to the burner and to control a rotation speed of a fan configured to take in oxidative air; sending the drive signals to the gas flow regulating valve and to a motor connected to the fan. A memory unit contains first regulation data and second regulation data and is programmed to generate the drive signals based on the first regulation data or on the second regulation data, depending on the fuel data.

Gas cooktops disclosed herein may include a proportional solenoid valve controlling gas flow to a gas burner, where the proportional solenoid valve has a continuously variable range of positions. A user interface (UI) element associated with the proportional solenoid valve may be utilized to control a linear voltage regulator having a continuously variable output voltage. The output voltage of the linear voltage regulator is coupled to a solenoid of the proportional solenoid valve, such that the gas flow to the gas burner has a linear relationship with the output voltage of the linear voltage regulator.

A method of controlling water heater pilot flame ignition includes receiving, by a controller of a water heater, a user input and controlling a pilot gas valve to start a gas flow to a pilot burner in response to the user input. The method further includes, in response to the user input, controlling, by the controller, an igniter to generate an ignition spark for lighting a pilot flame. The method also includes controlling, by the controller, the pilot gas valve to maintain the gas flow to the pilot burner if the pilot flame is lit.

Gas cooktops disclosed herein may include a proportional solenoid valve controlling gas flow to a gas burner, where the proportional solenoid valve has a continuously variable range of positions. A user interface (UI) element associated with the proportional solenoid valve may be utilized to control a linear voltage regulator having a continuously variable output voltage. The output voltage of the linear voltage regulator is coupled to a solenoid of the proportional solenoid valve, such that the gas flow to the gas burner has a linear relationship with the output voltage of the linear voltage regulator.

A gas delivery system for gas grills is provided, the delivery system including one gas valve that controls the gas flow to a plurality of burner tubes.

A method of operating a heat releasing reactor producing product gas. The method includes steps of (a) monitoring a current load of the reactor, (b) finding such a numerical value for a current computational maximum momentary load for which at least one product gas factor computed using currently monitored process data with a numerical model of the reactor fulfills an acceptance condition, and selecting the numerical value as the current computational maximum momentary load, (c) indicating the current computational maximum momentary load to the operator and/or, if the current load is (c1) less than the current computational maximum momentary load, (c1i) indicating the operator that the load may be increased, and/or (c1ii) automatically increasing the load, and/or (c2) greater than the current computational maximum momentary load, (c2i) indicating the operator that the load exceeds the current computational maximum boiler momentary load, and/or (c2ii) automatically reducing the boiler load.