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 flame sensor assembly includes a flame sense rod and a flame sensor body. The flame sense rod includes a flame sensor end and a coupling end opposite the flame sensor. The flame sensor body defines a receptacle for receiving the coupling end of the flame sense rod, and includes an adjustable positioning bracket. The assembly also includes a wiring adapter for connecting the flame sensor body with a flame sense signal connector, and a mounting bracket adapted to mount the flame sensor body to a heating device with the flame sensor end of the flame sense rod positioned adjacent a flame of the heating device. Methods of replacing a flame sensor assembly for a heating device are also disclosed.

An apparatus for heating water comprises a main burner, a pilot burner, a valve assembly with a main valve and a pilot valve having a shutter, a magnetic thermoelectric safety assembly with a thermocouple device holding the pilot valve open in the presence of a flame in the pilot burner, a button member mounted on a rod that is slidingly guided in the valve assembly and an electrical ignition member supplied via an electrical connection circuit, a switch device in the circuit being designed to be switched by means of the button member so as to close the electrical circuit when said button member is pressed in order to carry out actuation of the magnetic assembly so as to open the passage of gas through the pilot valve towards the pilot burner and to ignite the pilot flame by means of the sparks generated by the ignition member.

A flame detection device that uses a breakthrough voltage across a pair of electrodes located in a flame zone to detect the presence of a flame. The flame detection device may be used with a burner that is part of a furnace in a central heating system for a home or building. Unlike conventional flame detection devices that measure ionization current in a flame, the flame detection device detects a flame by determining the voltage required for a spark event across a spark gap located in a flame zone (also referred to as the breakthrough voltage), and evaluating the breakthrough voltage and/or its various characteristics to detect the presence or absence of a flame. According to one example, the flame detection device includes a power supply, an ignition unit, output wires, insulators, and electrodes.

A flame sensor assembly includes a flame sense rod and a flame sensor body. The flame sense rod includes a flame sensor end and a coupling end opposite the flame sensor. The flame sensor body defines a receptacle for receiving the coupling end of the flame sense rod, and includes an adjustable positioning bracket. The assembly also includes a wiring adapter for connecting the flame sensor body with a flame sense signal connector, and a mounting bracket adapted to mount the flame sensor body to a heating device with the flame sensor end of the flame sense rod positioned adjacent a flame of the heating device. Methods of replacing a flame sensor assembly for a heating device are also disclosed.

An apparatus for heating water comprises a main burner, a pilot burner, a valve assembly with a main valve and a pilot valve having a shutter, a magnetic thermoelectric safety assembly with a thermocouple device holding the pilot valve open in the presence of a flame in the pilot burner, a button member mounted on a rod that is slidingly guided in the valve assembly and an electrical ignition member supplied via an electrical connection circuit, a switch device in the circuit being designed to be switched by means of the button member so as to close the electrical circuit when said button member is pressed in order to carry out actuation of the magnetic assembly so as to open the passage of gas through the pilot valve towards the pilot burner and to ignite the pilot flame by means of the sparks generated by the ignition member.

A system configured to generate heat when supplied with a first fuel or a second fuel can include a fuel supply line operatively connected to a fuel source. A valve assembly can be operatively connected to the fuel supply line. A main burner can be operatively connected to the valve assembly. A thermoelectric generating system can be configured to transform heat to electricity. A first pilot burner can include at least one of a first thermocouple and a first Fe-ion sensor. A second pilot burner can include at least one of a second thermocouple and a second Fe-ion sensor. A printed circuit board (PCB) can be operatively connected to the valve assembly and the first and second pilot burners. The PCB can be configured to control operation of the valve assembly based on information received from at least one of the first and second pilot burners.

According to an embodiment, a burner system includes a pilot burner disposed in a furnace at a distal position along a main fuel and combustion air flow axis, and one or more main fuel nozzles disposed at a proximal position along the main fuel and combustion air flow axis. The pilot burner is configured to support a pilot flame and the one or more main fuel nozzles are configured to support a main flame in contact with the pilot flame. The pilot burner is disposed to cause the main fuel and combustion air to be ignited by the pilot flame. The pilot burner may support a diffusion pilot flame or may include a premixing apparatus to support a pre-mixed flame.

An apparatus may comprise a first carrier tube having a first input end and a first output end and a second carrier tube disposed substantially parallel to the first carrier tube and having a second input end and a second output end. A cross tube may be coupled to the first carrier tube and the second carrier tube and may be disposed substantially perpendicularly between the carrier tubes. A plurality of burner holes may be disposed along the first carrier tube, the second carrier tube, and the cross tube. A plurality of flame sensors may be disposed at various locations of the first carrier tube and the second carrier tube. A first igniter assembly may further be coupled to the first carrier tube.

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.