Gas Research Institute

Other

Stephan E Schmidt

Karen R Benedek

Philip C Carbone

John A Bowman

Charles E Benson

Eric J Carlson

Peter P Payne

Michael J Farina

Kristin Powers Goppel

J Thomas Fowler

William W Bassett

Darrell J King

Stephen M Tobin

Johannes H J Thijssen

Gautam Gauba

Richard A Shandross

Scott MacAdam

Peter Cheimets

William J Goetzler

In a flame ionization sensor type gas combustion control apparatus, the sensor tip, or probe, exposed to the flame is constructed and arranged according to materials and shapes which promote mechanical deformation of the sensor due to thermal expansion and contraction. The mechanical deformation will cause cracks to open in the contaminant layers surrounding the probe, enabling the sensor to perform as intended even though insulative contaminant build up is present.

Silicon oxide contamination shedding sensor

A gas-fired burner wherein a back plate having at least one inlet tube is connected with respect to a flameholder plate having a plurality of ports. The flameholder plate and the back plate form a plenum. A plurality of mixing baffles are formed within the plenum and between the back plate and the flameholder plate. A radiation plate is also connected with respect to the flameholder plate, the radiation plate and flameholder plate forming a combustion chamber with at least one gas flow boundary serving as a heat radiating surface.

Integrated premixed indirect radiant burner

An apparatus and method for operating a pilot burner apparatus and a main burner apparatus of a gas-fired appliance. The pilot burner apparatus draws combustion air from a first environment. The main combustion apparatus draws air from a second environment. In a shutdown condition, such as when a flammable vapor source is accidentally exposed to the second environment, the pilot burner apparatus draws air containing an undesired flammable vapor which eliminates the pilot flame, triggering a gas valve to close and shut down the fuel gas supply to the main burner apparatus and the pilot burner apparatus.

Apparatus and method for sensing flammable vapor

In a flame ionization sensor type gas combustion control apparatus, the sensor is provided with a power supply which will increase the voltage as contamination build up occurs on the in-flame sensor electrode thereby keeping a constant sensor current and enabling the sensor to perform as intended even though insulative contaminant build up is present on the electrode.

Constant current flame ionization circuit

A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a burner apparatus are provided via the flame intensity of combustion reaction mixtures of oxidant and fuel gas.

Burner control

Pilot burner apparatus and method for operating

A pilot burner apparatus for use with gas-fired appliances, such as gas-fired water heaters, is provided with a structure configured for the early detection, and response to, the presence of flammable vapor in the atmosphere ambient to the appliance. Combustion air for the pilot burner is taken from that region of the ambient atmosphere, most likely to become contaminated with flammable vapor first. One or more flame characteristics of the pilot burner flame are monitored, and if the flame characteristics depart from a predetermined range of parameters, gas flow to the pilot and main burner(s) of the appliance are cut off. The sensitivity of the pilot burner is such that flammable vapors are detected before the concentration of flammable vapors car rise to the lower flammability limit of the anticipated flammable vapor(s).

Burner apparatus having an air dam and mixer tube

A process and apparatus for combusting fuel which results in reduction of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxides emissions. Fuel and primary air are preferably premixed and introduced into a combustion chamber. Secondary air is introduced through a plurality of secondary air ports, each preferably shaped as a slot, which are positioned about a venturi nozzle or flame holder disk mounted with respect to a combustion chamber wall. The secondary air flowing through the secondary air ports forms relatively high velocity and momentum secondary air jets that promote rapid mixing of the fuel and primary air mixture into the secondary air flow, such that a combustion flame is established at a partial periphery of the secondary air jets.

Apparatus for low NO.sub.x, rapid mix combustion

A burner apparatus for gas-fired appliances, such as gas furnaces. The burner apparatus includes an improved flame holder structure for controlling the shape and contour of the flame, and burner housing and plenum configurations for enhancing the characteristics of the flame.

Burner housing and plenum configuration for gas-fired burners

A burner apparatus for gas-fired appliances, such as gas furnaces. The burner apparatus includes an improved flame holder structure, with a contoured surface, for controlling the shape and contour of the flame, and burner housing and plenum configurations for enhancing the characteristics of the flame.

An apparatus and process for controlling the operation of a gas burner, by monitoring and controlling the stoichiometry of the air and fuel gas during the burning process.

Growing community of inventors

Woburn, MA, United States of America

Stephan E Schmidt