System and method for use in evaluating an operation of a combustion machine

A method for use in evaluating an operation of a combustion machine including a flame sensor, said method comprising:

• calculating by a computing device a plurality of current average intensities based on a series of intensity readings from a flame sensor, wherein each current average intensity corresponds to a current time interval;
• selecting by the computing device a plurality of past average intensities, wherein each past average intensity corresponds to a past time interval equal in duration to the current time interval corresponding to a current average intensity;
• calculating by the computing device a plurality of decay rates indicating a change in intensity readings over time based on the current average intensities and the past average intensities, wherein each decay rate corresponds to a current time interval;
• and
• estimating by the computing device a predicted flame sensor malfunction time based on the plurality of decay rates.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

• calculate a plurality of current average intensities based on a series of intensity readings from a flame sensor, wherein each current average intensity corresponds to a current time interval;
• calculate a plurality of decay rates indicating a change in intensity readings over time based on the current average intensities and a plurality of past average intensities, wherein each decay rate corresponds to a current time interval;
• and
• estimate a predicted flame sensor malfunction time based on the plurality of decay rates.