Method and Apparatus for Controlling and Regulating Flow of Fuel Oil in Heating Systems

A method for controlling and regulating flow of fuel oil in a heating system, said method comprising the steps of, in combination:

• obtaining a nozzle having an inlet and outlet and configured to atomize fuel oil;
• obtaining an electric solenoid valve having an inlet for fluid-flow communication with a pressurized source of fuel oil and an outlet in fluid-flow communication with the inlet of the nozzle;
• wherein said electric solenoid valve is configured so that flow of fuel oil from the inlet of the electric solenoid valve to the inlet of the nozzle is prevented in a closed state of the electric solenoid valve and fuel oil flows from the inlet of the electric solenoid valve to the inlet of the nozzle in an open state of the electric solenoid valve;
• intermittently changing the valve between the closed state and the open state at predetermined time periods so that pulses of fuel oil exit the outlet of the nozzle;
• and
• wherein the electric solenoid valve is intermittently in the closed state a time period so that the pulses of fuel oil exiting the outlet of the nozzle self-sustain a flame.

A domestic furnace apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a combustion chamber
• a nozzle having an inlet and outlet in communication with the combustion chamber and configured to atomize fuel oil;
• an electric solenoid valve having an inlet for fluid-flow communication with a pressurized source of fuel oil and an outlet in fluid-flow communication with the inlet of the nozzle;
• wherein said electric solenoid valve is configured so that flow of fuel oil from the inlet of the electric solenoid valve to the inlet of the nozzle is prevented in a closed state of the electric solenoid valve and fuel oil flows from the inlet of the electric solenoid valve to the inlet of the nozzle in an open state of the electric solenoid valve;
• a controller in electrical communication with the electric solenoid valve and configured to intermittently change the valve between the closed state and the open state at predetermined time periods so that pulses of fuel oil exit the outlet of the nozzle;
• and
• wherein the electric solenoid valve is intermittently in the closed state a time period so that the pulses of fuel oil exiting the outlet of the nozzle self-sustain a flame within the combustion chamber.