Control system for a fuel burning appliance and a method of operating such an appliance
AssigneeWolf Steel Ltd.
InventorsPaul Hodges, Derek Fong, Wonmyung Seo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control system for a fuel-burning appliance such as a wood or pellet burning stove is disclosed. The control system may include a particulate matter sensor. The control system may also include an ignition system to ignite an ignition charge of ignitable fuel. A processor controls the operation of the functional components of the appliance to maintain operating conditions within pre-determined parameters.
Claims20
A control system for a fuel-burning appliance, the control system comprising:
- a particulate matter sensor,
- a gas intake configured to deliver gas from a combustion chamber or an exhaust duct of the appliance to the particulate matter sensor,
- a vacuum pump operatively associated with the gas intake, the vacuum pump configured to draw gas from the combustion chamber or the exhaust duct, through the gas intake, and to deliver said gas to the particulate matter sensor,
- a combustion air intake through which ambient air flows into the combustion chamber,
- a combustion air intake control configured to control the passage of ambient air through the combustion air intake and into the combustion chamber, and
- a processor operatively connected to the particulate matter sensor, the vacuum pump, and the combustion air intake control, wherein the processor is configured to operate the combustion air intake control to permit an increased or a decreased flow of ambient air through the combustion air intake in response to signals received from the particulate matter sensor corresponding to a level of particulate matter sensed in the gas delivered to the particulate matter sensor.
A method of controlling a fuel-burning appliance having a combustion chamber and an exhaust duct, the method comprising:
- drawing gas from the combustion chamber or the exhaust duct and delivering the gas into a particulate matter sensor,
- with the particulate matter sensor, sensing a level of particulate matter in the gas and then generating and transmitting a signal, related to the level of sensed particulate matter, to a processor,
- with the processor, controlling a combustion air intake control to vary a volume of ambient air passing into the combustion chamber in response to the sensed level of particulate matter.
An ignition system for a wood or pellet burning appliance having a combustion chamber for the burning of firewood or pellets, the ignition system comprising:
- a combustion tray positioned within or immediately below the combustion chamber and configured to receive and retain an ignition charge of ignitable fuel,
- an electric heating element positioned adjacent to the combustion tray and in contact with the ignition charge when the ignition charge is present in the combustion tray,
- an ignition air blower configured to direct ambient or combustion air into the combustion tray, and
- a processor operatively connected to the electric heating element and the ignition air blower, the processor configured to energize the electric element and the ignition air blower upon the receipt of a command, and to thereby cause an ignition of the ignitable fuel.
A method of operating a wood or pellet burning appliance, the method comprising:
- loading an ignition charge of an ignitable fuel into a combustion tray positioned within the appliance and beneath a primary charge of firewood or pellets,
- upon the receipt of a command, causing a central processor to energize an electric heating element positioned in the combustion tray and in contact with the ignition charge, and
- causing the processor to operate an ignition air blower to direct ambient or combustion air into the combustion tray causing the ignition charge to be ignited.
A control system for a fuel burning heating appliance, the control system comprising:
- an appliance temperature sensor located at or near an exhaust duct of the appliance;
- an ambient temperature sensor positioned in a room housing the appliance;
- a combustion air intake through which ambient air can flow into a combustion chamber of the appliance, the combustion air intake having associated with it a combustion air intake control configured to control passage of ambient air through the combustion air intake and into the combustion chamber;
- and
- a processor operatively connected to the appliance temperature sensor, the ambient temperature sensor, and the combustion air intake control, the processor configured to operate the combustion air intake control to permit ambient air to flow into the combustion chamber at a rate to sustain a burning fire within the combustion chamber that generates heat such that temperatures sensed by the appliance temperature sensor and the ambient temperature sensor are each within a predetermined range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.