Photovoltaic control system

A high-speed, self-powered safety shutoff for a gas appliance comprising:

• a main burner;
• a pilot burner for igniting the main burner;
• a valve for permitting or interrupting gas flow to the pilot burner and main burner;
• electromagnetic means for temporarily latching the valve in its open position;
• an emissive surface in the flame of the pilot burner;
• photovoltaic means coupled directly to the electromagnetic means for receiving radiation from the emissive surface and generating sufficient electric power for maintaining the valve in its open position with no other source of electric power;
• and
• means for biasing the valve toward its closed position when electric power from the photovoltaic means decreases below a predetermined magnitude.

A self-powered control system for a fuel burning apparatus:

• a porous surface combustion burner;
• fuel control means for delivering fuel to the porous surface combustion burner;
• a blower for delivering air to the porous surface combustion burner;
• and
• photovoltaic means connected to the fuel control means and the blower for receiving electromagnetic radiation from the surface of the porous surface combustion burner and producing sufficient electric current and voltage for operating the fuel control means and the blower with no other source of electric power.