Method and apparatus for thermal powered control

A thermally powered control system comprising:

• a thermo-electric device;
• a first voltage converter coupled with the thermo-electric device;
• a second voltage converter coupled with the first voltage converter and the thermo-electric device;
• a charge storage capacitor coupled with the first and second voltage converters;
• a safety switch apparatus coupled with the thermo-electric device, and the first and second voltage converters;
• a valve control apparatus coupled with the safety switch;
• a programmable controller coupled with the valve control apparatus, the safety switch apparatus, the first and second voltage converters, and the charge storage capacitor;
• one or more temperature sensors coupled with the programmable controller;
• and
• a variable input apparatus coupled with the programmable controller, wherein the control system operates based, at least in part, on a setting of the input apparatus and resistive electrical properties of the one or more temperature sensors, and the control system is powered by the thermo-electric device and via the first and second voltage converters, by converted thermal energy communicated to the thermo-electric device.

A method comprising:

• applying thermal energy to a thermo-electric device;
• generating a first voltage potential from the thermal energy using the thermo-electric device;
• converting the first voltage potential to a second voltage potential using a first direct-current voltage converter (DC-DC converter);
• activating a programmable micro-controller using the second voltage potential;
• and
• further converting the first voltage potential to a third voltage potential using a second DC-DC converter.