Method and system for starting an intermittent flame-powered pilot combustion system

A gas-powered appliance having an intermittent pilot ignition system, comprising:

• a power source;
• a burner assembly having an intermittent pilot flame, the burner assembly including a spark igniter;
• a rechargeable energy storage device, wherein the rechargeable energy storage device is configured to be charged using energy generated by a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device associated with the burner assembly;
• a controller coupled to the power source, the rechargeable energy storage device and the spark igniter of the burner assembly, wherein the controller initiates ignition of the pilot flame using the power source when the energy stored in the rechargeable energy storage device is below a threshold level, and uses energy from the rechargeable energy storage device and not the power source for subsequent operation when the energy stored in the rechargeable energy storage device is above the threshold level.

A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion control system for a gas-fired appliance, the system comprising:

• a pre-charged power source;
• a burner assembly having an inaccessible combustion chamber;
• a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that directly and/or indirectly charges the pre-charged power source when the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device is exposed to a flame within the burner assembly;
• an igniter receiving power from the pre-charged power source, the igniter for igniting a flame in the burner assembly;
• and
• a controller, wherein the controller and the igniter receive power from the pre-charged power source for igniting a flame in the burner assembly for a first time after installation and/or after an extended duration of non-use, wherein the controller and the igniter receive power generated by the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device and not the pre-charged power source during subsequent operation of the gas-fired appliance.

A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller for use with a gas-powered appliance, comprising:

• a burner assembly for receiving a gas;
• an ignitor for igniting the gas of the burner assembly to produce a flame;
• a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device for generating power from the flame when the flame is present;
• a power source that is directly and/or indirectly charged by the power generated by thermal electric and/or photoelectric device when the flame is present;
• a controller, wherein the controller and the igniter receive power from the power source for igniting the flame of the burner assembly when the power source has a charge that exceeds a threshold level;
• and
• wherein the controller and the igniter receive power from an alternative power source and not the power source when the power source has a charge that does not exceed the threshold level.