Apparatus and method of detecting igniter type

Abstract

The invention includes an apparatus and method of determining the type of igniter for a burner at each stage of a boiler. The apparatus includes a controller operable to detect whether a first type of igniter or a second type of igniter is installed in the burner based on whether the first type of igniter or the second type of igniter transmits a response to the controller after receiving an activation signal from the controller.

1 . A method of determining a type of igniter for igniting gas issued by a burner of a gas-fired appliance, the gas-fired appliance adapted to comprise at least one of a first-type of igniter and a second-type of igniter different than the first-type of igniter, the method comprising:
 applying a control parameter at substantially the same time to the first-type of igniter and to the second-type of igniter;   monitoring the first-type of igniter and the second-type of igniter for a response to the control parameter; and   determining whether the first-type of igniter or the second-type of igniter provided the response.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the applying a control parameter comprises applying a voltage to the at least one of the first-type of igniter and the second-type of igniter. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising storing the type of igniter that provided the response in a memory. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first-type of igniter comprises a first material and the second-type of igniter comprises a second material different than the first-type of material. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first-type of igniter comprises silicon carbide and the second-type of igniter comprises silicon nitride. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first-type of igniter comprises silicon nitride and the second-type of igniter comprises silicon carbide. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting a fault condition if neither the first-type of igniter or the second-type of igniter is connected to the burner. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, after the determining act, only activating one type of igniter. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the activating one type of igniter is based on the determining act. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising canceling the act of applying a control parameter to the second-type of igniter if the first-type of igniter provided a response. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising canceling the act of applying a control parameter to the first-type of igniter if the second-type of igniter provided a response. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gas-fired appliance includes a plurality of burners, wherein each burner can include one of the first-type of igniter and the second-type of igniter, and wherein the method is repeated for each of the plurality of burners. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the applying a control parameter comprises applying an activation signal to the first-type of igniter and the second-type of igniter. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the monitoring the at least one of the first-type of igniter and the second-type of igniter for a response to the control parameter comprises monitoring the first-type of igniter and the second-type of igniter for a feedback signal. 
   
   
       15 . A gas-fired appliance comprising:
 at least one of a first-type of igniter and a second-type of igniter different than the first-type of igniter; and   a controller connected to the at least one of the first-type of igniter and the second-type of igniter, the controller being operable to detect whether the first-type of igniter and the second-type of igniter is connected to the controller based on whether at least one of the first-type of igniter and the second-type of igniter transmits a response to the controller after receiving an activation signal from the controller.   
   
   
       16 . The gas-fired appliance of  claim 15  further comprising a current sensing circuit connected to the first-type of igniter and the controller, the current sensing circuit operable to transmit a signal to the controller indicative that the first-type of igniter is present when current through the first-type of igniter exceeds a threshold value. 
   
   
       17 . The gas-fired appliance of  claim 15  further comprising an igniter module connected to the controller and the second-type of igniter, the igniter module operable to transmit an activation signal to the second-type of igniter, and if activation occurs, transmit a signal to the controller indicative that the second-type of igniter is present. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a current sensing circuit connected to the first-type of igniter and the controller and an igniter module connected to the second-type of igniter and the controller, the current sensing circuit operable to transmit a signal to the controller indicative that the first-type of igniter is present when current through the first-type of igniter exceeds a threshold value, the igniter module operable to transmit an activation signal to the second-type of igniter, and if activation occurs, transmit a signal to the controller indicative that the second-type of igniter is present. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the first-type of igniter comprises a first material and the second-type of igniter comprises a second material different than the first-type of material. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the first-type of igniter comprises silicon carbide and the second-type of igniter comprises silicon nitride. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the first-type of igniter comprises silicon nitride and the second-type of igniter comprises silicon carbide. 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for detecting a type of igniter in a boiler, the apparatus comprising:
 a controller connectable to at least one of a first-type of igniter and a second-type of igniter different than the first type of igniter, the controller operable to transmit a signal at substantially the same time to the first-type of igniter and the second-type of igniter   a current sensing circuit connected to the controller and the first-type of igniter, the current sensing circuit operable to transmit a signal to the controller indicative that the first-type of igniter is present if current through the first-type of igniter exceeds a threshold value; and   an igniter module connected to the controller and the second-type of igniter, and if activation occurs, transmit a signal to the controller indicative that the second-type of igniter is present.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the first-type of igniter comprises a first material and the second-type of igniter comprises a second material different than the first-type of material. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the first-type of igniter comprises silicon carbide and the second-type of igniter comprises silicon nitride. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the first-type of igniter comprises silicon nitride and the second-type of igniter comprises silicon carbide.