Oxy-hydrogen fuel integration and control system

Abstract

An oxy-hydrogen generator control system may include an oxy-hydrogen generator for fuel production on demand. A controller may determine if ignition is present in a burner assembly prior to generating the oxy-hydrogen fuel and providing it to the burner assembly. The controller may also purge system lines of any residual oxy-hydrogen fuel when heating is no longer needed.

1 . An oxy-hydrogen generator control system, comprising:
 a burner assembly;   an oxy-hydrogen generator coupled to the burner assembly;   a valve coupled between the oxy-hydrogen generator and the burner assembly; and   a controller coupled to the valve and the burner assembly, the controller configured to:
 detect a heat distribution source signal to initiate oxy-hydrogen fuel generation, 
 detect a burner assembly signal that an ignition source is enabled, and 
   provide a valve opening signal to the valve to allow oxy-hydrogen fuel into the burner assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The oxy-hydrogen generator control system of  claim 1  wherein the oxy-hydrogen generator is an electrolysis system. 
     
     
         3 . The oxy-hydrogen generator control system of  claim 2  wherein the controller is configured to detect if electrical power is available to the electrolysis system. 
     
     
         4 . The oxy-hydrogen generator control system of  claim 1  wherein the valve includes an oxy-hydrogen gas delivery mode, an air purge delivery mode, and a closed mode. 
     
     
         5 . The oxy-hydrogen generator control system of  claim 4  wherein the controller is also configured to, during the purge delivery mode, purge a conduit leading to the burner assembly from the valve prior to closing the valve into the closed mode. 
     
     
         6 . The oxy-hydrogen generator control system of  claim 1  wherein the burner assembly includes a micro-nozzle coupled to the valve and the ignition source is disposed proximate the micro-nozzle. 
     
     
         7 . An oxy-hydrogen generator control system, comprising:
 an oxy-hydrogen micro-nozzle burner;   an oxy-hydrogen electrolysis generator coupled to the micro-nozzle burner;   a water source coupled to the electrolysis generator;   a conduit between the electrolysis generator and the micro-nozzle burner, the conduit having an internal volume of less than  200  ml; and   a controller coupled to the valve and the burner assembly, the controller configured to:
 detect a signal that an ignition source proximate the micro-nozzle burner is enabled, and 
 allow oxy-hydrogen fuel from the electrolysis generator into the micro-nozzle burner. 
   
     
     
         8 . The oxy-hydrogen generator control system of  claim 7  further comprising a switch coupled between the controller and the electrolysis generator, wherein the controller is configured to close the switch and allow power to the electrolysis generator for producing oxy-hydrogen fuel. 
     
     
         9 . The oxy-hydrogen generator control system of  claim 8  wherein the controller is configured to release a non-combustible air supply into the conduit purging oxy-hydrogen fuel from the conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The oxy-hydrogen generator control system of  claim 8  further comprising a thermostat coupled to the controller wherein the controller is configured to open the switch when a threshold temperature is detected on the thermostat.