Re: flame rectification?

["Rick Tarara" <rtarara@saintmarys.edu>]

I've not heard of flame rectification, but the standard gas water heater
circuit is a fairly simple thermocouple placed in the pilot flame that is
part of the circuit that keeps an electrically activated gas valve open.  To
light the pilot you need to hold in a button that manually opens the valve,
light the pilot, then hold this button for 30-60 seconds until the
thermocouple reaches the appropriate temperature.  The valve is then held
open by the circuit.  If for any reason the pilot is extinguished, the
thermocouple cools and the valve is closed.

rwt

-----Original Message-----
From: HILLEKER@Citadel.edu <HILLEKER@Citadel.edu>
To: phys-l@atlantis.uwf.edu <phys-l@atlantis.uwf.edu>
Date: Tuesday, September 08, 1998 6:21 AM
Subject: flame rectification?


> A student recently asked me about an effect used in gas water
> heaters (and other appliances, I suppose) by which the flame is
> used to rectify an AC voltage.  He understood that the
> current was used to monitor the flame.  I had never heard of this
> effect and have not been able to find a description of "flame
> rectification".  Can anyone help out?  Any references you might
> be able to give would be appreciated.
>
> Russ Hilleke
> Physics Dept
> The Citadel
> hilleker@citadel.edu