How Does Flame Sensor Work: Various Types Working and Facts:

In this article a very interring topic which is “How does flame sensor work” and how does flame sensor work related every facts are discusses so briefly that we easily can understand about flame sensor work.

The flame sensor work as the detection for a device which is so sensitive thus it could detect in the normal source of light. The sensor of the flame that is work mainly in the range between 750 – 1200 nm. It can work for the source of light. For this reason the flame sensor worked as a module of a sensor.

Flame sensor:

From the term we can easily derived the meaning of this flame sensor which is a sensor that can detect in fire or flame. It can detect very low range wavelength light to very high range wavelength.

flame sensor work 1
Flame sensor work
Image Credit – Wikimedia Commons
flame
Flame sensor
Image Credit – Wikipedia Commons

The output for the flame sensor could be digital or analog. As an alarm flame sensor is working in the field of industry and engineering. But higher temperature can affect it very badly. For this certain reason the flame sensor is situated taking a distance from the fire or flame.

The flame sensor is so much sensitive that it could detect flame or fire from the distance 100 to 700 cm.

How does a radiant flame sensor work?

The radiant senor is a thermostat or a bimetallic switch. The radiant sensor of the flame designed as this process that it could easily detect the emission of the heat from ignitors or burner of the flame.

The process for a radiant sensor of the flame is describe briefly in the section of below,

  1. At the beginning of the process we need to open the bottom section of the dryer to access the panel or we need to open the door of the burner. After that dryer should be started by switch thus the process cycle can be continue for the heat demand of the system.
  2. In the next step the ignitors of the radiant flame sensor which is attached with the secondary coil and stays in series that it won’t draw enough current. The ignitor is cool than the booster coil and the current is shunted away from the hotter side of booster coil. As the net result the valve of the primary cannot be open and glow is not done by the ignitor as a result no flame is occur. It is the perfect time to check the sensor of the radiant flame.
  3. The switch of the dryer is off and the power card of the dryer is disconnected. Need to remove the dryer’s front if the burner is not assembly fully.
  4. Two wires which are attached with the burner funnel of the sensor of the radiant are disconnected.
  5. Ohmmeter probes are placed between two terminals of the sensor of the flame radiant. At this moment if the meters have no movement that means sensor not working properly. To check the ohmmeter working need to touch the probes, need to remove the bad sensor from the system. If the meter of the radiant sensor can read 0 ohm then the present sensor is good.

Flame sensor types:

With taking the help of electromagnetic circuit the sensor of flame is build up. In this sensor of flame a receiver is attached with the system, which is a type of electromagnetic radiation.

The flame sensor can be classified mainly in four categories. The types are,

 flame detector
Flame detector
Image Credit – Wikipedia

IR multi spectrum:

The IR multi spectrum detector can work up to three particular wavelength bands in the region of IR spectrum. In general mathematical techniques uses IR multi spectrum for classification for the false alarm and fire.

IR single frequency:

Only band for infrared spectral IR multi spectrum detector is work. The mass of gases which should be present in hot condition emit a particular spectral pattern in the region of the infrared spectral. The gases are subject to interface to each other in the hot surface of the area.

UV/ IR flame detectors:

One of the most common flame detectors is UV/ IR flame detector. In this type of detector three signals is work in the two regions of the spectral. The fire reliability can be recognize by this UV/IR flame detector and also minimize the false alarm. The working purpose of the UV / IR detector is almost same as IR multi spectrum.

UV flame detectors:

This type of flame detector also can work in very minimum wavelength light source. It can work lower than 300 nm wavelength. It can detect in very high speed because ultraviolet radiation is emitted from the ignition of fires or explosions. The accuracy of the UV flame detector is quite good.

Flame sensor applications:

­The main purpose of the sensor of the flame is to reduce the risks which are produce in the process of ignition. Mainly for safety purpose the sensor of flame is work in the industrial field.

The applications of flame sensor is listed below,

  1. Fire alarm
  2. Fire detection
  3. Fire fighting robot
  4. Radiation research lab
  5. Gas powered devices for cooking
  6. Industrial gas turbine
  7. System of the drying
  8. Industrial heating
  9. Hydrogen station
  10. Ignition system
  11. Mines
Fire alarm
Fire alarm
Image Credit – Wikipedia Commons

How does flame sensor work for boiler?

A boiler flame sensor is work as a detector of the furnace where flame or fire is present. A metallic rod which is very thin and short length is attached to the furnace. The metallic rods produce electricity to confirm burning should be takes place into the furnace. When the gas valve is open the process of combustion is started.

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In this step from the sensor current is sent for detecting presence of the heat in furnace of the boiler. Now the heat is in continue process to detect the flame, but for 10 second from the starting the sensor could not work properly. Before shutting down and locking out the board of control the cycle should be continue for two times.

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How does a water heater flame of the sensor work?

In a water heater flame sensor thermocouple is used for controlling the flow of the gas. When the pilot lights are used is called the thermocouple and when the unit of electronic ignition is use is called flame sensor.

In the water heater flame sensor heat is converted to electric current and work as control valve from where the gas can be flow without facing any problems to the valve of the gas supply. In another word we also can explain the sensor is it can prevent flow of the gas from valve of the gas to furnace of the burner.

Thermocouple which is used in the flame sensor is basically a part of pilot burner which is connected with the control valve of the gas which is placed in the outer side of the heater.

How does a gas flame sensor work?

In chemical resistor a gas flame sensor is used in a wide range. A gas sensor easily can detect gas presence in a surface area for conducting current on the chemiresistor.  An n type semiconductor such as tin dioxide is used which should free electron free.

In the atmosphere more oxygen is present than the combustible gases. The molecules of the oxygen gases is attract free electron which are already present in the tin dioxide and helps to bringing in the surface area. Zero output only we can get when tin oxide is free from the electrons.

How does mercury flame sensor work?

The mercury flame sensor works depend on the quantity of mercury evaporation. The parts contained capillary tube, sensor end, SPDT switch. The parts are filled with mercury.

In the end section of the capillary tube of the flame sensor produce heat in the pilot flame that time gas is vaporized. Reaming non vaporized substance of the mercury goes to the gas valve by the tube of bellows type switch or diaphragm.

When the bellows switch is moves against a nonadjustable that time spring tension is calculated with the help of force to snap the SPDT diaphragm from set contact to another set of contact. In MPS device switch assembly the contact which are closed that are opened and normally contact which are open they are closed.

How does a UV flame sensor work?

A UV flame sensor is very sensitive detector .The range of the UV flame sensor is about 4.4 – 4.5 microns and it is emitted from hydrocarbon fuels and flame.

A UV senor is consists infrared and ultraviolet sensor and the both sensors are joined with the help of a single apparatus. The work purpose of the sensor is by detecting radiation of ultraviolet which are emitted flame and also from the wide range of sensitive flammable fuels such as ammonia, hydra zine, sulfur, hydrocarbons.

How does a flame sensor work on a gas dryer?

The burner funnel is present in the flame sensor which is use as detector of the temperature of the igniter. When the temperature of the igniter is too high the sensors detect and shut off the system’s igniter.

How does a flame sensor work on a gas furnace?

The flame sensor of the gas furnace work by detecting the flame or fire present in the system. The sensor of the gas furnace is not too lengthy and made of thin metallic rod and small electric is produce to confirm the flame is present in the system.

How does a single wire flame sensor work?

The flame sensor of the furnace work by detecting the flame or fire present in the system. The sensor of the system is attached with one single wire and could scene present of the fire or flame.