Patent ID: 7982164

Claim:
A water heater with an ionized ignition system, comprising: a corrosion resistant tank having a plurality of heat exchanger tubes therein; a variable nozzle burner, and a gas feed valve system including at least one electrovalve connected to a cast body configured to deliver a gas to said burner; a bimetallic temperature detector disposed to detect water temperature within said tank; a flow detector activated by water flow from said tank; a remote control device; a first spark plug positioned to ignite said burner, and a second spark plug positioned to detect current changes generated by ionization effect caused by the flame after said burner is ignited; an electronic controller in operative communication with said electrovalve, said temperature detector, said flow detector, said remote control device, and said first and second spark plugs, said electronic controller including a temperature setting device for a user to set a desired water temperature, said electronic controller configured to ignite said burner under the following conditions: a). upon a flow demand signal from said flow detector and a temperature detected by said temperature detector that is less than (by preset margin) a desired water temperature input to said electronic controller by a user; b). according to a time schedule input to said electronic controller when the temperature detected by said temperature detector that is less than (by a preset margin) a desired water temperature input to said electronic controller by a user by; c). when a remote control is actuated and the temperature detected by said temperature detector that is less than (by a preset margin) a desired water temperature input to said electronic controller by a user by; upon satisfaction of one of said conditions, said electronic controller configured to send a current to said first spark plug and causing gradual opening of said electrovalve to supply gas to said burner to ignite said burner with said first spark plug; said electronic controller configured to generate a visual display of normal operation, or to close said electrovalve and terminate operation of said water heater if the change of current is not detected upon ignition within a defined time and to generate a visual display of equipment error.