Method and system for starting an intermittent flame-powered pilot combustion system

1. A flame powered intermittent pilot ignition system, comprising:

a pre-charged power source;

a rechargeable power source;

a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device configured to charge the rechargeable power source in response to the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device being exposed to a flame;

an ignitor configured to receive power from the rechargeable power source; and

a controller configured to:

receive power from the pre-charged power source; and

control the ignitor to ignite a pilot flame of a gas-powered appliance.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ignitor is configured to receive power from the pre-charged power source for igniting the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance in a first ignition following installation of the gas-powered appliance and/or after an extended duration of non-use.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the ignitor is configured to receive power from the rechargeable power source for igniting the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance during subsequent operation of the gas-powered appliance.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-charged power source comprises a battery.

5. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the flame powered intermittent pilot ignition system is installed in the gas-powered appliance, and

wherein the pre-charged power source is pre-charged prior to installation of the gas-powered appliance at a customer site.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-charged power source is removably coupled to the flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a momentary switch coupled to the pre-charged power source and configured to cause, in response to activation of the momentary switch by a user, the controller to receive power from the pre-charged power source and initiate a pilot flame by:

commanding a gas valve to provide gas to a burner assembly; and

activating the ignitor to ignite the pilot flame in the burner assembly.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable power source comprises at least one of a capacitor or a rechargeable battery.

9. A gas-powered appliance having a flame powered intermittent pilot ignition system, comprising:

a pre-charged power source;

a rechargeable power source;

a burner assembly comprising an ignitor, wherein the ignitor is configured to:

receive power from the rechargeable power source; and

ignite the burner assembly to produce a pilot flame;

a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device configured to charge the rechargeable power source in response to the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device being exposed to the pilot flame; and

a controller configured to:

receive power from the pre-charged power source; and

control the ignitor to ignite the burner assembly to produce the pilot flame.

10. The gas-powered appliance of claim 9 , wherein the ignitor is configured to receive power from the pre-charged power source for igniting the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance in a first ignition following installation of the gas-powered appliance and/or after an extended duration of non-use.

11. The gas-powered appliance of claim 10 , wherein the ignitor is configured to receive power from the rechargeable power source for igniting the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance during subsequent operation of the gas-powered appliance.

12. The gas-powered appliance of claim 9 , wherein the pre-charged power source comprises a battery.

13. The gas-powered appliance of claim 9 ,

wherein the intermittent pilot ignition system is installed in the gas-powered appliance, and

wherein the pre-charged power source is pre-charged prior to installation of the gas-powered appliance at a customer site.

14. The gas-powered appliance of claim 9 , wherein the pre-charged power source is removably coupled to the intermittent pilot ignition system.

15. The gas-powered appliance of claim 9 , further comprising a momentary switch coupled to the pre-charged power source and configured to cause, in response to activation of the momentary switch by a user, the controller to receive power from the pre-charged power source and initiate the pilot flame by:

commanding a gas valve to provide gas to the burner assembly; and

activating the ignitor to ignite the pilot flame in the burner assembly.

16. The gas-powered appliance of claim 9 , wherein the rechargeable power source comprises at least one of a capacitor or a rechargeable battery.

17. A method of igniting a pilot flame of a gas-powered appliance having a flame powered intermittent pilot ignition system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, power from a pre-charged power source;

causing, by the controller, an ignitor to use power from the pre-charged power source to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance in a first ignition following installation of the gas-powered appliance; and

causing, by the controller, the ignitor to use power from a rechargeable power source to ignite the pilot flame of the gas-powered appliance after the first ignition.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the pre-charged power source comprises a battery.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the pre-charged power source is pre-charged prior to installation of the gas-powered appliance at a customer site.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising initiating, by the controller and in response to activation of a momentary switch by a user, the pilot flame by:

commanding a gas valve to provide gas to a burner assembly of the gas-powered appliance; and

activating the ignitor to ignite the pilot flame in the burner assembly.