Working Principle
Household equipment manufacturers seek to increase the safety of household appliances. Therefore, they develop special devices that prevent the occurrence of a fire in the event of a gas leak. Gas control is a reliable system, the elements of which control the flow of fuel entering the burner hob.
If the fire on the hob goes out and the gas continues to come out of the chimney, it will leak. When for any reason this has happened, the control mechanism blocks the flow of gaseous matter into the working surface. Leakage can occur due to accidental ingress of liquid into the burner( for example, runaway milk).Also, the fire can extinguish a strong gust of wind.
Modern models of gas appliances are equipped with a gas control system that allows you to feel completely safe. It is even in the most inexpensive versions of gas stoves.
This mechanism works quite simply. Each burner on the stove is equipped with a burner and a flame sensor. The main active components of the sensor are: a device called a thermocouple, a valve of electromagnetic action, wires.
Thermocouple consists of two wires fused with each other in a special way. They consist of metals of different types. At the junction of the wires is a round element that perceives changes in temperature. It is located in the place of the flame of the burner.
Electromagnetic valve action is directly connected to the gas supply valve of the burner. And it is connected to a thermocouple with a wire. All wires are inside insulating material.
When the stove is turned on, there is a fire in the burner, and then the thermocouple bulb is heated. This process takes a few seconds. When this element is heated, an electrical signal is generated at the other end of the wire. This signal is fed to the solenoid valve, which opens and presses on the burner valve.
If the flame in the burner is stable, a steady electric signal is continuously applied to the valve. Due to this, the valve remains open and the gas is supplied stably. If the fire on the hob or in the oven suddenly goes out, the heating element cools down and no electric signal is generated.
Ceasing to receive a pulse, the valve closes the valve, stopping the flow of gas. This ensures safe operation of the gas stove.
Signs of damage
Some parts of the system may wear out during operation and fail. This leads to a breakdown of the gas control mechanism. It is possible to determine that it is out of order by the following features:
- burner fades in the process of cooking;
- between the inclusion of the plate and the occurrence of fire there is a very large interval;
- while blowing gas flame continues to flow;
- the flame in the oven goes out when it works;
- oven does not turn on.
The control system in the gas stove is designed so that when the gas supply is turned off, the burner must be re-ignited. There are some nuances here. A round element of a thermocouple heats up when the plate is turned on not immediately, but after a while. This usually happens after a few seconds( from 1 to 5).In some models of gas stoves, the heating time can increase up to 15-20 seconds, and sometimes even longer. The ignition time may increase as the device is used.
This leads to the fact that when you turn on the ignition, you have to hold the knob of the burner for some time, pressing it down. If this is not done, gas control will shut off the fuel supply and the stove will not turn on. This moment creates certain inconveniences for modern consumers accustomed to comfort.
Sometimes some plate owners try to solve this problem themselves. They set the ignition switch in a fixed position so as not to hold it manually. In other cases, consumers are asked to turn off the gas control specialist. A service worker may perform similar work. But then it will jeopardize your security. After all, if this system does not work, you will not be able to track the fact of a gas leak.
In the event that you notice that your cooker began to turn on longer than usual, the cause may be a contaminated thermocouple. If you have the skills to repair electrical equipment, you can fix this problem yourself. To do this, remove the hob and clean the heating element.
If you do not have such experience, it is recommended not to risk and disassemble the device. It is better to call an experienced specialist who will fix your equipment.In the case when the gas control still does not work after cleaning the heating element, this means that the mechanism has failed. If this and other signs of system gas breakdown described above appear, you should immediately contact the service center. Attempting to repair the equipment yourself may have undesirable consequences.
A mechanism that controls the gas supply to the burner is a necessary option that ensures the safety of the equipment owner. In the event of a malfunction, immediately consult with a specialist.
