Fenwal Controls helps maintain eternal flame on President JFK’s grave with ignition module.
The reason that no wind, rain or snow can extinguish the Eternal Flame on President John F. Kennedy’s grave is because of what is inside a small, weather-proof box beneath the ground several feet from the flame.
There is an ignition module that controls the flow of natural gas, lights the flame via a high voltage cable and a spark electrode positioned in the burner, and uses electronic flame monitoring to ensure that the Eternal Flame is truly eternal. This is not an off-the-shelf ignition control that might fit into a standard residential furnace or rooftop HVAC unit.
The components are custom made for the Eternal Flame at Fenwal Controls in Ashland, MA. The engineer who has maintained the flame for the past 25 years was tasked to inspect, perform maintenance and upgrade the system as required and invited Fenwal to assist.
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“Your Company, Fenwal, has made it possible for this memorial to work trouble free for over 45 years without a single flame out call.” Fenwal components were exclusively specified on the original design documents, and he wants to do all possible so the flame operates flawlessly for the next 45 years.
The flame, created at the request of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1963, is located at the center of a circular granite stone at the head of Kennedy’s grave, in Arlington National Cemetery.
If the flame momentarily goes out because of weather or other fault condition, the ignition module senses and the loss of flame and immediately relights it.
The electrodes are specially designed for outdoor use, unlike in a commercial HVAC system, for example, where they are protected from the elements. The flame in an outdoor torch is ever changing, moving around with the wind.
This requires that Fenwal customize the electrode, taking into consideration where the gas and air are flowing from and how long the electrode wires need to be to reach where the gas will be ignited.
The ignition module typically does not need to be serviced or maintained; it will normally last the life of a standard gas-fired appliance. However, “eternal” is no typical gas-fired appliance life-cycle. Fenwal can ship replacement parts, as is did for the original installation, but this invitation was an uncommon opportunity.
“No current Fenwal employee has ever looked under the hood, so no one here has the history of the flame’s operation or system installation,” says Gordon Swanson, General Manager of Fenwal Controls.
The purpose of our on-site visit will be to answer any questions on best electrical practices, such as grounding and positioning of the wires to avoid electrical interference from the 20,000-volt ignition spark. Optimal mounting and location of the flame sensors is another area where we can assist.
The trip also has other significance.
“People here have taken great interest because of the historic significance,” Swanson said. When the invitation came, “People jumped on it. It’s interesting, it’s important and we take pride in doing what we can do for this National Memorial to a special President.”