Boiler and burner sizing
Boiler and burner sizing
(OP)
I have a small 110kW boiler. Gratful if anyone can advise if I can fit a larger rated burner to the boiler i.e. 160kW. It is a small cast iron sectional boiler. the system has been designed with a variable flow from 100% to zero. This seems incorrect?





RE: Boiler and burner sizing
rmw
RE: Boiler and burner sizing
i'd highly recommend contacting the boiler mfg BEFORE recommending &/or conducting the work.
why are you wanting to install the larger capacity burner than what boiler is rated for?
-pmover
RE: Boiler and burner sizing
basically the boiler is a small cast iron sectional boiler. it is used to heat a building with main/standby. There is not data on teh boiler and the manufacturer is no longer in business (in went to the wall following the argentine currency crash). The with a full rated burner the boiler does not get up to temperature. The quality of the gas is supect (they boost the supply with air during high winter demand period)
RE: Boiler and burner sizing
RE: Boiler and burner sizing
it seems to me that if combustion is taking place and boiler water is not getting up to temperature, then there may be other matters to look into. hence, the following list of questions or suggestions.
has the cast iron boiler been examined or inspected for scale/mineral deposits? scale will inhibit heat transfer, thus waste energy or increase the amount of fuel consumption.
has temperature probe for controlling temperature been inspected/examined for cleanliness and proper operation? a faulty or fouled probe will impact boiler temperature control; thus fuel consumption.
have other boiler safety & operational equipment been examined and inspected for proper operation? low-water shutdown device (if water boiler), boiler relief/safety valve, water supply/return/make-up system, etc.
is the burner an atmospheric burner (no blower) or a power burner (has a blower)?
when combustion takes place, is it possible to observe the amount of flame inside boiler relative to available volume in combustion box?
something to ponder or examine, if not already accomplished.
good luck!
-pmover
RE: Boiler and burner sizing
RE: Boiler and burner sizing
RE: Boiler and burner sizing
Thanks very much for your views.
We have opened up the boilers and cleaned the water and fire tube sides. The problem may well be the practice of the gas supplier pumping compressed air into the system to boost the gas pressure during peroids of high demand. This is lowering teh calorific value of the fuel.
In argentina they work on a design temperature rise of 5 Deg C rather than 10 Deg C that we use in the UK. In the UK we are also used to the practice of keeping the return boiler water temperature up to avoid back end corrosion, but in Argentina they are not.