Archive for April, 2010
Yes, there is an answer! The never ending questions from clients about boiler energy savings, maximizing burner efficiency, reducing emissions and reduced excess air, increased equipment life, increased system reliability, flexibility and increased safety can now be answered.
With ever increasing popularity the Honeywell “Controlinks” fuel air ratio commercial/industrial combustion controls are sweeping the market.
To look at the future we need to understand how boiler efficiency was dealt with in the past. When a boiler is first commissioned at a new site the combustion efficiency is set by the installer using a combustion analyzer and adjusting the single modulating motor with jackshafts and their linkages to the fuel valve and air damper to achieve the best combustion efficiency. This “setup” during startup fixes the air-to-fuel ratio over the firing range of the boiler. Over time environmental and physical changes will reduce this “optimum” setup. Changes in temperature, pressure, and humidity, along with physical wear on the linkages and jackshafts, will alter the fixed air-to-fuel ratio causing increased operating and maintenance costs. The weakest “link” in this system is the linkage so let’s go “LINKAGELESS.”
The basic Honeywell Controlinks system consists of an R7999 Controlinks Controller, Q7999 Universal Subbase, ZM7999 Commissioning Software, and the ML7999 Universal Parallel Positioning Actuator (UPPA).
How the Controlinks system works… Four separate UPPAs (ML7999) replace the single actuator used with mechanical cam and linkage systems, providing independent control of the combustion air damper, the primary fuel, the secondary fuel, and the Flue Gas Recirculation (FGR) damper if used. The UPPAs (ML7999) are controlled by the Controlinks Controller (R7999), which responds to the load, and firing rate demands setup by the installer using a combustion efficiency analyzer throughout the boiler run/load cycle.
R7999 Controlinks Controller
ML7999 Controlinks Actuator
My next post will be on commissioning the Controlinks system, followed by a discussion on Controlinks features.
Let Stromquist and Company help you with your Honeywell Controlinks needs by calling us at 1-800-241-9471 or contacting one of our many CGNA members.
One of the biggest problems our school board friends face is how to control energy in the portable classrooms. These classrooms are used to handle excess students, and like regular classrooms, they need to have proper lighting and temperature control. Getting the right lighting and HVAC systems is not a problem, but controlling them in an energy efficient manner is more of a challenge.
With these systems unless the HVAC units and lights are turned off when the space is unoccupied, we are wasting very expensive energy. Most schools have a building automation sytem to perform these functions in the main buildings. However, this is not usually a viable way to control the portable classrooms since they are detached from the main building and the high cost of running the building automation system control wire between buildings makes this a very expensive option. We have provided “ wireless” solutions that work well, but the expense is still too high for most budgets, especially in these tough economic times.
Many schools have been provided with programmable thermostats so they can schedule times when the space will be occupied. The challenge with this approach is that holidays and schedule changes are not accounted for, so someone must go to all the portable classrooms and manually override the system or the units will be running with no one in the room.
Stromquist has a solution. If you took a programmable thermostat, added an occupancy sensor and an auxiliary output relay to control your lighting, what would you have? A low cost way to control energy and provide excellent temperature control in your portable classrooms.
If you are a Stromquist customer or are located in Georgia or Florida call 800.241.9471 and ask for Steven or Cera. If you are not a Stromquist customer please contact one of our affiliates at CGNA.
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