Excess air provides safe operation above stoichiometric conditions. A burner is typically set up with 15% to 20% excess air in higher firing ranges. Higher excess air levels result in fuel being used to heat the air instead of transferring it to usable energy, increasing stack losses and significantly decreasing efficiency. Boilers with lower excess air throughout the operating range have higher efficiencies.
Emissions standards for boilers have become very stringent in many areas because of the new Clean Air regulations. The ability of the boiler to meet emissions regulations depends on the type of boiler and burner options. ZOZEN has options to meet 5ppm NOx regulations, as well as 1 ppm CO regulation at 30 ppm NOx out of the box. We can also custom-engineer Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) for more rigorous emissions controls.
Stack temperature is the temperature of the combustion gases (dry and water vapor) leaving the boiler. A well-designed boiler removes as much heat as possible from the combustion gases. Thus, lower stack temperature represents more effective heat transfer and lower heat loss up the stack. The stack temperature reflects the energy that did not transfer from the fuel to steam or hot water. Stack temperature is a visible indicator of boiler efficiency. Any time efficiency is guaranteed, predicted stack temperatures should be verified.
Stack loss is a measure of the amount of heat carried away by dry flue gases (unused heat) and the moisture loss (product of combustion), based on the fuel analysis of the specific fuel being used, moisture in the combustion air, etc.
The primary purpose of the boiler is to supply energy to the facility's operations – for comfort heating, manufacturing process, laundry, kitchen, etc. The nature of the facility's operation will dictate whether a steam or hot water boiler should be used. Hot water is commonly used in heating applications, with the boiler supplying water to the system at 120°F to 220°F. The operating pressure for hot water heating systems usually is 30 psig to 125 psig (hydrostatic). Under these conditions, there is a wide range of hot water boiler products available. If system requirements are for hot water of more than 250°F, a high-temperature water boiler should be considered.
ead below for our top three benefits to purchasing a low NOx heater for your facility.
They're Environmentally Friendly
When NO2 and NOx are released, they interact with other chemicals in the atmosphere that is harmful to the environment. The EPA has linked NOx emissions contributing to acid rain, smog, global warming, and smog. By using a low NOx heater, you greatly reduce NO2 pollution in the atmosphere.
Interested in decreasing waste and emissions? Learn why your facility needs a waste recovery unit.
They're Safer For Your Employees
According to the EPA, exposure to nitrogen oxides has been found to contribute to respiratory problems and diseases, like asthma. By installing a low NOx heater, you're potentially preventing damage to your employee's lungs.
They're More Efficient
As our low NOx heaters are built using a serpentine coil technology, they have space between the coil tubes which renders them 10 to 15% more efficient that hot oil heaters that feature helical coils.
There are so many options to weigh when looking for high efficiency boilers: hot water or steam, wetback or dryback, type of fuel, and more. However, there are a few key considerations to make when evaluating a new boiler for efficiency that will help you no matter what your other considerations may be. Look for a fan that can deliver a stable air supply, a burner and boiler unit that can produce low emissions, a design that maximizes flue gas velocity, smart pressure vessel design, and an efficient heating power to boiler surface ratio are just a few considerations to keep in mind. These simple but powerful design elements are hallmarks of solid construction and will add up to significant performance enhancements. Our team members are always available for consultation and can make specific recommendations when it comes to models once we know more about your needs.
Safety is always a top priority when working with industrial boilers, at least it should be. Fortunately, safety has become less of an issue with more modern water tube boilers. Compared to traditional fire tube boilers, water tube boilers are far safer, almost to the point where you don’t have to worry about a catastrophic explosion taking place.
The action of starting up a fire tube boiler for the first time is already a cold start. As a result, the mechanical load in this type of boiler is much greater, as the main characteristic of cold starts is the absence of boiling water and greater stress on the connection and anchorage elements of the boiler.
To make this start a bit easier for the boiler, the boiler operator should reduce the burner load to a boiling point.