Industrial burners have a wide range of applications in different industries. Selecting the right burner can make a company more efficient and profitable while choosing the wrong one can cause a lot of things to go wrong. When selecting an industrial burner, there are a lot of things to think about and factors to consider. This article will focus on the most valuable tips for industrial burner selection.
Burner Rating
The two factors considered in the rating are the capacity and the maximum temperature that the burner can reach. If the rating is too small, the system will not be able to reach the right temperatures or handle the right capacity. To ensure that you choose the right burner, calculate your required maximum firing rate and then choose a burner that exceeds the maximum input rating for the firing rate.
Air Control
Air is very important as it is one of the three components required for burning. However, excess air can be detrimental as it leads to a poor mix, inefficient combustion, and low carbon monoxide emission levels. The excess oxygen levels in a burner are calculated as a % of O2. A 3% O2 rate is great as it equates to a 15% excess air level. A 3% O2 level guarantees a good burn, and this is why it is used at high fire. Many burners add excess air as a burner cools down to ensure complete combustion as heat levels come down.
Many of the burners now come with oxygen trim functionality. The trim function monitors the system and measures both oxygen and carbon monoxide levels and adjusts airflow accordingly. These systems measure and try to maintain a proper fuel to oxygen ratio to ensure the most efficient burn. Although an O2 trim can be added later, it is always best to have it installed when the burner is being installed.
Fuel Type
When choosing a burner, you need to weigh the pros and cons of the different fuels used in industrial burners. Flame geometry determines a burner's performance is impacted heavily by the type of fuel used. This is why understanding the different fuel types a burner can use is an integral part of understanding industrial burners. The four main types of fuel used are natural gas, liquid propane, electricity, and fuel oil.
Natural gas is very common as it is an inexpensive option and is readily available. Field oil is mainly used in cases where there is no natural gas available or as a backup to natural gas. Fuel oil is very expensive as it has to be transported to the worksite. Liquid propane is quite pricey but is a clean option because of the low amounts of emissions it produces. The use of liquid propane often requires a vaporizer in larger applications, which can increase costs and operational complexity.
Choosing an industrial burner affects lots of things down the line and this is why it is so important to understand how to choose the right one. The type of operation, the fuel as well as how well the burner performs are perhaps the most important factors to think about when choosing one.
