PR37872

July 2016

BOILER MANUFACTURERS UP THEIR GAME

By Paul Sands, Stokvis Energy Systems

Technological advances have increased the efficiency of commercial boilers to the extent that established, well-proven technology ensures high efficiency and reliable performance.

Technological advances have increased the efficiency of commercial boilers to the extent that established, well-proven technology ensures high efficiency and reliable performance.

However, that does not mean the industry is resting on its laurels, because new developments continue to boost the energy efficiency and overall effectiveness of heating systems.

Great strides are being taken in boiler controls because the better the control the greater the energy efficiency, the higher the fuel savings and lower environmental costs of consumption.

Modern premix boilers can incorporate a temperature sensor linked to a temperature controller, which, in turn, operates a frequency inverter which manages the speed of the fan. The gas is controlled by analysing the varying pressure created by the fan so that, for instance, on a higher pressure there is a higher requirement for heat and that opens up a pressure controlled gas valve. This allows full modulation of the boiler with all the energy efficiency benefits that flow from that.

It makes sound environmental sense to modulate the gas and air from the primary heat source - the boiler - in accordance with demand because, if you are modulating to get the optimum gas/air ratio in the mix, you will save energy. If the water content of the boiler is also minimised, the user will also benefit from tight control of heat output and no energy is wasted from excessive standing losses.

Developments have also taken place insystemcontrols such as weather compensation, which is designed to vary the boiler's heat output according to the outdoor temperature, thus minimising the amount of gas the boiler consumes.

With condensing boilers now the norm, the most efficient heating systems are designed for a higher temperature drop so that the return water is a lower return and therefore offer greater condensation opportunities and therefore higher boiler efficiencies.

More recently, condensing technology has meant that consultants have increasingly tried to design in lower flow and return temperatures to keep the condensing mode going. However, there is scope to apply more attention to system design in order to ensure the lowest possible flow and higher temperature drops on the system.

The onset of renewable technologies such as solar energy, biodiesel, biomass boilers, heat pumps etc, has meant that more conventional high efficiency condensing boilers are often used for "top up energy".

If renewable sources are starting to act, in effect, as the "lead boilers", it follows that the boilers supporting them will get smaller. Indeed, as more commercial projects become renewable-based, the trend towards smaller boiler plant will accelerate. This, combined with further legislation that will increase the thermal properties of buildings, will result in less heat loss, which itself adds to the impetus for smaller boilers.

Another increasingly common sight in commercial settings is modular boilers packaged on a frame. These integrate system controls, manifolds and low loss headers etc and add to flexibility of design.

Factory produced packaged boiler systemsandcontrols make it easier for consultants looking for efficiency in the system rather than just in the boiler. This is because they are able to obtain from the manufacturer "the points" in terms of ratings for overall system efficiency. This in turn allows them to specify a complete and coherent system of boilers and controls all in one easily rateable package. So it takes away the headache of specification.

Factory-produced packaged boiler systems improve on-site safety because fewer trades are on site for less time and quality and reliability are guaranteed because the packages are produced in controlled factory conditions.

For more details on Econoflame boilers call020 8783 3050, e-mailinfo@stokvisboilers.comor look at websitewww.stokvisboilers.com.

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