10:1 Turndown Technology Increases Efficiency and Reduces Operating Cost
A customer asked us to Please define burner turndown ratio and tell what the advantages are for a higher turn down. Are there any disadvantages?
It was a great question and we responded as follows.
Answer:
A good friend of ours by the name of David A. Scearce addressed this very question in a study he did some years back. Here are some highlights of that report.
First a definition: Turndown ratio is the ratio of maximum fuel input rate to minimum fuel rate of a variable input burner. Traditionally burners on firetube boilers operate in the 5:1 turndown ratio range depending on fuel and size. High turndown burners are considered those with ratios of 10:1 or greater.
Advantages of high turndown burners include:
- Reduction of standby losses
- Limiting thermal cycling
- Saves wear and tear of burner components
Disadvantages include:
- Initial cost and complexity
- Requires more maintenance
- Limitations of Boiler/burner system
The limitations include fuel/air mixing requirements, material temperature issues, flame shape characteristics, flow control limitations and pressure vessel limitations.
We are excited to report the new Patterson Kelley Storm Boiler has overcome these issues and achieved a higher turndown with their unique mechanical process that allows the gas valves to control boiler performance without increasing excess air.
They deliver a reliable 10:1 turndown rate while preserving a high dewpoint, which helps maintain high condensation levels. This higher turndown capability will provide designers the ability to match input to building loads without sacrificing efficiency and reliability. No more nuisance flame failures that have traditionally plagued high turndown boilers.
You can read more about the Patterson Kelley Storm Boiler Here – Storm Boiler
