2.2.20 Installation of modulating burners and oxygen sensors
Description
The modulating burners regulate boiler heat output in proportion to demand at any time, reducing the number of turning on and off with respect to conventional burners, achieving greater efficiency in the generation of heat. This measure consists in the substitution or adaptation, in the cases where it is possible, of one or two step burners by modulating burners.
Oxygen sensors, also called lambda probes, operate in a way that they measure the free oxygen concentration continuously inside the boiler, and thus regulate the relation between fuel-air, thus maintaining optimal combustion conditions.
Benefits
These devices may present at least 5% fuel savings
The maximum benefit is reached when oxygen sensors are combined with modulating burners
Limitations
In order to have acceptable investment return periods, oxygen sensors should be applied in large boilers, of powers higher than 500 kW and with continued consumption
Economic assessment
Investment: medium. Between 4000 and 6000€ depending on the power.
Payback: medium. Between 3 and 5 years in high power boilers.
References and best practices
Technical Guide: Boiler Controls: https://www.seai.ie/resources/publications/Boiler_Controls.pdf
Combustion control and sensors: a review: www.nuigalway.ie/chem/Donal/reviewcomb.pdf
Image gallery
CHARACTERIZATION
Environment or playable world:
Residential
Academic
Offices
All
Carried out by:
Public building users
Owners
Operators
All
Reduce consumption of:
Heating
Cooling
DHW
Lighting
Electric devices
Type of driver:
Physical environmental
Contextual
Psychological
Physiological
Social
Time framework:
- Short term
- Long term
Type of measure:
- Envelope
- HVAC
- DHW
- Lighting
- Electrical devices
- Other
