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Virginia Greenhouse Owner Heats Efficiently
Posted: 2. January 2007
The greenhouse industry is very strong in Virginia and while our winters may not be as cold as many states north of us, those people in the greenhouse industry still have to very closely watch the temperature and humidity conditions in their houses. The energy cost to get through even a Virginia winter can be a major portion of the cost of growing the flowers, plants and vegetables we all enjoy.
To maximize the energy available in their fuel one major grower has started the process of replacing older obsolete dual fuel burners with state-of-the-art burners and controls. As soon as the first burner was installed and operating it was obvious to the owner of this large greenhouse that he had made the right decision. The new Webster burner turned on and was able to fire each of its two fuels with the maximum efficiency.
To achieve the maximum fuel to hot water efficiency the new burners were equipped with a Honeywell Control Links, linkage-less burner firing system. This new system allow the start up technicians to set the absolute best air and fuel firing rates for each fuel from low fire to high fire. Once set, the installing contractor knows the control will hold those setting up and down the firing range today, tomorrow, and all winter or all year for a process boiler.
A separate actuator or drive motor is supplied for the air damper, the gas flow control valve and the oil flow control valve. Each actuator communicates back to the Honeywell Control Links drive module which ensure that every firing position returns to its original setting within a maximum variance of one tenth of an angular degree every time. This type of accuracy was never achievable with old style linkage systems. Even when these older systems were new, variations of one or more degrees at every set point was common and unavoidable.
The new system allow the start up technician to set the excess air levels lower sending fewer wasted Btu’s up the stack; and with systems like the Honeywell Control Links the initial cost is only slightly more than a standard burner. Systems like this can provide paybacks in one or two years and on some older systems have even shown paybacks in less than one year.
| Original Kewanee Burner | 300 HP |
| Stack Oxygen Level – % | 6.50 % |
| Excess Air Level – % | 36.50 % |
| New Webster Burner | 300 HP |
| Stack Oxygen Level – % | 3.90 % |
| Excess Air Level – % | 21.20 % |
| Btu/hr saved | 130,606 |
| Gallons/hr saved | 1.4 |
The chart shows the old burner and the new. It also shows the fuel savings in Btu/hr. Since this customer was using propane as their gas fuel, we are also showing the gallons of propane saved. And with the Control Links system, these savings will continue for the full heating season.
If your heating or process steam bill seem to be getting higher and out of hand, call the professionals at Power & Heat and we can help you and your local contractor get control or your energy cost.
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