In 1905, the Grover Shoe Factory boiler exploded, collapsing the building and engulfing it in flames. Fifty-eight people were killed and 150 more injured. This event led to the development of safety laws and a national code for the safe operation of steam boilers.

The CB-Hawk boiler management control system (”Figure 1”) combines the functions of a flame safeguard programmer with those of operating and firing rate controls. It also monitors the fuel pressure and temperature (if required) with solid-state sensors and provides a built-in safety limit control of those functions. This system is used on most types of steam or hot water boilers, including fire-tube, industrial water-tube, and commercial water-tube. The control system is designed to operate a gas, oil, or combination burner using a single modulation motor and provides the best results when used with a fully modulating burner.

The Basics of Boiler Safety

Figure 1: CB-HAWK Boiler Management Control System

The burner and control system are in the starting condition when the following conditions exist:

  • Boiler water is up to the correct level, closing the low-water cutoff switch.
  • The low-water light (panel) is off.
  • The operating limit pressure control (steam boiler) or the operating limit temperature control (hot water boiler) and high limit pressure or temperature control are below their cutoff setting.
  • All applicable limits are correct for burner operation.
  • The load demand light glows.
  • All entrance switches are closed, and power is present at the line terminals of:
    • Blower motor starter
    • Air compressor motor starter (if provided)
    • Oil heater relay (if provided)
    • Oil pump motor starter (if provided)

The electrical portion of the boiler is made up of individual circuits with controls that are wired in a manner designed to provide a safe, workable system. The program relay provides connection points for the interconnection of the various circuits.

The controls used vary depending upon the fuel oil or gas and the specific requirement of applicable regulatory bodies. Refer to the boiler wiring diagram to determine the actual controls provided.

The circuits and controls normally used in the circuits follow and are referred to in the following sequence of operation.

  • Limit Circuit:
    • Burner switch (BS)
    • Operating limit control (OLC) – pressure or temperature
    • High limit control (HLC) – pressure or temperature
    • Low-water cutoff (LWCO)
    • Gas-oil selector switch (GOS) – (Combination burner only)
    • Oil drawer switch (ODS) – Oil burner
    • Low oil temperature switch (LOTS) – (Nos. 5 and 6 oil only)
    • Low gas pressures switch (LGPS)
    • High gas pressure switch (HGPS)
    • LE Proximity switch interlock
  • Fuel Valve Interlock Circuit:
    • Main gas valve auxiliary switch (MGVAS)
    • Oil valve auxiliary switch (OVAS) Blower Motor Starter Circuit
    • Blower motor starter (BMS)
    • Air compressor motor starter (ACMS) (if provided)
    • Air purge valve (APV) (Nos. 5 or 6 oil only)
  • Running Interlock Circuit:
    • Blower motor starter interlock (BMSI)
    • Combustion air proving switch (CAPS)
    • Atomizing air proving switch (AAPS) (if provided)
  • Low Fire Proving Circuit:
    • Low fire switch (LFS)
  • Pilot Ignition Circuit:
    • Gas pilot valve (GPV)
    • Ignition transformer (IT)
    • Gas pilot vent valve (GPVV) (if provided)
  • Flame Detector Circuit:
    • Flame detector (FD)
  • Main Fuel Valve Circuit:
    • Main gas valve (MGV
    • Main gas vent valve (MGVV) (if provided)
    • Oil valve (OV)
    • Main fuel valve light (FVL)
  • Firing Rate Circuit:
    • Damper motor transformer (DMT)
    • Modulating damper motor (MDM)
    • Manual-automatic switch (MAS)
    • Manual flame control (MFC)
    • Modulating control (MC)
  • High Fire Proving Circuit:
    • High fire switch (HFS)
  • Running Interlock and Limit Circuit:
    • Low oil pressure switch (LOPS)
    • High oil pressure switch (HOPS)
    • High oil temperature switch (HOTS)
    • Auxiliary low-water cutoff (ALWCO)
Sequence of Operation – Oil or Gas

On a combination fuel unit, the gas/oil switch must be set for the proper fuel. The following sequence occurs with power present at the program relay (PR) input terminals and with all other operating conditions satisfied.

Pre-Purge Cycle

When the burner switch (BS) is turned “on,” and controls wired in the “limit” and “fuel valve interlock” circuits are closed, and no flame signal is present, the “blower motor start circuit” is powered, energizing the blower motor starter (BMS). The load demand light (LDL) turns on. When firing oil, the air compressor motor starter (ACMS) (if provided) is also powered. The air purge valve (APV) (Nos. 5 and 6 oil only) remains de-energized.

At the same time, the program relay signals the modulating damper motor (MDM) to open the air damper. The damper begins to open and drives to its full open or high-fire position. Opening the damper motor allows a flow of purging air through the boiler prior to the ignition cycle.

On certain boilers, the circuitry will include a high fire switch (HFS). The purpose of the switch is to prove that the modulating damper motor (MDM) has driven the damper to the open position during the pre-purge cycle. In this instance, the “high fire proving circuit” is used.

The controls wired into the “running interlock circuit” must be closed within 10 seconds after the start sequence. In the event any of the controls are not closed at this time, or if they subsequently open, the program relay will go into a safety shutdown.

At the completion of the high-fire purge period, the program relay signals the modulating damper motor (MDM) to drive the air damper to its low-fire position.

To ensure that the system is in a low-fire position prior to ignition, the low fire switch (LFS) must be closed to complete the “low fire proving circuit.” The sequence will stop and hold until the modulating damper motor (MDM) has returned to the low fire position, and the contacts of the low fire switch (LFS) are closed. Once the low fire switch is closed, the sequence is allowed to continue.

NOTE:
The ignition trial cannot be started if flame or a flame simulating condition is sensed during the pre-purge period. A safety shutdown will occur if a flame is sensed at this time.
Ignition Cycle

The ignition transformer (IT) and gas pilot valve (GPV) are energized from the appropriate pilot ignition terminal.

NOTE:
An oil-fired burner may be equipped with an oil pilot rather than a gas pilot. The ignition sequence of both is identical.

 

The pilot flame must be established and proven by the flame detector (FD) within a 10-second period in order for the ignition cycle to continue. If for any reason this does not happen, the system will shut down and safety lockout will occur.

With a proven pilot, the main fuel valve(s) (OV or MGV) is/are energized and the main fuel valve light (FVL) in the panel is lit. The main flame is ignited and the trial period for proving the main flame begins. It lasts 10 seconds for light oil and natural gas, and 15 seconds for heavy oil. At the end of the proving period, if the flame detector still detects main flame, the ignition transformer and pilot valve are de-energized and pilot flame is extinguished.

NOTE:
If the main flame does not light, or stay lit, the fuel valve will close. The safety switch will trip to lock out the control. Refer to flame loss sequence for a description of action.
WARNING!
 WARNING! The cause for flame loss or any other unusual condition should be investigated and corrected before attempting to re-start. Failure to follow these instructions could result in serious personal injury or death!
Run Cycle

With the main flame established, the program relay releases the modulating damper motor (MDM) from its low-fire position to control by either the manual flame control (MFC) or the modulating control (MC), depending upon the position of the manual-automatic switch (MAS). This allows operation in ranges above low fire.

With the manual-automatic switch (MAS) set at automatic, subsequent modulated firing will be at the command of the modulating control (MC), which governs the position of the modulating damper motor (MDM). The air damper and fuel valves are actuated by the motor through a linkage and cam assembly to provide modulated firing rates.

NOTE:
Normal operation of the burner should be with the switch in the Manual-Automatic position and under the direction of the modulating control. The Manual position is provided for initial adjustment of the burner over the entire firing range. When a shutdown occurs while operating in the Manual position at other than low fire, the damper will not be in a closed position, thus allowing more air than desired to flow through the boiler. Excess airflow subjects the pressure vessel metal and refractory to undesirable conditions. The effectiveness of nozzle purging is lost on a No. 6 oil burner.

 

The burner starting cycle is now complete. The LDL and FVL lights on the panel remain lit. Demand firing continues as required by load conditions.

Burner Shutdown-Post Purge

The burner will fire until steam pressure or water temperature in excess of demand is generated. With modulated firing, the modulating damper motor (MDM) should return to the low-fire position before the operating limit control (OLC) opens. When the limit control circuit is opened, the following sequence occurs:

The main fuel valve circuit is de-energized, causing the main fuel valve (MGV) or OV to close. The flame is extinguished. The control panel lights (LDL) and (FVL) are turned off. The blower motor continues to run to force air through the boiler for the post-purge period.

On a No. 6 oil burner, the air purge valve (APV) is powered from the blower motor start circuit via the contacts of the air purge relay (APR) to provide an air purge of the oil nozzle. The damper motor returns to the low-fire position if it is not already in that position.

WARNING!
 WARNING! The lockout switch must be manually reset following a safety shutdown. The cause for loss of flame or any unusual condition should be investigated and corrected before attempting to re-start. Failure to follow these instructions could result in serious personal injury or death!

 

The blower motor start circuit is de-energized at the end of the post purge cycle, and the shutdown cycle is complete.

The program relay is now ready for subsequent recycling, and when steam pressure or water temperature drops to close the contacts of the operating control, the burner again goes through its normal starting and operating cycle.

For more information on Boiler Safety, sign up for our online training at www.myodesie.com or contact us at sales@techtransfer.com to hold a class at your facility.