FEATURE Automation Technologies
Unattended boiler operating systems popularity growth
Etienne Fourie, Technical Sales Manager at Babcock Wanson, explains how boilers are now offering longer unattended times, leading to their growing popularity
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nattended boiler operating systems have been in use for over 20 years, traditionally by organisations whose
operational hours extend beyond the standard and may not have a full gamut of boiler house staff on site during these times. Recent years have seen a considerable acceleration in both the popularity of these systems – with customers now asking for it as standard, and the length of time they can safely operate unattended.
Unattended boiler operating system An unattended boiler operating system permits uninterrupted operation for a set period – usually of up to six months – and unattended boiler operation, most commonly for up to three days. The system can be set at commissioning for daily or three-day checks, depending on a risk assessment of the steam process and the degree of monitoring of the water treatment system used – all in accordance with the latest BG01 Guidance on Safe Operation of Boilers.
Once set up for unattended operation, all the user needs to do is monitor for any operational alarms, and undertake a very simple 15-minute test every three days, which is completed without interfering with boiler operation and is acknowledged to the boiler control system, thereby ensuring the tests are completed to the operating schedule. Apart from the obvious cost and convenience of being able to run a boiler without operator attendance, unattended boiler operating systems have a number of benefi ts that you may not have factored in. Top of this list is a lower boiler operation cost, achieved through the replacement of daily boiler water level control checks, as mentioned above, and the replacement of a daily/weekly boiler water level control evaporation test with a six monthly test, thereby reducing overall manning and operational costs. Overall, energy savings are achieved when boilers are controlled
28 April 2023 | Automation Unattended boiler operation schematic
by an unattended boiler operating system, along with reduced emissions. Obviously, any savings made have to be
off set against the annual cost of the system, but this is a fraction of the cost when compared to the labour savings made, especially if staff are being paid extra to work at weekends, evenings etc. Another benefi t that is driving the popularity of these systems is ease of operation. Self-checking burner controls, for example, enable uninterrupted, unattended burner operation. Improved safety and conformance with
current and future UK & EU legislation is also a key benefi t and one that even 24/7 operational sites that are fully staff ed are increasingly attracted to.
Unattended boiler operation
The next level Three-day unattended boiler operating systems are standard, but seven-day systems have been quickly gaining in popularity. They operate on the same principle, but off er benefi ts like extensive data logging for detailed information. One such system is Babcock Wanson’s BW7DAYS, which comes with automatic Total Dissolved Solids Control, and one of the fi rst seven-day unattended boiler operating system on the market. It features the unique and innovative NAVinergy remote monitoring system that integrates all of the components necessary for the supervision and management of the boiler room: control, regulation, recording, visualisation and communication. It enables organisations to monitor their boiler room from any device, anywhere in the world. All relevant data – including regular tests – is recorded, saved and stored on a compact fl ash-type memory which also records normal boiler operating data, all of which can be easily downloaded to a standard PC for record keeping.
CONTACT:
Babcock Wanson
www.babcock-wanson.com
automationmagazine.co.uk
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