In the vast majority of combustion control applications, the BurnerMate Universal (BMU) boiler controller is far lower cost, has a much lower lead time and is faster and easier to install and start up than a custom engineered PLC boiler controller. The BMU comes pre-programmed from the factory with a large number of parameters that can be selected […]
PID Loops in Boiler Control Systems Part 4: Practical Tuning Techniques
Now that the PID components and type structures have been examined, Let’s get into the process of fine-tuning a PID loop. It is important to remember that in a real-world setting there are many variables that must be accounted for such as the plant process load variations, transmitter calibration and range scaling, control valve stroke, fuel supply pressures, […]
PID Loops in Boiler Control Systems Part 3: Boiler Control Applications and Common PID Loops
As stated in Part 1, PID loops are a central component of a modern boiler control system. In this section, we will examine some of the more common applications of PID loops in boiler control systems. We will look at four types of PID loops: Reverse Acting, Direct Acting, Cascading, and Override. Reverse Acting PIDs The most common […]
PID Loops in Boiler Control Systems Part 2: Expanded Definitions of Proportional and Integral Terms
Now that the basic PID terms have been examined, we can now look deeper into the PID calculations and some less common variations that can be used. Defining KP In the basic definition of the Proportional Term in Part 1, the Proportional Term was calculated by finding the Error (either SP-PV or PV-SP) and multiplying it by a […]
PID Loops in Boiler Control Systems Part 1: The Anatomy of a PID
PID loops are a central component of modulating boiler control systems with applications ranging from basic steam header pressure control to cascading 3-element drum level control. A modern full-metering combustion controller with draft, FGR, VSD, and O2 trim can have as many as 10 PID loops running at once, with some interacting with each other. With this in […]
Choosing Between SIL2 and SIL3: Striking the Right Balance of Safety and Cost
Safety Integrity Levels (SIL) are critical in ensuring the reliability and safety of safety-related systems in various industries, including process automation, transportation, and manufacturing. SIL2 and SIL3 represent two different levels of functional safety, each with their own advantages and trade-offs. When designing safety-critical systems, engineers often face the dilemma of choosing between these two levels. This article […]
Fueling Success: Navigating a Large-Scale Fuel Oil Project with Preferred
Project Overview Duplex Pump Set: backup power for a data center’s emergency generators. Additional Duplex Pump Set: kept the boilers fired up and ready, handling essential fuel oil supply. Efficient Filtration Systems: two high-quality filtration systems for the generator and boiler main storage tanks. Stainless Steel Remote Fill Stations: seamless refueling, we set up stainless steel remote fill […]
Preferred On the Road: FPC Conference and NEHES Conference
Discover Preferred’s Innovation at the Florida Plans & Construction Conference! Preferred Utilities is excited to be a part of the Florida Plans & Construction Conference in Orlando, Florida, where we are showcasing our cutting-edge Fuel Oil System Design and Engineering capabilities. This event, spanning over today and tomorrow, is not just about presentations; it’s about diving deep into […]