As seen in Data Centre and Network News Distributed architecture for resilient infrastructure Uninterrupted power is non-negotiable for data centres to provide continuity through every possible scenario, from extreme weather events to grid instability in an ageing infrastructure. Generators, of course, are central to this resilience, but we must also consider the fuel storage infrastructure that powers them. […]
Burner Management Series V: Common Flame Detection Methods:
Knowing when a flame is present in a boiler furnace is a fundamental safety function of the burner management system. If a flame is present and the BMS does not detect it, there will be nuisance trips and the boiler cannot operate reliably. Alternatively, if the flame detection is too sensitive and does not recognize when there has […]
Winterizing Genset & Boiler Fuel Systems: Tips for Facility Managers
As seen in Facility Management It’s never too late (or too early) to winterize! Facilities managers need to ensure that their backup power and heating systems can withstand freezing conditions. Gensets and boiler fuel systems, which often rely on diesel fuel, are vulnerable to cold weather issues like fuel gelling and ice formation. This article discusses some common […]
Burner Management Series II: BMS Limits Circuits
Safely sequencing a burner through each state of the burner cycle is the primary function of a burner management system (BMS) or flame safeguard. To do this the BMS utilizes various limits circuits to monitor the status of the burner through each step of the burner sequence. Each of these are “series limits circuits”, meaning that power is […]
Burner Management Series I: Safely Sequencing a Burner
When it comes to burner management systems, safely sequencing a burner through each state of the firing process is the top priority. This can be broken down into 4 basic functions: 1) Pre-ignition checks verifying that the burner and boiler are in a safe condition to start, 2) Continuous monitoring of all safety limits while the burner is […]
Purging Control Panels to Reduce Classification
By Tom O’Marra Hazardous Locations, such as Class I, Division 2 or Class II, Division 2, are common areas to find equipment in the industrial control industry. These are locations, as defined by The National Electrical Code (NEC), where flammable gases or liquids are utilized (C1D2) or in the case of Class II, Division 2, combustible dust. Under […]
Technical Summary: Influence of Chemical Kinetics and Turbulence on Combustion Emissions
Dan Wallace Chemical kinetics and turbulence play critical roles in the formation and control of combustion emissions. Understanding their influence is essential for optimizing combustion processes and minimizing harmful pollutants. Here is a technical summary of how chemical kinetics and turbulence affect combustion emissions: Chemical Kinetics: Chemical kinetics refers to the study of chemical reactions and their rates. […]
Choosing the Right Flow Meter – Vortex
-Robert Roda, Danbury, CT When it comes to choosing a flow meter engineers are spoiled with choices, making selection of the appropriate meter a daunting task simply due to the sheer number of possible types of measurement devices: differential-pressure, thermal mass, turbine, and vortex meters being among the most common. Vortex meters, however, offer some unique advantages and […]
Modbus RTU verses Modbus TCP/IP: What’s the Difference?
-Robert Frohock, Danbury, CT See also: “I know what Modbus is, but what is BACnet?” Modbus Protocol is a messaging structure developed by Modicon. It is used to establish master-slave/client-server communication between devices. Modbus has a lot of protocol options. But the two used most are Modbus RTU (Remote Terminal Unit), serial (RS-232 or RS-485) protocol or Modbus […]
Modbus Comms: How to Set Floating Point Values
In industrial settings, Modbus is one of the oldest protocols for devices to communicate their data digitally to a central controller. It allows transmitters to send integer data to controllers, and controllers to send integer data to SCADAs used in large, fully-monitored mission critical facilities such as data centers. Here we will give a pithy explanation of successfully […]