A recent installation of our Comet burner with the Flex Fit controller was successfully commissioned on a 150 HP boiler at a local plant. This project demonstrates the Comet’s top tier performance, flexible design, and user-friendly features.

Below, we provide insights into the installation and performance, along with some uncovered opportunities to further optimize the installation.

Installation Highlights

Professional Gas Train Adjustment The contractor relocated the gas train to the side of the boiler to prevent interference with the smokebox doors. This modification worked to prevent interference and simultaneously demonstrated the ease of modifying the comet burner installation for different boiler configurations.

Control Panel Placement At the customer’s request, the control panel was mounted as a freestanding unit. Despite initial concerns about vibration from the 5.5 HP motor, it ran smoothly, confirming the reliability of Preferred’s standard Comet design – mounting the Flame Safeguard (FSG) enclosure to the motor.

Performance Evaluation

Ease of Startup The Comet burner proved exceptionally easy to start, lighting off consistently on every attempt. The flame rod demonstrated flawless operation, ensuring reliable ignition every time.

Quiet Operation The burner operated with minimal noise, a notable advantage for facilities seeking quieter equipment. The Comet Flex Fit control panel can accept either the standard flame rod OR an optional UV scanner.

Efficient Combustion During startup, CO emissions remained below 100 ppm at low fire with a gas manifold pressure exceeding 1.0” w.c.. At higher firing rates, CO emissions were effectively zero. Unlike other burners, the Comet showed no low-fire CO challenges, nor did it produce any combustion noise across a wide range of stack oxygen levels.

FlexFit Controller Integration The existing L404 modulating control was seamlessly integrated with the Preferred FlexFit controller. This configuration worked flawlessly, further increasing the burner’s usability and efficiency.

Opportunities for Optimization

While the overall performance was impressive, we discovered a few opportunities to further optimize the Comet and Flex Fit installation:

Gas Pressure Regulator (PRV) We discovered that the previously installed PRV is not ideal for this application and needs to be replaced. Once replaced, we will re-tune to ensure optimal performance.

Combustion Analyzer We plan further reading and adjustments for optimal performance

Conclusion

This Comet burner installation showcased Preferred’s commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable, and easy-to-use solutions. Its consistent performance, low emissions, and smooth operation make it a valuable upgrade for boiler systems requiring burner repair or replacement.

This project reinforced the Comet’s role as a versatile and user-friendly burner, ideal for a wide range of applications. Moving forward, we’ll continue to provide training on the FlexFit controller to ensure contractor partners can fully leverage the burner’s capabilities.

Preferred remains committed to innovation and customer satisfaction. Contact us today to learn how the Comet burner can enhance your operations.