Remote monitoring of combustion efficiency by sound?

nicholas bonham-carter

Once a burner has been set up properly with testing equipment, I wonder if its operation could be monitored for continuing perfect adjustment from its sound? A wifi signal could alert the installer with an email notifying of any irregularities.
Machinery can now be monitored for harmful vibration with one of these:
http://reliabilityonline.net/?gclid=CNPi5t-AjtQCFQMLaQodGq4C-Q
NBC

Harvey Ramer

Utica has found a way to monitor combustion.

http://www.uticaboilers.com/products/boilers-condensing-gas/mac-high-efficiency-wall-mounted-modulating-condensing-boiler

ChrisJ

This may be a terribly dumb question, but couldn't a similar setup to what cars have been using since the 1970s be implemented using 02 sensors?

Harvey Ramer

ChrisJ said:

This may be a terribly dumb question, but couldn't a similar setup to what cars have been using since the 1970s be implemented using 02 sensors?

O2 won't necessarily tell you if you have high CO.

Utica is doing it by measuring current through the flame. As flame characteristics change, so does it's conductivity.

RayWohlfarth

Harvey That is kinda cool. Theoretically, if there is o2 there is supposed to be no CO but I have seen both present. If I were looking for continual monitoring of a couple things on a boiler that is not a Utica, I would monitor 02 percentage and stack temperature. I really think the industry does need some sort of continual boiler monitoring because the owners don't do maintenance.
Nicholas, the old old Honeywell BOSS system in the 80's used to have a microphone in the equipment room so the people monitoring it could listen to the room for abnormalities.

Tim McElwain

The system Utica is using is not new Viessmann has had it for quite a while. All you would need is a reference to any change in microamps to determine flame stability.

You also need to monitor draft to insure you have sufficient air for combustion.

Tim McElwain

The flame monitoring system has been on Viessmann for sometime. It automatically adjusts the air gas ration based on microamps.

I would want to monitor O2, Draft (insures air for combustion), CO and stack temperature.

Larry Weingarten

Hello, So for the purpose of sending an alert to a technician when things are out of whack, wouldn't sensing flame conductivity and measuring stack temperature be enough to go on? Seems these measurements are not difficult to make nor difficult to send electronically.

Yours, Larry

kcopp

Cosmogas/ Embassy Onex had that option to look at the "Ionization current" when setting up their boilers.
They wanted is somewhere between 77 and 84 depending if it was in Hi or Lo fire.
I never did trust it. That boiler tends to be a finicky to set up... especially on LP.

mikeg2015

Cars that utilize O2 also have MAF sensors. On a boiler, primary and secondary air are not a tightly controlled in most cases. Some
Use pressure sensors to control FA ratio however. Vacuum in gas manifold determine gas valve position.

SlamDunk

http://www.autoflame.com/


We didnt opt for the ega trim feature...but it is done.

nicholas bonham-carter

From Ray Wohlfarth

Nicholas, the old old Honeywell BOSS system in the 80's used to have a microphone in the equipment room so the people monitoring it could listen to the room for abnormalities.

and snoring!--NBC