Heating

Today’s modern condensing boilers and multi-boiler cascade systems provide vastly improved efficiency over previous generations. However, to realise their full potential, it is very important to combine the boilers with the correct controls system.

As boiler technology increases in sophistication, it is inevitable that boiler controls follow suit. One of the problem areas in achieving good control of heating in commercial installations is often the complexity of the interface between dedicated boiler manufacturers’ controllers, and existing building management systems. This leads to the common question of which controls will take over the sequencing of a multi boiler system, for example.

The experience of Buderus following many years of developing its own multi-boiler control systems for higher output installations across Europe, has enabled it to create a comprehensive range of modular control options that can be expanded and combined to suit the specific requirements of each system. As a result, the modular 4000 series of EMS (Energy Management System) controls can be set up to manage the heating aspect of the BMS programme more simply, more effectively and at a much lower cost than a BMS system, which after all, is designed to control a wide range of services within the building.

A dedicated heating control will also provide additional features that are less likely to be in a BMS e.g. frost and backend protection, and will easily integrate with alternative or renewable systems should the system be upgraded in the future. Unsurprisingly therefore, this type of heating control will offer significant fuel efficiency gains in comparison with generic control systems.

Buderus 4000 cascade controls also help to manage boiler sequencing in a more comprehensive way than a standard BMS. This is because of the digital EMS systems link between the controller and the individual boilers, which allows, for example, each GB162 boiler to individually modulate from 100% down to just 19% output.

Dedicated heating controls are increasingly the best way to ensure that system output matches demand and efficiency targets are consistently achieved.

A frequent requirement when replacing an old atmospheric cast iron boiler with a modern condensing system is to reduce the flow and return system temperatures typical of the older system to below 50ºC so that the condensing boilers can operate efficiently.

A 0-10vdc interface is an ideal way to communicate the reduced temperature demand to the boiler. The weather compensated control determines the flow temperature and sends a signal which corresponds to the temperature e.g. a 9 volt signal is equivalent to 90ºC and a 5.5 volt signal will enable the boiler to operate at a temperature of around 55ºC. All Buderus commercial boilers can be equipped to receive such signals.

On systems using multiple high efficiency cast iron boilers, the 4000 controls will also ensure that the correct operating conditions are met by managing the mixing valves and shunt pumps to give peace of mind.

Energy efficiency, together with carbon emission reductions, is the major consideration in determining the optimum specification of a heating installation. Controls are a vital component to ensure fuel savings are maximised. Keeping it simple with a manufacturers’ EMS system will usually be a more effective and less costly alternative to a BMS system, if it is the heating system alone which requires the control.