The Challenge
In energy‑intensive facilities, rapid changes in steam demand from process upsets or operating shifts can overwhelm poorly controlled boilers, increasing the risk of burner management system (BMS) trips and unplanned downtime. When BMS and control systems are not well integrated, troubleshooting becomes slow and disruptive, while inefficient air‑to‑fuel control and unaccounted fuel BTU variability lead to excess oxygen in stack gases—wasting fuel, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and driving higher operating costs.
The Solution
Spartan Controls implemented a comprehensive steam boiler optimization solution using the DeltaV™ process control system. Advanced control strategies were applied to minimize excess oxygen in the stack while ensuring complete and safe combustion, even under rapidly changing load conditions. The solution also incorporated rigorous fuel property calculations to account for variable BTU content and multiple fuel types, along with real‑time boiler efficiency calculations based on the ASME heat loss method.
Dampers, fuel valves, and boiler feedwater control valves were fully characterized to improve responsiveness and stability. An integrated yet separate burner management system (BMS) was deployed, providing full visibility, “first‑out” diagnostics, and troubleshooting tools through the same operator interface used for boiler control—reducing recovery time after trips and enabling safer, faster startups.
Dampers, fuel valves, and boiler feedwater control valves were fully characterized to improve responsiveness and stability. An integrated yet separate burner management system (BMS) was deployed, providing full visibility, “first‑out” diagnostics, and troubleshooting tools through the same operator interface used for boiler control—reducing recovery time after trips and enabling safer, faster startups.
The Value
The optimized boiler control solution delivered measurable economic and operational results:
- $99,000 per year in avoided production losses by reducing boiler trips due to load swings
- Improved boiler efficiency, lowering fuel gas consumption and operating costs
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, generating annual carbon tax credits (US$80 per tCO₂e)
- Improved stability across wide load ranges and variable fuel BTU content
- Safer, faster boiler startups, reducing operational risk and downtime
- Avoided plant freeze‑up costs, protecting critical assets in cold‑weather operation