Steam Modulating Valve for Bunker fuel heating

[gladkenn]

Good day,

Common firetube boilers such as of CleaverBrookes 800BHp,has a heat exchanger wherein fuel is heated by steam or an electric during startup. With regards to fuel heating by steam, it only has a solenoid valve to turn on steam when low temperature was sensed by a tnermostat, and turns off when high temp was sensed. Is it ok if we add a modulating valve on incoming steam to have more regulation and control?

 

[Joesteam]

I do not see a problem with using a modulating steam valve with a temperature sensor on the oil outlet sending a signal to a controller. One thing you must consider is the steam trap and condensate line, as now you will need complete gravity/atmospheric discharge as the modulating valve will reduce the steam pressure in the heat exchanger.

 

[quark]

Proportional valves are good but costly. Fuel heating systems may not require very high precision controls and you can easily do it with a PID on/off control rather. Eurotherm has some inexpensive controllers that on and off valves depending upon the PID control you built in or can do it automatically (but with less precision)

 

[TD2K]

If it's just for startup, I think my preference would be for a simple control system, which is what you have. How often do you start up the boiler and how long is the preheater in operation?