Ifrit Beat Once-Through Boilers Boast World's First 10:1 Turndown Control System

Mar. 29, 2010

Ifrit Beat Once-Through Boilers Boast World's First 10:1 Turndown Control System

Tokyo, March 29, 2010 — Kawasaki Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd. today announced the launch of the world’s first 10:1 turndown*1 control system for once-through boilers. The system, which provides full modulation with a significantly increased turndown range, will be released in April 2010 for Kawasaki’s Ifrit Beat family of large gas-fired once-through boilers with 6 t/h and 5 t/h capacities.

The large-size Ifrit Beat once-through boilers feature:
(1) superior control systems equivalent to those for large-size boilers generating high quality vapor;
(2) the outstanding efficiency and compact footprint of a small-size once-through boiler on top of an innovative design;
(3) a touch panel and LED indicators for enhanced operability.

Since its launch in April 2009, the Ifrit Beat series of boilers’ unrivalled steam pressure stability, high efficiency and quick start-up capability have made it the perfect solution for everything from industrial heating to cogeneration back-up systems.

The new system controls the burner output to a tenth of the maximum firing rate to enable the boiler to keep firing without turning off, resulting in higher energy efficiency and a smaller environmental footprint. The system minimizes fluctuations of boiler steam pressure during low-load operation (at 10% - 16% load) as well as heat loss during purge cycles*2. Thanks to these remarkable features, the system can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions up to 13%*3 more than conventional boilers without this system (which achieve only a 6:1 turndown).

The system is the perfect solution for processes where a burner must be operated on a constant on and off cycle due to fluctuations in steam load. Its excellent fuel-efficiency also makes it the ideal cogeneration back-up system.

Kawasaki is responding to market needs with a keen eye toward protecting the environment via the development and delivery of systems and equipment with superior energy efficiency and environmental performance.

*1. Burner turndown is a ratio between a burner’s maximum and minimum firing rates. The minimum firing rate is usually expressed as 1.

*2. A burner goes through a purge cycle before and after each ignition sequence. Heat is removed from the boiler as the burner is purged with fresh cold air during the purge cycle.

*3. Based on data obtained at 10% steam load.

Features of the 10:1 turndown control system for 6 t/h and 5 t/h Ifrit Beat large gas-fired once-through boilers are as shown below.

Features
Energy efficient

- The system controls the burner output to a tenth of the maximum firing rate to enable a boiler to keep firing without turning off, minimizing energy consumption during low-load operation.

Steady steam pressure
- Wide operating range along with the quick response feature of once-through boilers keeps steam pressure super steady.

Applications
- Processes subject to large steam load fluctuations such as batch operation and steam absorption chiller-heaters.
- Cogeneration systems and other back-up heat sources.