Digital Temperature Controllers For Industrial Fuel Burners, Gas Ovens & Kilns
There are many different types of fuel burner which can be controlled digitally. Examples include Gas, Oil/Kerosene, LPG and Diesel. Industrial burners can be found on ovens and kilns of all types.
The basic principle of operation in many cases is to provide a run signal or switched live (SL) when you need to engage the burner. This initiates the firing cycle and starts to generate heat. As it reaches the temperature setpoint, removing the run signal causes the burner to slow down or cut out which prevents overshooting. The constant cycling effect means a stable working temperature can be maintained. The electronic control mechanism in this case can be thermostatic. Creating a simple feedback loop by placing a temperature sensor inside the working area under control.
For basic single stage burners we recommend our Novus N1030-RR or N1050-PRRR temperature controllers. These devices contain volt-free relays which can be used in On/Off mode with hysteresis adjustment. They can also be PID tuned, although please consider the ignition cycle time to avoid short cycling the burner.
In the below example, the limit thermostat performs the temperature control. This could be wired via the normally open Output relay of a Novus N1050-PRRR.
We recommend checking the burner manual to ensure the temperature controller contains suitably rated Output relays. Depending on the current draw of the burner an additional relay or contactor may be required.
Figure 1. Single Stage Burner Wiring Example
Some burners have multiple stages which are better suited to full PID control. The first stage remains lit during normal operation, while the secondary stage can be cycled quickly to achieve more precise temperature control. Our N1200 and N20K48 are best suited for multi stage burners.
As the N1200-DIO also contains an analogue output, it is a great choice for more complex installations. For example, I/O5 can be set to 4-20mA, where direct proportional control of a gas valve is required.
Figure 2. N1200-DIO Terminals For Multistage Burner
We always recommend burners are installed by suitably qualified and registered heating engineers. Please contact us with details of your burner and we can recommend a suitable temperature controller.