Greenstar Utility 32/50

[Millsy 82]

I wouldn't set anything at 12%. Unless you want to be going back to clean it out at some point. I'm always a happy bunny at 11 - 11.5%.

I think that one is HE. If so it won't run on 35sec, it's in the worcester manual for all the he's. Come across that a couple of years ago on a farm. New install, red in the tank and no settings in the book for red so phoned worcester 'Oh no you can't run the new ones on 35sec'.

I have always set them from MI's if I dont have that I call tech for either the boiler or burner if I cant get that say if its too late I set them up off my smoke pump at around 11-12% then go back next day with all the info on them.

Are you saying the MI's are more guidelines even if they say 12% you put them at 11-11.5%.

 

[Dotty]

There are far more factors affecting clean and efficient combustion on oil than there are on gas Millsy, Next boiler you go to, if you have the time, set her at 12%, then after a few starts back her off to 11.5%, listen to how much smoother she starts, and then compare your CO/CO2 ratios.

 

[Millsy 82]

There are far more factors affecting clean and efficient combustion on oil than there are on gas Millsy, Next boiler you go to, if you have the time, set her at 12%, then after a few starts back her off to 11.5%, listen to how much smoother she starts, and then compare your CO/CO2 ratios.

Went to another oil boiler today customer left me to it whilst I serviced it so had a bit of a play with it. You can defanitly notice the difference.

 

[DirksPlumbing]

..., Next boiler you go to, if you have the time, set her at 12%, then after a few starts back her off to 11.5%, listen to how much smoother she starts, and then compare your CO/CO2 ratios.

Hmmm, we are talking about a Green Star boiler here. You should do yourself a favour and stick to the MIs on them. There is a reason why they have different setups for different nozzles and different baffle combinations.
See it like that: There have been thousands and thousands invested to find the optimum setup for each configuration on the WBs. Pretty much a waste then trying to proof them wrong.

And with the low CO2 you are likely to have to change the photocell every now and again as the good old MZ770 is a bit sensitive to that. (I know its not anymore in the GS) Apart from that I just commissioned a GS Camray these days. Sitting on 11.3 CO2 but MI stated 12.0 for this setup. The combustion efficiency went up another 0.3% by setting it correctly. And I sleep better too.

Keeps me on the job having guys going round servicing oil boilers by ear and fitting nozzles as they come to hand. I hope there will always be plenty of them around.
Edit: I am not meaning you Croppie. I am talking about the guys without smoke pump, FGA, gauge etc.

 

[SimonG]

Unfortunately the thousands and thousands spent on finding the optimum settings are with the boiler sat on a workbench and not out on a bleak windswept hill.

We have one bloke around our way who's only piece of equipment for oil servicing is a henry hoover.

 

[Best]

Unfortunately the thousands and thousands spent on finding the optimum settings are with the boiler sat on a workbench and not out on a bleak windswept hill.

We have one bloke around our way who's only piece of equipment for oil servicing is a henry hoover.

Lol! Some don't even use a cleaner either! :smile:
A lot of people tell me their "service engineer" only takes literally 10 minutes for a full service!
As to the boiler location, a boiler on top of a hill, with a conventional flue pipe will be a lot different to set than a boiler that is in the middle of a town with high buildings or trees near, or boilers that have very low flues or low level flues.

 

[Millsy 82]

10 minutes!! it takes me just over an hour for a clean boiler.

I went back today to service it. Got it all ready to fire thought I will give worcester a call an see what the settings for both adjustments was on the burner (Air and Break plate?) I had the manual printed off in front of me but nothing about this other setting and the girl I spoke to at worcester did not know anything about it. So tried to set it up on the air and pump pressure but it wouldnt stay lit and kept sparking every now and then double checked photocell.

Ran ok with photocell pointing at light but smoking like mad didnt need to use my pump adjusted air down to about 12% again tried with photocell in started sparking again so still not right. Took a note of what the break plate setting was and as the customer left me to it had a bit of a play with it and got the boiler running and lighting an absolute dream stayed with it for an extra half hour just in case then re tested smoke and CO2 all spot on set the CO2 at 11.8% and as it was running beutifully left it at that.

So many thanks for all the replies helped alot.

 

[Nostrum]

I always thought the MI's state CO2 for maximum efficiency. In reality you sometime have to sacrifice a few % to get a cleaner burn.

 

[DirksPlumbing]

I always thought the MI's state CO2 for maximum efficiency. In reality you sometime have to sacrifice a few % to get a cleaner burn.

I have not seen WBs R@D equipment but normally it starts with arrays of temperature sensors. Because a to high surface temperature is gonna destroying the steel of the combustion chamber and baffles. I am sure most of us have seen the warped baffles already and the brittle crystalline structure.
Then there should be a fga coupled up with metering equipment.
Typically at some point a camera in the combustion chamber and IR-camera outside to spot potential problems should be in use as well.
But then again those things might be simulated nowadays before even the first welding spot is done.
Indeed the MI refer to safe settings in the first instance but some manufacturers do their homeworks pretty good. And WB is the one where I have literally no call backs except services. If they only would find a seal for the flow sensor in the combis that does not soften.

And then someone comes across and decides instead of a .85 80deg EH he is gonna fit a 45 deg full cone nozzle instead because it has the same throughput.
Next thing is the customer asking "But our boiler is only 5 years old how can it be leaking, must be badly manufactured."

 

[Dotty]

A couple of year ago an old boy popped into the yard to buy a couple of fittings off us. He got chatting to me as I was commissioning the new office boiler at the time.
"You use that equipment on oil too?"
"Yeah course. The analyser anyway."
He tapped his nose. "Can't beat an engineer's eye, boy. That stuff's a waste of money!"
I started with asking how he could spot the smoke in a plume on an HE. Then how many regular customers he had.

I think I was swearing at him for a good 10 minutes up until he closed the car door and drove off.