Modern Boiler Systems: Automation and Control
Today’s boiler rooms are equipped with automated control systems. Heating boilers in their basic configuration come with standard control systems that regulate and maintain the user-specified parameters of the heat carrier, monitor the burner operation, and receive signals from safety sensors.
Previously, boiler rooms were inefficient and bulky. Now, almost every new residential area, and sometimes individual houses, are equipped with modern boiler rooms. Firemen have now been renamed dispatchers, as managing such equipment is much easier than before when coal was used.
Advantages of Modern Boilers
Modern automated boilers offer significantly greater convenience. They are equipped with electronic control panels, allowing the necessary parameters for multiple heating circuits to be set simultaneously. For example, an operator can control the heating of radiators while simultaneously adjusting the temperature of the underfloor heating.
Automation can be managed remotely, and the operator has the ability to view fault logs. There are several control methods, including the ability to monitor temperature via mobile phone.
Methods of Temperature Regulation
- Thermostat with electronic control: This is a relatively inexpensive and simple option. With thermostats, one can set the desired temperature in different rooms. The main drawback is the slow transition between modes, which complicates quick temperature adjustments.
- Automation based on an external temperature sensor: This method is often used for large spaces. The sensor determines the outdoor temperature and adjusts the parameters for heating the heat carrier, but it should be placed away from windows and heating elements.
- Two-circuit installations: These systems heat water for plumbing and heating, but all rooms are heated uniformly, which can be inconvenient.
Boiler rooms that are oriented towards temperature sensors provide greater convenience compared to manual control systems. However, to ensure maximum comfort, one sensor will not be sufficient. It is recommended to use at least two sensors—an external and an internal—which allows for more precise temperature control in different rooms of the building.
Thus, comfort in the home largely depends on the properly selected boiler equipment.