I was thinking about some of the recent other discussions about boilers with lambda controls for blower speed and/ or air inlet settings for primary and secondary combustion chambers-
I fully accept the theory and practice that such controls can lead to improved efficiency-- as they can probably allow only slight proportions of necessary "excess air" at each and every stage of a burn, and with variations in wood- when compared to a 'standard' gasifier [which needs to always supply enough air for any possible set of variables- which will mean too much air under some substantial range of actual conditions]
But it's hard to do an apples-to-apples due to the fact that other models without lambda controls have other variations in design, and that each system/ heat load has its own variations.
With automobiles (that also use oxygen sensors in the exhaust for the same purpose, there's a "limp home" mode so that the vehicle can still be operated if the O2 sensor fails. You don't want to run in that mode for an extended period, but the system allows function pending repair.
Does anyone know if the Froling, Effecta, etc., have a "limp" mode to operate if the 02 sensor fails, and if so, whether there is any likely harm done if someone were to do a few short test burns with the 02 sensor removed or disconnected [one might want to temporarily remove the sensor and put in a plug, so that the sensor does not get contaminated by higher levels of combustion byproducts that may occur when not running in "closed loop" lambda control).
A "smart boiler" in "limp" mode would presumably operate in a comparable way to a "dumb" gasifier- with operating settings allowing adequate excess air under all expected stages of combustion and likely wood types/ conditions- only all of the other boiler and system variables would remain the same.
If that were possible, someone with instrumentation might be able to take measurements [using weighed amounts of wood from the "same batch"] to see just how significant a performance advantage results from lambda control.
It'd be very interesting to find out just what magnitude of efficiency gain one gets from the added expense and complexity of the more advanced control system.
Also, as I began to think about this, it also occurred to me that this ability to have a "failsafe" mode could be a relevant factor for owners (or potential buyers) in light of the fact that the 02 sensor is quite likely a specialized and somewhat expensive part that might need to be ordered/ waited for.
I fully accept the theory and practice that such controls can lead to improved efficiency-- as they can probably allow only slight proportions of necessary "excess air" at each and every stage of a burn, and with variations in wood- when compared to a 'standard' gasifier [which needs to always supply enough air for any possible set of variables- which will mean too much air under some substantial range of actual conditions]
But it's hard to do an apples-to-apples due to the fact that other models without lambda controls have other variations in design, and that each system/ heat load has its own variations.
With automobiles (that also use oxygen sensors in the exhaust for the same purpose, there's a "limp home" mode so that the vehicle can still be operated if the O2 sensor fails. You don't want to run in that mode for an extended period, but the system allows function pending repair.
Does anyone know if the Froling, Effecta, etc., have a "limp" mode to operate if the 02 sensor fails, and if so, whether there is any likely harm done if someone were to do a few short test burns with the 02 sensor removed or disconnected [one might want to temporarily remove the sensor and put in a plug, so that the sensor does not get contaminated by higher levels of combustion byproducts that may occur when not running in "closed loop" lambda control).
A "smart boiler" in "limp" mode would presumably operate in a comparable way to a "dumb" gasifier- with operating settings allowing adequate excess air under all expected stages of combustion and likely wood types/ conditions- only all of the other boiler and system variables would remain the same.
If that were possible, someone with instrumentation might be able to take measurements [using weighed amounts of wood from the "same batch"] to see just how significant a performance advantage results from lambda control.
It'd be very interesting to find out just what magnitude of efficiency gain one gets from the added expense and complexity of the more advanced control system.
Also, as I began to think about this, it also occurred to me that this ability to have a "failsafe" mode could be a relevant factor for owners (or potential buyers) in light of the fact that the 02 sensor is quite likely a specialized and somewhat expensive part that might need to be ordered/ waited for.