Siemens

Energy & Automation

APPLICATION DATA
AD353-103
Issue: 2
January 2005

COMBUSTION MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

FULL-METERED, CROSS-LIMITED CONTROL
INTRODUCTION
This paper is the third in a series that discusses Combustion Management Solutions. This installment
discusses Full-Metered, Cross-Limited Control. A list of related papers and an instrumentation list are
provided at the end of this paper.
The benefits of full-metered, cross-limited control are:
Improves boiler efficiency by compensating for variations in fuel and combustion airflows
Improves boiler safety with active constraints over the air/fuel combustion mixture
The key words in this paper are:
Full-metered, cross-limited control
Optimum combustion mixture
Safety
Cascade control
Firing rate demand
Burner safety management system

BACKGROUND
The primary function of the combustion control system is to provide air and fuel to the burner at a rate
that satisfies the firing rate demand while optimizing the combustion mixture. The control system design,
configuration, and daily operation must provide for the safety of operating personnel and for economy of
operation.
Maintaining an optimum combustion mixture is critical in meeting the requirement for safety and
economy. Insufficient air results in incomplete combustion and poses a health and safety hazard.
Incomplete combustion forms carbon monoxide, which is a health hazard if combustion gases escape into
the plant area. In extreme cases, unburned fuel remains in the combustion gases. This is a severe safety
hazard because fuel rich combustion gases can auto-ignite when they mix with a stream of fresh air. Of
course, poor mixing of air and fuel at the burner can also result in incomplete combustion. From an
economic standpoint, incomplete combustion reduces boiler efficiency and results in higher fuel cost.
Too much air also results in higher fuel costs because energy is wasted heating excess air. However, the
combustion control system should operate with a slight amount of excess air to insure complete
combustion and minimize formation of carbon monoxide.
Full-metered control means that both fuel and airflow are measured and controlled separately. Metered
control recognizes that variations in fuel feed pressure affect fuel flow and variations in draft pressure
affect combustion airflow. In parallel positioning control (see AD353-102), the fuel valve and air damper
respond to the firing rate demand in a fixed relationship. When a variation in fuel flow occurs, the firing
rate control loop compensates for it directly by adjusting the demand. The problem is that airflow is
inadvertently changed affecting the air/fuel ratio. The result is a reduction in boiler efficiency. Variations

AD353-103

in airflow directly affect the air/fuel ratio. Full-metered control permits the independent adjustment of
combustion air and fuel flows in order to maintain optimum air/fuel ratio. The benefit of this control
system is improved boiler efficiency.
Cross-limited control is safety logic superimposed on a full-metered control system. In the event of a
mechanical failure (e.g. jammed fuel valve, blocked air damper), it is possible to create a fuel rich
combustion mixture. Cross-limited control prevents combustion airflow from falling below fuel flow and
fuel flow from exceeding airflow.

MEASUREMENT
Full-metered control is a cascade control strategy that requires three process variable measurements. The
measured variable for the primary loop is steam header pressure. There are two secondary loops with fuel
flow and combustion airflow being the secondary loop measured variables.
Steam Header Pressure
Steam header pressure can be measured using a gauge pressure transmitter.
Fuel Flow
The flowmeter chosen for fuel flow depends on the type of fuel used.
Fuel Gas
The most common fuel gas is natural gas, but may also be propane or a mixture of these. This is
normally metered using a differential pressure type flowmeter and primary element such as an
orifice plate. Select an instrument with high turndown capability. Additional features such as an
integral square root extractor are also useful.
Fuel Oil
The fuel oil flow can be measured using a coriolis flowmeter. It measures mass flow, is not
affected by pressure or temperature, and has a high turndown ratio for accurate mass flow
measurements across a wide range of flow rates. Another common alternative is to use a
differential pressure transmitter with remote seals.
Fuel oils are available in a wide range of grades, identified by numbers. For fueling boilers, the
most common fuel oils are 2 and 6. Fuel oil requires atomization in order to burn. Number 2 fuel
oil is light enough that it can be atomized at normal temperatures but number 6 fuel oil requires
heating for it to flow.
Airflow
Airflow measurements are typically made using a Pitot-array sensor and a draft-range differential pressure
transmitter. Pitot-array sensors detect the dynamic pressure or the pressure of a stream of flowing air. The
differential pressure transmitter measures the difference between the static and dynamic pressures.
Volumetric airflow is proportional to the square root of the differential pressure. Measured pressures are
low, usually less than 5 in. wc.

CONTROL
The full-metered, cross-limited control system is the standard control arrangement for steam boilers. The
SAMA diagram below illustrates the control logic. Full-metered control is a cascade control architecture
where the firing rate control loop is the primary loop and the fuel flow and combustion airflow loops are
secondary control loops.

AD353-103

Firing Rate Control Loop

The firing rate control loop regulates the boiler firing rate in order to satisfy steam demand and maintain
drum pressure at setpoint. It is a feedback control loop and uses PID control. The process variable is drum
pressure, typically measured in psig, with the setpoint entered manually. The controlled variable is the
firing rate demand (FRD). FRD is the cascade setpoint for the fuel flow and combustion airflow control
loops. Proportional gain, integral action and derivative action are typically employed.
Physically, FRD represents the energy demand (for example, BTU/hr). In single fuel applications, it is
easier to define FRD as percent of full scale fuel flow or 0-100%FRD. This technique simplifies the
air/fuel ratio control logic.
Fuel Flow Control Loop
The fuel flow control loop delivers the specified FRD from the firing rate control loop. Variations in fuel
feed pressure affect the flow rate and the flow control loop compensates for these variations. The process
variable is fuel flow and it is defined in %FRD units. Physically, %FRD is the percent of full scale fuel
mass flow rate. Mass flow transmitters typically provide a linear flow output signal. In gas flow
applications where flow is measured using differential pressures, a square root extractor is used to
linearize fuel flow.
The SAMA diagram shows fuel flow measured with a DP transmitter. When flow is measured, a feedback
control loop is established and PID control is used. This is a cascade loop where the setpoint is the FRD
from the firing rate loop. Normally, flow control loops use proportional gain and integral action only. The
controlled variable is 0-100% valve opening and it modulates the fuel valve actuator. Mechanically
characterizing the fuel valve actuator to provide linear flow with % valve opening improves the response
of the fuel flow control loop. The auto/manual transfer switch is available for commissioning and
characterizing the air/fuel ratio. It is disabled during normal operating conditions.
Combustion Airflow Control Loop
The combustion airflow control loop provides sufficient air for the specified FRD from the firing rate
control loop. Variations in draft pressure affect the airflow rate and the flow control loop compensates for
these variations. The process variable is airflow and it is defined in %FRD units.
In the SAMA diagram, the characterizer function block converts the airflow measurement into %FRD.
Physically, %FRD is the percent of full scale fuel mass flow. In the air control loop, %FRD is the
equivalent air required for %FRD mass fuel flow. During commissioning, the boiler is run at several loads
and the corresponding fuel and airflow rates are recorded. Flue gases are monitored in order to determine
optimum airflow.
Flow rate data is used to configure the characterizer function block. The characterizer profile defines the
optimum air/fuel ratio. Seasonal changes affect the moisture content and density of air, and this affects the
amount of air required to burn a pound of fuel. Since airflow measurements are volumetric, it is necessary
to adjust the air/fuel ratio. In the SAMA diagram, the fine adjustment is represented as a manual ratio
input, Air/Fuel Ratio Trim. Adjustment can be automated with an excess oxygen trim control, see
AD353-104.

AD353-103

Steam Header
Pressure

Fuel Flow

PT

FT

PID

Air Flow
Air/Fuel
Ratio Trim

FT

f(x)

Fuel %
FRD

Air/Fuel Ratio
Profiler

Equivalent
Air % FRD

A
(FRD)

Firing Rate
Demand (FRD)

X
I

Release To
Modulate

Low Fire
T

Minimum Air

Low Fire

Release To
Modulate

Purge

Purge

MG000232r2

f(x)
T

Fuel Valve Damper

f(x)
Forced Draft Fan Damper

Full-Metered, Cross-Limited Combustion Control

Combustion airflow control is a feedback control loop utilizing PID control. It is a cascade loop where the
setpoint is the FRD from the firing rate loop. It is important that the process variable and setpoint be in
the same engineering units, %FRD. Normally, flow control loops use proportional gain and integral
action only. The controlled variable is 0-100% damper opening and it modulates the forced draft fan
damper. Mechanically characterizing the damper to provide linear flow with % damper opening improves
the response of the airflow control loop. The auto/manual transfer switch is available for commissioning
and characterizing the air/fuel ratio. It is disabled during normal operating conditions.
Cross-Limited Control
Cross-limited control insures that fuel flow does not exceed equivalent combustion airflow. Since both
fuel flow and airflow are defined in %FRD units, the comparison logic is simplified. In the fuel flow
control loop, the FRD setpoint is compared to the actual air %FRD flow and the smaller value is selected
using a low-select function block. This prevents fuel demand from exceeding available airflow.

AD353-103

In the combustion airflow control loop, the FRD setpoint is compared to the actual fuel %FRD flow and
the greater value is selected using a high-select function block. This prevents air demand from dropping
below actual fuel flow. For safety reasons, a minimum airflow is always maintained. In a Model 353
controller, the SEL (Hi/Lo Signal Selector) function block supports three inputs and an ORSL (Override
Selector) function block can be used to provide an alarm signal.
This control strategy is often called a lead-lag circuit since the airflow will always lead the fuel on an
increase in FRD (the low-select on the fuel setpoint requires the airflow to increase before fuel) and lag
the fuel on a decrease in FRD (the fuel flow must be lower than airflow for the air setpoint to be
decreased).
Burner Safety Management Interface Signals
The burner safety management system (BMS) is a separate logic controller responsible for boiler safety. It
insures the safe ignition of the burner flame. It also monitors the boiler and closes the fuel safety shut-off
valves in the event of a hazardous condition. The SAMA diagram above illustrates typical BMS interface
points.
Purge Command
The first step in the ignition sequence is to purge the furnace or fired tube of any residual fuel.
The purge command opens the forced draft fan damper to the full open position. It overrides the
controlled variable.
Low Fire Command
After the purge step, the fuel actuator and air damper are brought to the low fire position. This is
the condition where the burner can be safely ignited. In the SAMA diagram example, the low fire
command is not shown as a separate command. In some applications, the stand-by position is the
low fire position. If the low fire command is used, it will override the control variable.
Release to Modulate Command
After a flame has been established, the BMS releases the combustion controller to regulate steam
pressure. The release to modulate command enables the firing rate and both flow control loops.
While in stand-by mode, the firing rate control loop is typically in setpoint tracking mode.
The following table lists typical instruments for a metered, cross-limited control system. Since your
process control needs may differ somewhat, please contact your local Siemens representative for
application assistance and product details. See the Siemens Internet site at
http://www.sea.siemens.com/ia/ for contact information.

AD353-103

Instrumentation List
ITEM
Steam Header Pressure
Transmitter
Fuel Gas Flow Transmitter
Fuel Oil Flow Transmitter
Combustion Airflow
Transmitter
Combustion Controller

MODEL
SITRANS P DSIII

MODEL NUMBER
7MF4033-_ _ _ _ _-_ _ _ _-Z

SITRANS P DSIII
SITRANS F MASSFLO
SITRANS P DSIII

7MF4433-_ _ _ _ _-_ _ _ _-Z

MASS 2100 Series
7MF4433-_B_ _ _-_ _ _ _-Z

Siemens 353 Process

353A4FNNNNNNNA4
Automation Controller
Note: Each underscore is a placeholder for an alphanumeric character in the model number.

Papers in the PAC 353 Combustion Management Solutions Series

TITLE
Single Point Positioning Control
Parallel Point Positioning Control
Full-Metered, Cross-Limited Control this paper
O2 Trim Control
Boiler Drum Level (Feedwater) Control
Furnace (Draft) Pressure Control

REQUEST*
AD353-101
AD353-102
AD353-103
AD353-104
AD353-105
AD353-106

* The above papers are available for download at the Siemens public Internet site at
www.sea.siemens.com/ia. The Adobe PDF Reader is needed.

SAMA Scientific Apparatus Makers Association

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of information in this document. The information herein is subject to change without notice.
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property of their respective owners.
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document to the product they purchased.