Combustion Technology (Pty) Ltd

Combustion

Perfect Combustion

Incomplete Combustion

Efficiency Types

Testing

O2 versus CO2

Three T's of Combustion

NOx

Draft

Flue Gas Test

Procedures

Acceptable Test Results

Accurate Testing

Savings Potential

Training Centre

Draft
As the fuel/air mixture (A) is delivered to the
boiler, it is necessary that an equal volume of
flue gasses (B) enter boiler breach area. As
such, the draft rate is critical in maintaining this
balance. Draft diverters/hoods and barometric
controls are designed to provide varying
degrees of draft control and allow dilution air to
mix with the flue gases to reduce the potential
fo r condensation. A single acting barometric
control is designed for fuel oil fired equipment
while a double acting barometric is only
approved for gas-fired systems. The double
acting control door swings both directions to
relieve downdrafts. Both types of barometric
dampers are capable of providing a constant over fire draft, which is necessary to insure
combustion air intake remains consistent under varying chimney draft conditions.
Draft pressure is critical to the design of the particular heating system and generally falls into
one of four categories:

Atmospheric systems are very common and depend entirely on the slightly negative
stack pressure (due to the heated flue gases being lighter than air and naturally rising) to safely
exhaust flue gases to the outside, while at the same time pulling in sufficient combustion air.
These systems have draft diverters or hoods located immediately downstream from the heat
exchanger which allow room air to be pulled in and mixed with the products of combustion before
entering the vent system.


Power Burners have a mechanical blower, which delivers combustion air to the flame,
but also rely on a precisely controlled overfire draft to maintain consistent combustion air intake.
This generally requires the installation of a barometric control.

Balanced Draft boilers, which are designed to operate under a positive pressure in the
combustion chamber, generally have a breach damper (either manually or automatically
controlled), which maintains the boiler combustion chamber and flue gas passageways under a
positive pressure to maximize efficiency. Manufacturers positive pressure requirements vary

widely. However, a precisely controlled negative draft in the stack i s still required to
remove the products of combustion at a controlled rate and to allow for the exact amount
combustion air to be introduced to the flame.

Forced Draft systems also have a mechanical combustion air blower but are designed
for a positive over fire pressure created, in part, by resistance to flue gas flow in the stack, which
also operates under a positive pressure.
To check draft, a digital/mechanical draft gauge or inclined manometer is necessary. As with
combustion testing, draft sample locations will vary depending on the type of equipment tested.
While it is of utmost importance to follow the equipment manufacturers recommended draft
readings, typical overfire draft measurements are in the -.005 to -.02 Water Column Inch (WC)
range on both oil and gas power burner systems.
Typically, when a -.005 to -.02 WC is
measured over the fire, stack draft will be
in the -.02 to -.04 WC range for gas fired
power burners and -.04 to -.05 for oil fired
burners.
Stack draft has been commonly used to set
up barometric controls and evaluate draft
conditions,
however,
it does
not
necessarily guarantee correct over fire
pressure which is actually the main factor
influencing combustion air intake.
The combustion air intake on atmospheric equipment is so diffuse that overfire draft readings
generally cannot be obtained. Consequently, draft must be measured immediately downstream
from the draft hood and should be in the -.02 to -.04 WC range. This will insure that there is
stable, continuous negative pressure in the combustion chamber to allow for the controlled
introduction of air and fuel.

Generally Acceptable Draft Measurements

Type of Heating
System
Gas, Atmospheric

Overfire Draft

Stack Draft

Not Applicable

-.02 to -.04 WC

Fan Assist (80%)

Gas, Power Burner

-.02 WC

-.02 to -.04 WC

Gas, Power Burner

Oil, Conventional
Oil, Flame Retention
Positive Over Fire

-.02 WC
-.01 to -.02 WC
-.005 to -.02 WC
+.4 to +.6

-.02 to -.04 WC
-.02 to -.05 WC
-.02 to -.04 WC
-.02 to -.04

Oil and Gas

or PMI

or PMI

Always check with the manufacturer of a particular appliance to determine the

recommended overfire/stack draft requirements.
In the past, many manufacturers recommend barometric controls be installed only when high
draft conditions exist. However, field experience has shown that almost all vent systems are
capable of producing excess levels of draft during certain periods of the year and that even slight
variations in stack draft may influence combustion air intake.
In situations where a barometric control has been installed and subsequent testing determines
high draft levels still exist, additional barometric controls can be added.
Manufacturers of barometric controls generally require that a manual reset spill switch be
installed on the barometric and wired to shut the burner down in the event of an extended period
of backdrafting
However, keep in mind that a spill switch will most likely only trip when a chimney is obstructed.
If flue gas spillage is caused by depressurization of the mechanical room , sufficient cold air may
be drawn down the stack to dilute flue gases sufficiently to not activate the spill switch.

Where multiple boilers are vented into the same chimney, attempts should be made to balance
the draft of each individual boiler with separate draft controls as opposed to one draft control in
the main breaching. For example, in the following diagram, draft controls should be installed in

location A or B. A draft control in location C would not provide for sufficient draft control of each
individual boiler.
W h e n common
venting residential
fan assist (80%)
furnaces/boilers
with atmospheric
hot water tanks (as
is
allowed
by
many
manufacturers),
great care must be
taken to insure the
c o m m o n vent
functions
under
the wide variety of
operating
conditions.
Forced draft boilers run a positive pressure from overfire, through to the stack termination. The
entire system must be welded or otherwise sealed tightly to prevent flue gases from escaping.
Also, the height of the vent termination must be limited (generally 15 feet from the breech) to
prevent a negative draft. As the vent system is operating under a positive pressure, barometric
controls are not appropriate for installation on this type system.
Taking advantage of the potential
for most efficient and reliable
operation requires more extensive
testing be completed to properly
set up this type equipment,
particularly when multiple units
a r e commonly vented.
Each
needs to be tested under all
conceivable operating conditions.

Note: A draft reading only

measures the difference in
pressure between the inside
and outside of the vent.
Combustion testing verifies that these gases are being drawn from the
combustion chamber/heat exchanger as designed and at a sufficient rate to
allow for additional introduction of the proper fuel air mixture for combustion.
Combustion and draft testing also verifies that the heating equipment is
operating as designed and engineered by the manufacturer.

Also, remember that the amount of positive or negative pressure in the firebox
(over the fire) of a gas-fired system will influence the fuel input as well.