Heating Info From Warmair.net
Oil Burners
All oil burners have the same basic design. An electric motor spins a fan and
oil pump simultaneously. Air from the fan is directed into a blast
tube. At the end of the tube is a nozzle spraying the oil the
pump has put under high pressure. The nozzle resembles a garden
hose sprayer, but is smaller and more precise. It has a flow rating
(in gallons per hour) to size the heat output. It also has a degree
angle that determines the width of the spray. A letter stamped
on the nozzle identifies the cone formed by the spray as hollow
or solid.
Released from the pressure at the nozzle, the oil atomizes into a fog and
is ignited with an electric spark. The spark is generated by a
transformer that boosts the voltage upwards of 10,000 volts or
more. The spark jumps across electrodes placed in front of the
nozzle and is blown into the oil spray by the blast of air. Watching
the ignition is an electric eye known as a cad cell.
Current generated by the fire on the window of the cell is conducted to a protecto
relay and keeps the relay engaged and the burner motor running.
If the fire goes out, the burner will shut down to prevent a build
up of unburned fuel and an explosive condition. The protecto relay
(AKA burner relay) also has another function. It has a transformer
built in that sends a 24 volt current to the thermostat that becomes
the means of signaling for heat.
Some manufactures are using increased pump pressure and smaller nozzle size to increase
atomization and burn efficiency. Intense testing is done at the
factory to determine the best nozzle for each application, so
it is important to use the specified nozzle.
Copyright © 1999 Warmair.com, Inc.
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