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axner burners

updated fri 1 sep 06

 

darrell calhoun on sun 27 aug 06


Does anyone have an opinion on the ProFire500 burner sold by Axner? They seem to have the same features as Ward Burners' Power burners. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Vince Pitelka on tue 29 aug 06


Darrel Calhoun wrote:
> Does anyone have an opinion on the ProFire500 burner sold by Axner? They
> seem to have the same features as Ward Burners' Power burners. Any advice
> would be greatly appreciated.

Darrel -
I had never seen these burners,and your message inspired me to take a look
at them. Although I certainly respect Nils Lou's expertise, as far as I can
see these burners do not include a proper flame rectification system, and I
do not understand why, since they do have spark ignition. A flame
rectification system employs a UV sensor which determines if the burner
flame has gone out and automatically activates the spark to re-ignite it. I
am wondering how the flame reignites on this burner if it is somehow blown
out. That's the whole point of a proper safety system on any gas burner. I
examined the larger images of this burner at the Axner site, and I cannot
see any UV sensor anywhere on this burner. So, my question would be "What
are the advantages of this burner over the simpler system with a Baso valve
and a pilot burner?"

The flame rectification system would make this burner a little more
expensive, but it's already pretty pricey, so it seems like it would be
worth it (or absolutely necessary, if there is no other system in place to
recognize flame loss and provide reignition). On a standard Baso/pilot
burner system, the pilot provides reignition if the main burner flame is
extinguished, and if the pilot is extinguished, the Baso valve shuts off the
main gas supply. Every gas burner system that meets code requirement must
provide a means of accomplishing this. And every gas burner system that is
on a kiln installed inside a building must have proper safety systems.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/

nils lou on wed 30 aug 06


The Axner Profire 500 burner does have flame rectification. Vince simply is
not aware of the current state of the art where the flame igniter functions
as flame sensor through the plasma of the flame itself. This provides 100%
flame sensing versus Baso/pilot systems which are regarded as suitable for
simple gas systems like hot water heaters and provide only 80% flame
sensing capability. The Profire 500 has a double stainless steel burner
head with air pressure sensor, flame sensor, voltage sensor and automatic
ignition after purging cycle. Nils

Vince Pitelka on wed 30 aug 06


Nils Lou wrote:
> The Axner Profire 500 burner does have flame rectification. Vince simply
> is
> not aware of the current state of the art where the flame igniter
> functions
> as flame sensor through the plasma of the flame itself. This provides 100%
> flame sensing versus Baso/pilot systems which are regarded as suitable for
> simple gas systems like hot water heaters and provide only 80% flame
> sensing capability. The Profire 500 has a double stainless steel burner
> head with air pressure sensor, flame sensor, voltage sensor and automatic
> ignition after purging cycle. Nils

That's good news, and it elevates that burner to a much higher level of
technology and function. It is a very good day when I learn something new,
and most days are very good days.

Considering the complexity and cost of such a stat-of-the-art flame
rectification system, it seems like this burner is certainly worth the
price.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/