What is a consequence of too much secondary air in a combustion system?

In a combustion system, secondary air is introduced to ensure complete combustion of the fuel. However, when there is too much secondary air, it can lead to wasted heat exiting the stack. This occurs because the excess air can cool down the combustion process, causing the combustion gases to retain more heat. Instead of utilizing this heat for effective heating purposes, it is expelled with the flue gases, resulting in lower overall efficiency.

Excess secondary air can also disrupt the ideal combustion conditions, leading to increased temperatures in some areas while decreasing them in others, ultimately causing heat that could have been used for energy production to escape. This wasted heat not only represents a loss of energy but can also lead to increased operational costs as more fuel may be needed to achieve the desired output.

Overall, managing the amount of secondary air is crucial for optimizing fuel efficiency, minimizing heat loss, and ensuring that the combustion system operates effectively.