ClearFire

Economizer
Model ECF
Integral or External

Addendum to manuals 750-295 CFH

and 750-269 CFV

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08/2011

ECF Economizers

1-GENERAL
The Model ECF economizer is a stainless steel coil tube
arrangement using extended heating surface fins to
maximize heat transfer. Flue gas from the boiler passes over
the coiled tube, which conveys incoming feed water. Feed
water preheated in this way eliminates the need for a steam
feed water heater, with resulting efficiencies of up to 87% in
non-condensing applications.
The ECF is offered as either an integral or an external unit.
The integral ECF-I is designed for Model CFH high pressure
steam boilers and can be installed in a new or existing boiler
without the requirement for additional space above or
behind the boiler. The economizer is installed in the smoke
box at the rear of the boiler with water connections at the
rear.
The external ECF-E is designed for Model CFV boilers and
may also be used for CFH low pressure steam boilers. The
economizer mounts in a vertical position and connects to
the boiler flue gas outlet.

Economizer fin tubes

For all ECF applications, feed water is pumped continuously

through the economizer. A two position 3-way diverting
valve - controlled by the boilers normal on-off level control
- sends heated feed water either directly to the boiler for
make-up, or re-circulates heated water back to the feed
system as a method of preheat.
The ECF economizers are virtually maintenance free, having
no moving parts.

2-INSTALLATION
Consult submittal data for specific weights and dimensions
to ensure a well designed and safe installation.
The external economizer is shipped ready to be mounted in
the vertical position as originally specified (consult the
factory if a change in the gas flow direction is desired).
For existing retrofit installations, ensure that the boiler has
been turned off and has cooled. Follow established lockout/
tagout procedures.

Flue gas flow, internal economizer

For retrofit installations the economizer is installed in line
with the existing exhaust stack or duct unless otherwise
noted. Generally a section of the exhaust stack is cut and removed to accommodate the insertion of
the economizer. The remaining portion of the exhaust stack above the cut should not exceed 200 lbs
and must be adequately supported.
When calculating total length of breeching the external economizer should be considered as 2 elbows
or 10 feet total equivalent length of ductwork.
Apply expansion joints (supplied by others) as required by the installation to ensure that no outside
forces from thermal expansion to either the exhaust gas connections or to the piping will be permitted.

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Ensure that the economizer is level before final bolting into position.
Liquid connections are connected with NPT threaded fittings. Liquid piping should include shut-off
and bypass valve piping in the event the economizer is required to be isolated.
NOTE: The safety relief valve provided with the economizer must be located between any isolation
valves and the economizer and within close proximity of the economizer. Liquid piping to and from
the economizer should allow the economizer to be filled at all times especially when flow could stop.
Softened water is highly recommended with any C-B economizer. Refer to the boiler manual for
additional water treatment recommendations. Proper water treatment is essential to the longevity,
safety, and efficiency of your boiler system.
Generally, schedule 80 or schedule 40 steel pipe is used in the piping installation. In some applications
other piping material may be needed. Consider the type of liquid, operating pressures and
temperatures, and any corrosive elements in the liquid or in the atmosphere when determining the
best piping material for your installation. The use of unions and/or flanges is recommended where
isolation might be required. Stainless steel piping is recommended if using non-deaerated water.
If a circulating pump is part of the system being installed, a ball or flow control valve installed on the
suction side of the pump and one on the discharge side of the pump will allow for easier pump removal
and replacement.
Piping should include valves of dependable manufacture, properly rated for operating conditions, in
order to reduce the possibility of an undetected leak.
A safety relief valve is provided as required. It should be located at the economizer and piped
separately and safely to the drain. Do not connect safety valve piping to the boiler blowdown piping.
A manual vent valve is provided and should be installed at the highest point in the piping system. The
vent valve purges air from the system, especially during filling and initial start up.
While condensing should be avoided when operating the CFH or CFV boilers, small amounts of
condensation can be expected due to cold startups and other transient conditions. For this reason a
condensate drain is provided at the bottom of the smoke box (CFH) or stack outlet (CFV). For
installations with external economizers a second drain is provided at the economizer. See the piping
diagrams for details.
Condensate drain piping can be piped to the floor drain. Condensate piping should include a water
trap to prevent the escape of flue gas. For external economizers the boiler and economizer drains can
be trapped and drained separately, or they may be piped to a common drain with a single p-trap. See
piping diagrams.
To ensure proper drainage, the external economizer must be installed in the upright position.

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ECF Economizers

External economizer installation

2.1- Feedwater Valve
Wire the feedwater 3-way valve
as shown. In this diagram,
control panel terminals 36 and
37 are connected to the pump/
valve relay on the LWCO/Level
control. Terminals 23 and 24
are connected to 24VAC power
(installations may vary; consult
the wiring diagram provided
with the boiler for wiring
terminal assignments).

LWCO/LEVEL CONTROL

24VAC

VALVE

2.2- Special Installation Considerations

Freeze protection concerns: During a system shutdown where combustion halts for an extended period
of time (other than normal cycling), cold air will travel back down the stack and exhaust breechings,
through the economizer and into the combustion source. If the cold air is below freezing, it could freeze
the finned tubing and cause a rupture, ultimately destroying the economizer. For potential freezing
applications where the water flow might stop, a manual system shut down routine should be
incorporated.
Insulate piping and exhaust ducting as required.
Consult the circulating flow diagram (if applicable) for your application with regard to the piping layout
and components. Exhaust and liquid inlet and outlet thermometers are included for the installation.
Capped tees, one on the liquid inlet side and one on the liquid outlet side, should be incorporated into
the piping installation to allow a descaling solution to be used with the economizer in place. The
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ECF Economizers

manual vent valve can also be used for this purpose. Consult the factory for suitable descaling
solutions.
The economizer relief valve should not have a set pressure rating higher than the rated pressure of the
economizer. To avoid relief valve leakage, ensure that valve set pressure is sufficiently higher than dead
head pressure of the feed pump.
It is recommended that the pipe and surge/feed tank (if included) be insulated to reduce heat loss.
A feed pump suitable for continuous service is required. A single-stage or multi-stage centrifugal pump
is recommended (single-stage for low pressure boiler applications and multi-stage for high pressure).
For applications with the potential of producing condensation in the economizer and flue, corrosion
resistant materials should be used in flue design.

3-STARTUP
Filling the Economizer - first ensure the boiler has been filled to the normal operating water level.
Verify the 3-way valve has been properly wired to the water level control.
The feed pump should be in manual operating mode.
Make sure all valves are in the proper position for startup (see diagram; refer also to piping diagrams
in Section 6).
CLOSED: manual fill valve [1]
economizer bypass valve [2]
drain valve(s) [3]
OPEN:

manual bleed/vent valve [4]

economizer isolation valves [5]

PRESSURE RELIEF

TO FEED TANK
FROM ECONOMIZER

1 - MANUAL FILL VALVE

2 - ECONOMIZER BYPASS VALVE
3 - ECONOMIZER DRAIN
4 - MANUAL BLEED / VENT VALVE
5 - ECON. ISOLATION VALVES
6 - 3-WAY FEED WATER VALVE
7 - ADJUSTABLE ORIFICE VALVE
8 - PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE

6
CLOSED
OPEN

TO ECONOMIZER

TO BOILER

FEEDWATER

* OPEN to fill economizer

CLOSE before starting boiler

Valve positions for initial startup

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ECF Economizers

Begin with the orifice valve

open approximately half way
and the 3-way valve in the
recirculation position.

NOTE: SYSTEM FLOW

DOES NOT FOLLOW
ARROW ON VALVE BODY

Start the feed pump. Check

the pressure gauge and
adjust the orifice valve to
maintain feedwater pressure
within 10-20 psi of the
boilers operating setpoint.
When water can be seen
escaping through the vent
valve, close the valve.
Verify proper operation of the
3-way valve by opening the
water column drain. When
the water level drops
sufficiently, the valve should
allow flow to the boiler
feedwater inlet. Close drain
before continuing.

3-Way Valve

Put the feed pump in

automatic mode and start the boiler.
When the boiler reaches operating pressure, adjust the orifice valve as necessary. System pressure
should be consistent regardless of the position of the 3-way valve. This is to ensure steady flow through
the economizer and to avoid steaming downstream of the economizer outlet.
Observe operation of the system for several feedwater cycles.
NOTE: C-B requires that liquid must be flowing through the economizer at all times while the
economizer is in use. This is to avoid steaming in the coil. Upon cold startup of a full boiler, provisions
must be made to ensure water flow through the economizer. Assure sufficient flow to prevent any
unwarranted temperature and pressure buildup within the liquid side of the economizer.
If the final exhaust temperatures are too low (causing undesirable condensing in the flue) or if the
desired feedwater temperature is not met, adjust the orifice valve to attain the desired objective.
The economizer may be bypassed if it is first drained. After operating in bypass mode, before the
economizer is returned to service it must be allowed to cool and must be filled with water.

! Important
If liquid is introduced into a hot economizer, severe damage can result
and will void any warranty. Contact C-B for applications where the
economizer is requested to run dry at temperatures above 500 deg F.

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4-MONITORING PERFORMANCE
It is recommended to inspect the core or coil if the performance (liquid temperatures leaving and Btu/
hr. recovery) begins to decrease. A good practice of maintenance is to keep a performance schedule
starting when the economizer is installed to compare with any future changes.
While the economizer is in a clean, like-new condition, note and record the following:
Water flow rate
Boiler firing rate
Liquid inlet and outlet temperatures
Exhaust gas inlet and outlet temperatures
Steam pressure gauge reading (if applicable)
This information will provide a point of reference in the event of a future fouling condition.
A simple method of determining whether the economizer is performing properly is to monitor the exit
temperatures on the liquid and gas sides while in the new condition to establish a base of comparable
data. If the stack temperature leaving the economizer is higher than normal and the liquid exit
temperature is lower than normal, then the external heat transfer surface is fouled or scaled on the
inside of the tubing. This requires cleaning as soon as possible during a convenient shut down period.
If the economizer pressure relief valve discharges, it is likely that there is no or little liquid circulating
through the economizer. Check the pump operation and repair or replace as necessary. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO REMOVE OR REPLACE THE PUMP UNLESS THE PUMP, PIPES AND LIQUID HAVE
BEEN ALLOWED TO COOL. You may also need to check for flow restrictions in the piping and/or the
economizer.
If the economizer inlet and outlet temperatures are approaching being equal, this may be a pump
problem and/or a scale accumulation in the finned tubing. Remedy as indicated above. It is also
possible that the fin coils are severely fouled. Refer to section 5 below for cleaning.

5-MAINTENANCE
As stated in the general description, the economizers are mechanically maintenance free.
A routine physical inspection of the heat transfer core area will be dependent on the temperature
conditions and combustion quality within the flue gas stream. NOTE: Ensure that the boiler is off and
is cool, and that the economizer is cool before attempting to inspect or clean the fin coil(s).
On natural gas or propane fired applications, with clean exhaust conditions, physical inspection will
be minimal if proper combustion at the burner is maintained.
In the unlikely event of an accumulation of dirt on the fins (i.e. a 1/16" thickness build up on the fins),
the fouled finned tube area can be manually cleaned by blowing air with a lance assembly across the
fins. If high pressure air is not available, an industrial vacuum cleaner may be substituted.
If a waterside inspection shows a buildup of scale due to inadequate water treatment, descaling should
be performed before resuming operation. Investigate deficiencies in the water treatment program and
correct accordingly.

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NORMALLY OPEN VALVE

NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE

PRESSURE INDICATOR

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR

LI

LEVEL INDICATOR

ECF Economizers

6- PIPING EXAMPLES

CFH boiler - integral economizer with feed tank

8
NORMALLY OPEN VALVE

NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE

PRESSURE INDICATOR

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR

LI

LEVEL INDICATOR

ECF Economizers

Integral economizer, no feed tank

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CB-8466
NORMALLY OPEN VALVE

NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE

PRESSURE INDICATOR

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR

LI

LEVEL INDICATOR

ECF Economizers

CFH low pressure steam applications

10
NORMALLY OPEN VALVE

NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE

PRESSURE INDICATOR

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR

LI

LEVEL INDICATOR

ECF Economizers

CFV, external economizer with feed tank

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NORMALLY OPEN VALVE

NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE

PRESSURE INDICATOR

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR

LI

LEVEL INDICATOR

ECF Economizers

CFV, external economizer no feed tank

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ECF Economizers

7-PARTS

MANUAL
ECONOMIZER

(Integral Model ECF-I shown)

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ECF Economizers

8-DIMENSIONS AND CONNECTION SIZES

ECF external economizer

DRY WEIGHT (LB)

OPERATING WEIGHT (LB)

50
53

80
84

105
112

135
143

13

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