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KN USER’S CONTROL MANUAL
The KN boiler — HeatNet® control
Control overview
e KN HeatNet control monitors boiler temperature and limit
circuit inputs, modulating boiler ring rate to meet demand.
e control uses microprocessor electronics, watching time-
average response from the system to anticipate how much heat
thesystemneeds.Coupledwiththe ve-to-oneturndown of the
KN boiler, this results in maximum possible condensing-mode
operation. e KN boiler will provide unmatched seasonal
eciency.
Indoor air reset (IAR)
KN’s unique approach to boiler output regulation is its Indoor
Air Reset function. e control monitors the demand from up
to 8 dierent zones. Watching the demand duration and response
to supply temperature, averaging over time, the HeatNet control
anticipates system needs. It sets boiler maximum ring rate and
adjustssupplywatertemperaturetone-tuneboiler heatoutput.
All that is required to enable IAR is to connect thermostat
circuit wires to the IAR inputs. e HeatNet control can also
be congured for outdoor reset operation, but IAR provides
response based on system behavior rather than just looking at
outdoor temperature.
The HeatNet platform
HeatNet controls are designed to provide an integrated boiler
management system on every boiler. e platform provides
multiple levels of selectivity. HeatNet electronics can be
operated as a simple single-boiler control, while still providing
intelligent regulation of boiler ring rate to match system
demand. With a few key strokes on the key pad, the HeatNet
control can operate as a sophisticated multiple-boiler controller,
using simple RJ45 cable interfacing between units. e control
can even accept external control commands from building
managements systems (Modbus standard, with optional bridge
for BACnet or LonWorks) or 20-milliamp analog input from an
external controller.
e control method used by the HeatNet control is based on
digital communications, which eliminates the need for analog
control signals. Analog signal inputs are supported, but a higher
level of control precision, repeatability and feedback is gained
with digital communications.
e HeatNet control can be versatile, providing for operation
in multiple ways:
• Operation as a stand-alone boiler.
• Operation as a boiler in a boiler network, using the on-board
HeatNetprotocol.
• Operation as a member boiler in a boiler management
system.
• Operation as a member of a remotely-controlled boiler
network (20-milliamp regulation).
• Setpoint can be determined by the HeatNet control or by a
20-milliamp input signal.
• Network boilers can be operated by override commands
for increased versatility.
PID response
e HeatNet control uses proportional-integral-derivative
calculations to determine the response to boiler water
temperature changes. is means it not only looks at how far
away the water temperature is from the setpoint temperature,
but how fast the temperature is changing and how it has
respondedovertime.isensurestheboilerwon’tmakesudden
unnecessary changesinringrate.
Multiple boiler operation
e HeatNet control easily interfaces with other HeatNet
controls. Multiple boiler operation using HeatNet protocol only
requires RJ45 cables daisy-chained from boiler to boiler and a
few key strokes seing up control behavior. e master boiler is
automatically selected by connecting a sensor lead to its
HEADER sensor terminals. e HeatNet control recognizes
the sensor and congures the boiler as the master. Other boilers
only need to have an address assigned.
Among the advanced design features of the HeatNet control is
theMOD-MAX seing. is limits thering rateofall boilersto
a pre-set maximum (50% by default). is means all of the
boilers will be run at a very ecient level until all boilers are on.
Only then can ring rate increase above this seing. Boiler
rotationcanberst-on/rst-o,rst-on/last-o,ortruerotation
(the HeatNet control monitors the total on time of all boilers,
and rotates their usage so the total on time is the same for all).
Firmware Version 2.5 and greater is now compatible with
HeatNet Mixed Boiler Systems. For more information on the
operation of HeatNet Mixed Boiler Systems see the KN6-30
HeatNet Control Manual V3.47, which is available at www.
knseries.com.
External limit monitoring
& annunciation
In addition to controlling the boiler, the HeatNet control
monitors external limits wired into the limit circuit connections.
econtrolshuts downthe boiler ifa limit opens,and thedigital
display shows which limit failed. Monitored limits include high
limit aquastat, ow, ignition control fault, inlet pressure, ue
pressure and other optional or user-selectable limits.”