Burner management system. On big boilers this is a safety-rated controller or PLC with flame scanners, fuel valve proving, purge permissives, and every trip interlock from low water to high furnace pressure. It is kept separate from the combustion control that sets firing rate. In building automation, BMS also means building management system, so context matters.
BMS tripped the unit on low fuel gas pressure, combustion controls were fine, it's the regulator upstream.
Also heard as
- burner management
- burner management system
Do not mix it up with
- Flame safeguard: A flame safeguard is the single packaged control on smaller burners; a BMS is the larger, often PLC-based system with many more interlocks.
Related terms
Flame safeguard
The control that runs a burner's start sequence, watches the flame, and shuts the fuel off fast if the flame fails.
Purge
Blowing air through the furnace and flue before ignition or after shutdown to clear out unburned fuel.
Lockout
A safety shutdown that holds the burner off until someone presses a manual reset.
Gas train
The string of valves, regulator and switches that controls and safeguards gas on its way to the burner.