Compensator for controlling airflow in fired heater

A compensator system for a fired heater or furnace having a plurality of burners, each burner having an intake for airflow, the compensator system comprising:

• at least one movable support member being movable laterally relative to the intakes in a direction generally transverse to a direction of the airflow;
• a plurality of stationary plates disposed across the intakes of the burners, respectively, each of the stationary plates including one or more first openings;
• and
• a plurality of movable plates disposed adjacent to the plurality of stationary plates, respectively, each of the movable plates including one or more second openings, and each movable plate being releasably coupled to the movable support member;
• and
• a controller configured to move each of the plurality of movable plates between first and second lateral positions via movement of the moving support member to control the airflow through the intake of each burner, respectively,
• wherein in the first lateral position, the one or more second openings of each movable plate are at least partially aligned with the one or more first openings of a respective stationary plate, thereby defining a first level of airflow through the intake of each burner, respectively,
• wherein in the second lateral position, the one or more second openings of each movable plate are at least partially misaligned with the one or more first openings of the respective stationary plate, thereby defining a second level of airflow through the intake of each burner, respectively, and
• wherein the airflow at the second level is less than the air flow at the first level.