Distinctive features of the boiler for the heating system
As you know, a boiler is a closed vessel that has two holes. The first hole serves as an inlet for cold water, the second as an outlet for hot water. The boiler is powered by electricity. All boilers are divided into two groups - flow and storage. In a storage boiler, a certain amount of water is heated (the amount of water depends on the displacement of the boiler), in a flow boiler, any amount of water can be heated, but this requires more electricity.
I must say that it is quite possible to use a boiler for heating, moreover, today manufacturers produce boilers specially designed for heating water in the system. These boilers have two significant differences from those designed exclusively for heating water for domestic purposes - for example, for bathing or washing dishes.
Firstly, in such boilers, the cold water inlet is located at the bottom, and the hot water outlet is at the top. This arrangement of holes is explained by the fact that when the water is heated, it rises, and therefore, the hottest water is located at the top of the boiler, and it is the use of such water that will make the heating system as efficient as possible.
Secondly, the boiler, designed to heat water in the heating system, has a large hole diameter. If you look at factory-made boilers, you can see that both the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet are never less than 2 inches in diameter (approximately 4.8 cm).
If the boiler has both of these distinctive features, then it can be safely used as the basis for a heating system - this is exactly what it is designed for. And the movement of water through the heating system itself here is due to the fact that cold and hot water have different densities, and cold water, entering the boiler, displaces hot water first up, and then through the hole into the pipes of the system.
Boiler as a source of water heating
A classic boiler is a sealed container with an electric heating element inside. For connection to the water supply system, 2 couples are provided in the design. Can such a boiler be used in the heating system of a private house?
Alas, it does not have the proper characteristics necessary for the organization of autonomous heat supply. For normal operation, a boiler for heating a private house must have a very high power. On average, 1 kW of thermal energy is needed per 10 m² of living space. Those. to heat a house of 100 m², you will need a boiler model with a minimum power value of 10 kW. Manufacturers simply do not produce such models.
If you use a boiler to heat a cottage with a small area, you may encounter the following problems:
- High rate of inertia. The average tank is 100 liters. with a heating element power of 2 kW, it will heat up to a temperature of + 75 ° C for 1.5-2 hours. In this case, circulation will not be possible, since it will only increase the heating time;
- Large tank capacity. In theory, it makes it possible to use the boiler for heating and hot water. However, constant water intake and replenishment of the system from the outside will lead to uneven heating of the coolant;
- Large power consumption. Before you make heating from a boiler, you need to calculate its power. It should be borne in mind that using it in hot water will lead to permanently switched on heating elements. Thus, the cost of electricity will increase.
So why are there more and more schemes in the network in which heating is carried out using a boiler? After all, it is much more rational to use an electric boiler for this. It's all about the wrong terminology. In water heating, it is possible to install so-called indirect heating tanks, which are structurally similar to boilers. To avoid further confusion, we will also call them boilers.
If there is a desire to install a classic boiler as the main heating element, there may be problems with the manufacturer's warranty.This is due to a malfunction of the device.
Installation and operation of a heating boiler
Boiler in the heating system
After performing all the necessary calculations of the boiler power and its volume, you can proceed to integrate the device into the heating system
An important task is to determine the installation site. Having decided on the purpose of the boiler in the heating system, you need to read the instructions for its installation
The best option would be to install in the immediate vicinity of the boiler. In this case, the transfer of thermal energy from the coolant to water is the most efficient.
But at the same time, you may encounter the following difficulties in organizing heating using a boiler:
- Supply of the DHW system. In a heating system with a solid fuel boiler, it is most convenient to place the boiler directly in the boiler room. But then, to supply heated water to the premises, you need a separate pump and control devices for it;
- Large capacity. if heating is planned through a boiler for large residential areas. There is a problem with the placement of the heating element;
- Power supply to ensure the operation of the heating element. For the normal functioning of the boiler for heating a private house, it is also recommended to install an autonomous source of electricity.
Having solved these questions, you can proceed directly to the installation.
Control of water temperature in heating through the boiler is carried out using the installed thermometer. It is not included in the standard package and therefore it is necessary to purchase this device separately.
Installation of a storage heating tank
To install the heat accumulator, it is necessary to prepare a flat area in advance. Its large weight should be taken into account - if necessary, a separate foundation is made or the floors are reinforced.
The optimal mounting option is on a separate platform. In this way, contact of the body with the concrete surface can be avoided, which will reduce heat losses in the electric boiler for heating. Almost all manufacturers make containers on special legs. In their absence, it is recommended to install a heater on the floor.
The procedure for connecting the boiler to the heating system is to perform the following actions:
After installing the container, you need to check its position relative to the horizon. Deviations are not allowed.
Connect to the heating
It is important that the diameter of the pipes is equal. Otherwise, after connecting the boiler to the heating system, excess hydraulic resistance will appear.
If the installation is carried out in an unheated room, the boiler body is insulated.
A connection is made to hot water supply so that the boiler works not only for heating, but also for hot water.
Upon completion of this work, you need to check the tightness of all connections and start the heating system. Within 2-3 weeks, it is recommended to measure the temperature of the water in the tank and the coolant in the pipes after the boiler is turned off. So you can determine the actual time to maintain the desired level of heating in the heating circuit from the boiler.
In order to make full-fledged heating from a boiler, it is not recommended to use antifreeze. It is characterized by a relatively low heat capacity, which will affect the transfer of heat to water and back to the coolant.
Conditions for proper operation of the boiler
Scale on the heating element of the boiler
Maintaining a storage tank is practically no different from carrying out the necessary procedures to maintain the performance of any electric boiler with heating elements. And in this case, in order for the boiler to work normally in the heating system of a private house, it is required to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
This can be ensured even before the heat supply from the boiler is done. It is best to purchase models with the so-called "dry heating element". On it, the formation of scale occurs much more slowly.You should also pre-filter the water before entering the storage tank.
In addition to these procedures, you must do the following:
- Once a month, check the integrity of the thermal insulation of the structure;
- Control the duration of maintaining the temperature of the heat carrier during the mode of operation of heat supply through the boiler. The difference between calculated and actual indicators should not exceed 15%;
- Connection tightness control. It is recommended to replace gaskets before each heating season. So you can achieve more reliable heating of a private house with the help of a boiler.
The control unit of some models is sensitive to voltage drops. To avoid damage to this expensive device, you should connect a stabilizer for the boiler in the heating system.
To clean the heating element from scale, it is necessary to dismantle it. But before that, you need to ask the seller whether the factory warranty is preserved.
Do-it-yourself boiler for heating
It should be noted that the cost of factory models of a boiler for heat supply to a summer residence is quite high - from 7,000 rubles. and more. An alternative option is to make the structure on your own.
You can use any steel container for this.
It is important that its volume corresponds to the calculated one. To organize heat supply schemes from a home-made boiler, you will need the following components:
- Tank. It is best to order a stainless steel structure or make it yourself. The body must have holes for soldering the inlet and outlet pipes;
- Coil. The best option is to install a copper structure. This material has optimal parameters for the transfer of thermal energy;
- Fastening of branch pipes for connection to heating and GVS.
To ensure thermal insulation, it is recommended to make a double casing. Glass wool or basalt insulation is installed between the walls. The recommended layer thickness is 5 cm. The procedure for installation and commissioning is no different from factory models.
How effective is the use of a boiler in heating a house? It all depends on the correctness of the calculations of the parameters of the entire system. Only after calculating the optimal characteristics and testing them in practice can we talk about the true efficiency of the boiler installation.
The video shows an example of using a boiler in a heating system.
