Heating a residential building with gas that heats up the ascending air flows is characterized by low fuel consumption and availability. To implement this method, you will need a gas heating converter. Before purchasing it, you should understand the principle of operation and the rules for choosing the right sample, suitable for specific operating conditions.
Device and principle of operation
To understand how a gas heating convector works, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with its device. The structure of this device includes the following main components:
- gas fuel combustion chamber;
- a heat exchanger that is part of the chamber;
- the burner and the igniter installed in it;
- Control block;
- thermostat;
- device body.
For stationary models, you will need to make two holes in the wall, through one of which air is taken from the streets, and through the second, combustion products are removed. Most of the samples on the market are non-volatile and completely autonomous, but there are products that need electrical power. The latest models are good in that they manage to implement the automatic flame support mode in the burner.
The convector works as follows:
- the process begins with the conversion of gas energy into its thermal equivalent;
- the heat that forms during combustion heats the heat exchanger located in the area of air intake from the street;
- heating up, the latter rushes upward and gives off heat to the surrounding space;
- then the cooled masses leave the heat exchanger through special perforations.
Gas fuel combustion products are discharged through the outlet (chimney) directly to the street.
Advantages and disadvantages
The indisputable advantages of gas convectors for heating a house include:
- the ability to do without electricity;
- the speed of heating the surrounding space (in comparison with a heating boiler with radiators);
- profitability;
- minimum requirements for care and maintenance;
- attractive appearance.
The disadvantages of these devices are the impossibility of fully replacing the gas boiler and the need to make holes in the wall that violate its integrity and design.
Specifications
The technical characteristics of gas convectors are represented by the following operating parameters:
- thermal power (from 3 to 9 kW);
- the type of fuel used (liquefied or main gas);
- way of placing the device (floor or wall);
- the presence of a gas removal system (chimney).
All of them are considered in detail when choosing the right model of the heating unit.
Rules for choosing a gas convector
When choosing a gas convector, one must proceed from the requirements for this device and its characteristics. First of all, the following parameters are taken into account:
- thermal power and permissible area of heated spaces;
- combustion chamber type;
- type of fuel (gas) used;
- installation option (wall or floor).
To determine the required power, one proceeds from a practical derived ratio, according to which 1 kW of thermal energy is required for efficient heating of every 10 m2 of living space. Experts recommend choosing this indicator with a small margin. To warm up a room with an area of 25 m2, according to the eaten ratio, you will need a device designed for 2.5 kW. But for greater confidence, it is better to buy a device with a power rating of 3 kW.
The type of combustion chamber (open or closed) is selected based on the user's preferences. Most convectors are equipped with a chamber of the second type, the main advantage of which is the absence of unpleasant odors. Models equipped with an open burner have the following disadvantages:
- a lot of oxygen is burned during work;
- some of the combustion products enter the dwelling;
- when arranging systems with an open chamber, a chimney with an exit through the roof will be required.
Before choosing a convector, it is important to consider the type of fuel used (LPG or conventional natural gas). In the first case, the kit includes additional equipment (jet and reducer). Fuel supply control in these products is carried out automatically.
Wall-mounted convectors are more convenient in that they do not need to update the cylinder, the capacity of which is sufficient to heat large areas. Their floor-standing counterparts are more versatile, but it is forbidden to operate them in apartment buildings. When using gas heating batteries in a country house or in a private house, you will have to provide a separate metal cabinet for the cylinder, located outside the building.
Heat exchanger features
A feature of the main component of a convector (heat exchanger) is the type of material from which it is made. The question of its choice is considered simultaneously with the design of the combustion chamber, since both of these elements are parts of the same unit. Both are made of heat-resistant steel or cast iron.
Products of the first type are much lighter and cheaper, but they have one drawback. The relatively thin walls of the steel chambers burn out over time (at least the probability of this is high). In contrast, models with cast iron heat exchangers have long service lives.
Exhaust
The removal of combustion products of gas fuel is organized naturally (due to pressure drops at different points) or by compulsory method. In the second case, a fan of sufficient power is installed in the channel of their output. The advantages of samples with a natural outlet include their low cost and simplicity of design. Models with forced smoke exhaust have a more complex electrical circuit and for this reason they are much more expensive.
Scope of application
Gas-fired air heating is an optimal solution that allows you to heat the interior spaces of a private house at low cost. In terms of efficiency, it is comparable to stove and water autonomous heating, but it costs much less. In addition to residential buildings, gas convectors are used in greenhouses, poultry farms and livestock complexes. Most often they are in demand in those conditions where it is not possible to install a boiler with a system of water radiators. This situation is typical for the following places:
- basement inhabited premises;
- underground garages;
- basement floors of buildings.
The mobile version of the convector on liquefied gas is used when it is necessary to heat small-sized objects such as country houses, retail outlets and private garages.
Overview of convectors from various manufacturers
An overview of the best models of convectors that are safe from an operational point of view will help you choose the right type of gas equipment. One of its best representatives is ATON Vektor 3, which is a non-volatile floor-standing device. Due to its compactness and mobility, this sample is ideal for heating small spaces. With its help, it is possible to automatically maintain the desired temperature in the range from 13 to 18 ° C. The closed combustion chamber and heat exchanger of this product are made of steel. The power of the convector weighing 22 kg is 3 kW.
Gas heater from the manufacturer Hosseven HBS is represented by a floor-standing convector equipped with an open combustion chamber. The unit is capable of operating on mains and on liquefied gas. The scope of delivery of the equipment includes a telescopic gas outlet. Convector heat exchanger and combustion chamber are made of steel. The thermal power of the unit is 9 kW, and the average gas consumption is 0.73-0.9 m³ / hour.
The Hosseven HP convector is a gas heater with a modern and stylish design, powered by natural gas. If desired, the mobile unit can be connected to a liquefied fuel cylinder. The device is equipped with a closed-type combustion chamber made of steel. The thermal power of this product is 6.9 kW, and the average gas consumption is 0.7-84 m³ / hour.
