Types and characteristics of propane heating systems

Currently, gas heating remains one of the best. However, it is not always possible to connect to a natural gas pipeline. Alternatively, a propane gas boiler is used to heat the house. Due to the specifics of the energy carrier and the methods of its conservation, the design and installation of such a scheme has a number of features.

Propane Heating Characteristics

First of all, it is worth noting that a propane heating boiler is practically no different from a standard one. It has the same equipment: burner, flame control system, chimney. The only difference is in the nozzles. They have a smaller diameter, since the combustion of propane releases more energy than the main gas.

The next feature of such heating is the way of storing gas. It can be in cylinders with a capacity of up to 50 liters or in special containers - a gas holder. For the correct organization of heating a house with propane, the following factors must be taken into account:

• Choice of gas storage method taking into account the current rules and regulations;
• Installation of a line from cylinders or a gas holder to the boiler;
• Creation of a gas replenishment scheme.

The main advantage of heating a private house with propane is access to a cheap energy source. This technique is much more economical and efficient than installing a solid fuel boiler, or even more electric heating. The main disadvantage is the need for independent replenishment of gas reserves. This can be done by filling cylinders or filling a gas holder.

Choice of autonomous gasification

First, you need to decide on the method of gas storage. Since each of them has a certain specificity, one should analyze their positive and negative aspects of their application.

Cylinder gas for heating

Gasification of a house and garage using bottled propane is acceptable for a small heating area. To organize such a scheme, you should familiarize yourself with the rules set out in SNiP 2.04.08-87. According to them, propane heating in cylinders can only be carried out observing the following conditions.

Storage location for gas cylinders

If the number of cylinders does not exceed 4, then a special iron cabinet can be used as their permanent location. With a larger number, you should equip a separate room.

A propane heating boiler must not be installed in the storage area of ​​cylinders. This is prohibited by safety rules and regulations.

Since propane is an explosive substance, the following requirements must be observed:

• The building must be detached from the residential building or adjacent to it. The exit should also be separate, and in the case of a common wall with the house, an additional one can be made;
• It is forbidden to store flammable materials and substances in the room - gasoline, diesel fuel, engine oil, and so on. Those. heating the garage with propane and the presence of cylinders in it is prohibited;
• Providing natural air circulation at the rate of 160 m3 / hour. Also, the room should have at least one window that gives normal lighting in natural light;
• The volume of the storage room must exceed that of all cylinders by at least 8 times;
• External and internal walls are made of non-combustible materials.

By fulfilling these conditions, the propane heating system will function not only efficiently, but also safely.

Cylinder gas flow control device

These include a gas reducer installed on a cylinder or on a line that connects several containers. The pressure gauge allows you to monitor the level of gas consumption and prepare for a timely replacement. It is best to mount the device with two pressure gauges. One of them shows the pressure in the cylinder, and the second - in the line. Thus, it is possible to regulate the volume of gas in the pipeline and provide the required pressure for the propane heating boiler.

Also, shut-off valves are mounted on each cylinder. If you connect all the tanks into one common network, then with the help of valves, full cylinders are connected in turn as the gas is consumed.

To determine the relevance of using the balloon storage method, it is recommended to use the data from the table showing the ratio of the area of ​​the house to the average consumption of propane in 50 liter cylinders.

Gas tank for propane heating

It is a sealed container of large volume with a system for receiving and transmitting propane. The gas tank can be installed on the surface or underground. In the latter case, only the service hatch cover will be visible. This design will provide a large amount of gas for heating not only the propane garage, but the whole house.

For its installation, the following conditions must be met:

• The minimum distance from the gas tank to the foundation of the house is 10 m;
• The external pipeline must have safety elements, while it is necessary to use special pipes for transporting gas;
• When planning heating a house with propane using a gas tank, access routes to it for a refueling car are provided;
• Do not fill the container yourself. To do this, you need to use the services of a specialized company.

The advantages of using a gas holder include a long service life of structures. It is also recommended to select a container of such a volume that the refueling is carried out once within 2-3 years. Compared to cylinder heating, which method of storing propane is more expensive - this is due to the initially high cost of equipment and the cost of its maintenance. To reduce them, two or three houses can be connected to one gas tank.

How to choose a propane boiler

What should you pay attention to when choosing a propane gas heating boiler? The technical parameters for it are in many ways similar to traditional models that run on natural gas. However, there is one significant difference - the minimum pressure indicator. It is necessary to select models that work even at 0.3 bar.

The presence of a second circuit for hot water supply can be distinguished as operational parameters. In this case, not only will the private house be heated with propane, but also water for the bathroom, kitchen, and so on will be heated. The main indicators for choosing a propane boiler are:

• Rated power... Not only the degree of heating of the coolant depends on it, but also the consumption of propane. On average, 0.5 liters of gas is consumed to obtain 1 kW of power;
• Automation and control system... With their help, the safe operation of the gas burner is carried out, as well as the ability to regulate the temperature of the water in the pipes, depending on the degree of heating of the room;
• Open or closed combustion chamber... It is recommended to purchase models with a closed chamber, since they do not require air intake from the room for their operation.

Among the manufacturers, there are two companies that produce propane gas heating boilers - Westen, Ferroli and Roda. The simplest model with a capacity of 22.2 kW will cost about 35 thousand rubles.

Practical advice on propane heating

Since the installation and maintenance of heating with propane in cylinders has a number of specific points, it is recommended to adhere to the recommendations. The main one is the constant monitoring of the presence of gas in the tanks. To do this, you must first calculate the average consumption of one cylinder for the number of days. It should be remembered that the refractive index directly depends on the temperature outside.

To optimize the system with a propane boiler, you can use a combined method - install gas convectors. They are installed in small remote premises, most often for household purposes. This will save on the installation of pipelines and energy consumption. This scheme is most often used when organizing propane heating of a garage.

In addition, you must follow these rules:

• For cylinder heating with propane, it is recommended to use containers with a maximum volume of 50 liters;
• The optimal number of cylinders at the same time is 2-3 pcs. In this case, the same amount should be in stock;
• The installation of equipment for a propane heating system should be trusted only by specialists. Even minor irregularities during installation can lead to dangerous situations.

Continuous operation of heating only on propane is economically unprofitable. It can be considered as an auxiliary system, or installed in houses with a non-permanent residence.