A gas condensing boiler is a hot water gas appliance designed to provide a home with heating and hot water supply. The equipment is environmentally friendly, economical, reliable and safe when installed and operated correctly.
Equipment characteristics
The main parts of the condensing boiler:
- Collector of condensable liquid, which enters the structure after cooling the exhaust air.
- Heat exchanger. It is made of stainless steel or aluminum alloys with the addition of silicon, which are resistant to acids.
- Closed-type gas burner with a combustion chamber. The device allows you to automatically adjust the volume of supplied gas and air.
- Control and monitoring system.
The efficiency of this equipment is 100%, which is an order of magnitude higher than that of generators operating on solid and liquid fuels.
Principle of operation
The condensing boiler is an improved version of conventional convection similar gas equipment. The essence of the work is quite simple:
- for operation, main or liquefied gas supplied in cylinders is used;
- in the process of fuel combustion, carbon dioxide and water appear, which leads to the receipt of a large amount of energy;
- the generated heat heats the coolant, which is most often industrial water;
- hot liquid of the required temperature circulates through the system, organizing heating.
According to the calculations of specialists, the usual convection boiler has an average efficiency of 90%, and the remaining 10% goes into the chimney and heats the air outside. To eliminate such losses, a condensing boiler was created.
The device, having completed the main stage of fuel combustion and transferring heat to the heat exchanger, sends the resulting combustion products to the condensate, where the gaseous composition cools down to 50-60 ° C - before the process of water transition from a vaporous to a liquid state occurs. This transformation is also a source of additional useful energy.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of condensing gas heating boilers include:
- the minimum amount of waste due to the complete combustion of the fuel, which increases the efficiency and has a positive effect on the environment, reducing the emission of harmful substances by 7 times;
- efficiency on average 35% + energy efficiency;
- low smoke temperature below 40 ° C, which allows you to install an inexpensive plastic chimney with pipes of the smallest section;
- compact size, light weight;
- low noise, vibration;
- ease of installation with the ability to use several boilers in one system;
- modulating burner;
- high power;
- automation.
The main advantages include the fact that the equipment quickly pays for itself. The double-circuit condensing boiler also has some disadvantages:
- the need to provide a drainage system for condensate;
- obtaining permission for installation in the relevant services;
- strict adherence to the requirements of the installation technology.
The bureaucratic side of the procedure is as simple as possible. However, before installation, it will be necessary to perfectly align the walls, floor, assemble the chimney, and keep the distance. All these are the usual chores when organizing gas heating and ensuring your own safety.
Selection rules
A condensing boiler is an economical heating with 100% efficiency that will last for decades. To make the right choice, you need to consider the following factors when buying a device:
- Power. To select the correct indicators, it is important to pre-make certain calculations, taking into account the height of the ceilings, the area of the building, the quality of insulation, the peculiarities of the climatic zone. More often than not, equipment that is too powerful is not necessary, as this will increase costs and increase the rate of wear of the mechanism.
- The number of contours. Experts recommend purchasing double-circuit structures for small houses with good thermal insulation. For more severe weather conditions, it is advisable to opt for a single-circuit boiler.
- Fuel consumption. This indicator directly depends on the power of the device, the expected load and the efficiency of heating.
- Heat exchanger material. This criterion affects the speed of the system's response to external factors. Aluminum alloy with silicon (silumin) withstands corrosive environments well. Such a heat exchanger is almost always cast to reduce the development of corrosion. Stainless steel has enhanced anti-corrosion properties, low cost, resistance to thermal shock.
- Temperature modes of operation.
- Automation and a variety of functionality. Modern boilers are controlled by sensors, electronics that control fuel consumption, temperature, pressure. All this can be expanded with additional options.
- Installation methods: floor or wall.
- Price: premium, middle, economy class.
It is also important to pay attention to the size of the equipment, color and design.
Single-circuit and double-circuit
Gas condensing boilers are available in single and double-circuit. In the first case, the mechanism has one flow path of the coolant and is intended only for heating. The second option is provided with two liquid circulation circuits, which allows heating the room and organizing hot water supply.
Advantages of single-circuit boilers:
- Large functionality that allows you to customize the operating modes of the device and gas consumption.
- Automatic security system.
- Basic option for creating a variety of heating systems with a large number of wiring.
- Control sensors, regulation of heating depending on temperature changes on the streets and in the house.
- Clear, easy operation.
- Long service life.
Single-circuit equipment is affordable.
Advantages of a double-circuit boiler:
- Multifunctionality: the mechanism simultaneously performs the option of a heater and a boiler.
- The amount of heated water meets the needs of the user, there is no shortage and surplus, since the liquid is constantly heated in the process of entering the tap.
- The compact size of the model allows you to install equipment in small spaces.
When choosing a single-circuit design, it should be borne in mind that if you need hot water supply, you will need to purchase additional equipment, which can hit the budget and will require additional space. The double-circuit boiler also has disadvantages. It is important to constantly maintain a balance between heating and water flow, otherwise it will lead to unstable temperature readings and an unsatisfactory water supply with poor pressure.
In order not to incur fixed costs, you need to seriously consider the calculation of power. If you do not need large volumes of efficiency, you can buy a device that is simpler and cheaper. The main thing is for the boiler to cope with the tasks assigned to it.
Before buying equipment, it is necessary to agree with the relevant authorities on the installation process and make sure that such heating is allowed for the selected type of building and there are no prohibiting factors.
