Boilers for domestic heating: condensing boiler, condensing boiler forced draft premix boiler, solar boiler
The BOILER is the traditional center of the heating system: for this reason, to save money and get the most out before you buy you have to understand your needs and what you want from a boiler.
The choice of the type of boiler must be made from some considerations and some data: size, structure and location of the house first, and then, composition and habits of the household.
It is obvious, that the heating needs of a family of 4 people in an apartment of 120 sqm are different than a couple living in an apartment of 60 square meters, which maybe to work outside the home spends most of his day.
The boiler can only be intended to heat homes or even WATER HEATING sanitary (instantly or accumulation).
In the latter case, it is possible to obtain the instantaneous production of hot water (when you open the tap, the boiler switches on and begins to heat the water) or the production of accumulation (water is heated in a tank, the whose capacity varies on average from 60 to 100 liters).
We see the main types of boiler, highlighting in each positive aspects and advantages for the consumer.
CONDENSING BOILER
They are currently the boilers that use the most advanced technology: allow recovering part of the heat contained in the exhaust gas in the form of water vapor, allowing for a better exploitation of the fuel. In this way, you will have higher returns and lower fuel consumption.
In fact, while in traditional boilers, waste gases of combustion are expelled at a temperature of about 110 ° C, in the condensing boiler, before being expelled, the gases pass through a heat exchanger, within which the water vapor condenses, yielding part of the latent heat of condensation water of the primary circuit.
The exhaust gases then pour out at a temperature of 40 ° C and heat is recovered that would otherwise have been lost.
A parity of energy supplied, the condensing boiler consumes less fuel than a traditional type. Thus, the share of recoverable energy is of the order of 16-17%.
Condensing boilers express the maximum performance when used with systems that operate at low temperature (30-50 ° C), such as with underfloor heating systems, floor heating or baseboard.
A CONDENSING BOILER FLUE (or Type C)
They have many advantages:
- Safety. Boilers are sealed that draw air from the outside and downloading the fumes out through holes in the walls. This means that the exhaust gases do not come into contact with the inside environment.
- Efficiency. Ensure better efficiency as much as 30% compared to those with a forced draft burner, weather or LPG.
- Cost. With this type of boiler you can save up to 20% on the hot water at 80 ° C and up to 30% on the hot water at 60 ° C. If it is installed in a room inside the house, you avoid bringing it into contact with the cold air. The air taken from the outside has no way to preheat the pipes, allowing you to save energy.
BOILER PREMIXING
Combustion takes place in the burner with a perfect balance between methane and air, and with an efficiency above 90%, even in cold periods.
Compared to traditional boilers, fuel consumption is reduced by 10% even with a lowering of emissions.
BOILER SOLAR
It is the optimal solution for heating and domestic hot water by cutting the costs of fuel and eliminating emissions of CO ₂. In fact, it uses the heat from solar thermal and is integrated with natural gas, oil or LPG.
The cost of investment is equal to that of a condensing boiler and you can use incentives and tax deductions.
Of course, one must take into account the cost of the work on the adaptation of existing plants, the hydraulic connection to the distribution network, the placement of solar panels on the roof (if they are positioned on the ground, we must establish a system of pumping).
If the house is already an instantaneous gas boiler with electronic control for the production of domestic hot water, it is possible to connect the existing solar thermal plant: in this way we will provide pre-heated water. This solution allows to save on your gas bill and you have no hot water consumption limits, using to the maximum capacity of the solar panel.
The advice:
- Pay attention to the CE marking: all boilers will be equipped according to the directives of the European Community.
- For the installation you should contact a qualified, registered with the Chamber of Commerce and Artisans Association: The installer has the task of releasing the "declaration of conformity", to verify the correct chimney draft and to control the operation of the entire system, according to the essential requirements of the European Directive 90/396.
- Observe finally periodic maintenance (once a year) to check and verify the correct efficiency of the combustion efficiency (every two years) to ensure the environmental sustainability of the system.
15/11/2012
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Translated via software
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Source:
Italian version of ReteIngegneri.it