Gas heating equipment is difficult to surprise today. Boilers are installed everywhere in houses and apartments. Therefore, one of the main selection criteria is the economy of the device. Gas condensing boiler is one of the new developments of manufacturers. For the Russian market this is a new solution. Before deciding to purchase, you need to weigh all the pros and cons of the equipment.
The device and principle of operation of the condensing boiler
For the first time such equipment was released in Holland. Today, residents of the United States and Canada are subject to preferential taxes when installing gas condensate boilers. And in Europe, aggregates are used in 70% of cases.
What is a condensation type appliance? The principle of operation is similar to a conventional convection apparatus. Gas is used as fuel. The equipment is connected to the main or cylinder of liquefied gas. During combustion, carbon dioxide and water are formed. Under normal circumstances, condensation on the surface of parts is an undesirable phenomenon. In this case, it accumulates in a special heat exchanger.
When moisture evaporates, kinetic energy is generated, which is used to heat the coolant.
The coefficient of performance (COP) of a conventional product is ± 90%. It turns out that the remaining 10% of the heat simply “flies into the pipe” along with the products of combustion. The difference between the condensation device and the usual one is that these 10% are directed in a useful direction. Therefore, the efficiency is almost 100%.
How does the technique work? After the main process of fuel combustion, the condenser cools the gases to the “dew point” (50-60 degrees). So, the gas turns into water, releasing additional energy. A condensate unit transfers this energy to the coolant.
This is the principle of the new technology. Now consider the structure.
The design does not differ from a conventional heating heater, with the exception of the additional heat exchanger contained in it.
Initially, the primary radiator heats up. As a result, combustion products are produced, which enter the condenser, where they are processed. Condensate is collected in a separate tank, after which it goes into the drain through a pipe.
Interesting! Imagine condensation as pure dew drops? Alas, this is not so. It accumulates from the exhaust gases, therefore it contains undiluted acids, which become aggressive at high temperature.
That is why all the components and components of the structure are made of stainless steel, silumin. These are acid resistant materials. Radiators make cast, without vulnerable seams. The same goes for the chimney. Its pipes are made of plastic or steel. All condensate that has not accumulated in the heat exchanger settles on the exhaust pipes.
Varieties of boilers
According to mounting options, they distinguish:
- Floor tank. Large and powerful units that require a separate room. For installation, the floor must be strengthened, the foundation poured.
- Wall. Due to its compactness it is used both in houses and apartments.
- Universal. Suitable for wall and floor installation.
Boilers for a private house are:
- Single-circuit. Designed only for providing hot water (DHW).
- Bypass. Works on hot water and heating.
- Multi-circuit. In addition to the above functions, it can be connected to a floor heating system.
According to the control system:
- Mechanical Simple and reliable unit. The panel has power controls. The temperature is regulated by a gas valve.
- Electronic. Boilers have advanced functionality, additional modes and the ability to save settings. They can be controlled remotely, some models are even controlled remotely. Sensitive to power surges.
Types of energy from which heating units can work:
- Gas. You can use the main or liquefied fuel. Such a product is more popular due to the cheapness of gas. Requires installation permission.
- Combined. The main type is solid fuel. In the summer, when the heating is turned off, you can switch to gas.
So, you have learned about the structure and principle of operation of heating equipment. Which is better to choose: convection or condensation boiler? What are the advantages of the latter?
Benefits
Let's start with the pros.
Economical gas consumption. When compared with convection equipment, you can save up to 35% energy. It all depends on the power of the equipment, as well as the area of the heated room. For example, a condenser device will consume 2.85 kW / h for heating 250 m². With the same area, the convection device consumes 3.25 kW / h.
Environmental friendliness. Thanks to the reuse of combustion products, the capacity of harmful impurities is reduced. In addition, the temperature of the gases decreases. On the one hand, a convection heater throws waste through the pipe that contains sulfuric, nitric, phosphoric acid. On the other hand, acids that fall into the condensate still drain down the drain. So the environmental issue is controversial.
Long service life. The heat exchanger and other parts are made of materials resistant to aggressive environments. Therefore, they serve longer than usual.
Cheap chimney making. A fan is used to remove smoke, so the height of the pipe should not be the same as in atmospheric devices.
Disadvantages
Cost. A condensing device can cost 30–80% more than conventional equipment. But the equipment is not bought for one year, so it’s realistic to rely on the return on investment.
Boilers are divided into three segments:
- Premium class. Include devices of famous brands. Quality meets environmental standards, using the best materials. They have a large selection of functions and modes, which facilitates operation. Electronic control, remote.
- Middle class. The equipment belongs to the middle price category, the functionality is moderate. Automatic control, electronic sensors control the work.
- Economy class. Korean and Slovak manufacturers are leading. Often these are products with mechanical or semi-mechanical adjustment, a standard set of functions. A huge advantage of the economy segment in adapting to our latitudes: pressure drops in highways, power surges.
The high price is characteristic not only for the devices as a whole, but also for their heat exchanger. If this unit breaks down, it will be difficult for you, because its cost is equivalent to buying a new unit. In the manufacture, silumin and steel are used, and seamless technology is also used. Therefore, clean the part in time, carry out preventive maintenance.
Expediency of installation.
An important point: the boiler is effective only in low-temperature heating systems, where the supply temperature is 50–55 degrees, and the return temperature is 30–35 degrees.
Such equipment is suitable for homes with a system of underfloor heating. In another case, you will have to install additional radiators or redraw the entire system. And this nullifies the savings when buying a device. The fact is that only in such conditions can condensate be produced. If you have a high-temperature circuit, you should consider purchasing a convection unit.
Condensate drain problems. The complexity in the amount of acid that the condensate contains. If you live in an apartment, then the moisture released by the equipment up to 28 kW will be diluted with drains and will go into the sewers (with such a capacity - about 70 liters per day). And residents of private homes will have to think.
If you drain drains into the soil, salinization will occur and the terrain will not be fertile. Take it out every day? Pretty problematic. The solution is to install an acid neutralization system.
In the West, the purchase of a catalytic converter is required when using a capacitor unit. Which means a general increase in expense.
The best models
We selected the most popular models of condensing devices, having studied user reviews.
Baxi Duo-Tec Compact 24
The fourth generation technology from the Compact series. These are compact attachments with dimensions of 700x400x299 mm. Bypass equipment with a capacity of 24 kW. The coefficient of performance is 97.7%.
The product is designed for heating of 240 m² of area. The work is based on main gas, which is appropriate for apartments, if you wish, you can switch to liquefied fuel. Suitable for residents of cottages and private homes with autonomous heating.
A closed combustion chamber and a turbocharged burner require a network connection. The exhaust gas is forced by the fan. In the presence of electronic control, LCD display for tracking indicators. Therefore, it is recommended to connect a stabilizer.
Features:
- GAC - the combustion process is automatically controlled.
- Possibility of modulation of a flame 1: 7.
- Stable operation at a pressure of 5 mbar.
- The steel burner automatically mixes gas and air in the right concentration.
- The pump is equipped with an integrated air outlet.
- Automation responds to weather changes by adjusting settings.
Operating temperatures 25–80 ° С. Maximum performance 13.8 liters.
The price is from 50 000 rubles.
Buderus Logamax Plus GB172i-35i
First of all, Logamax Plus GB172i-35i stands out for its unusual design. This is a non-standard metal structure, a glass facade and a huge touch screen. Black color emphasizes the strict lines of the model. Indeed, not everyone can pay for the purchase of a boiler.
Buderus Logamax has not only a stylish appearance, but also a high power of 30 kW. Therefore, it serves premises of up to 300 m². The internal filling is improved: the WB5 type heat exchanger received a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty. The control system is amazing: it connects to the Internet, scans weather data and adjusts its work for efficient heating.
Features:
- Aluminum alloy radiator.
- Convenient one-handed operation. Large and clear screen.
- A 12 liter expansion tank is part of the design.
- Remote control. Connection to a tablet, computer, smartphone.
- The facade made of titanium glass is not afraid of damage.
- 1: 8 modulation burner.
Dimensions 840x440x350 mm. The cost of 70,000 rubles.
Vaillant ecoVIT VKK INT 476/4
The floor boiler is equipped with a multi-sensor system, for which the company received an award in the gas industry. The load is 47 kW. The flame in the burner is modulated from 20% to 100%. A DHW cylinder can be connected to the main circuit. Efficiency reaches 109% taking into account the energy of the condensate.
The radiator is made of stainless steel, the burner automatically mixes air with gas. To maintain combustion, air is drawn in outdoors or indoors. It works even with a pressure of 3 bar in the line.
The anti-freezing mode, the combustion sensor is on. Electronic ignition. Case size 1257x570x691 mm.
The price is from 130 000 rubles.
Among users, brands of condenser units Viessmann, Wolf, Bosch, Daewoo are also popular. Here are the reviews they write:
Alexander
When I decided to buy a boiler, I was looking for an economical and modern model. I drew attention to the condensation heating system. However, the efficiency indicators of 100–110% were not credible. Later I figured out that the calculation of the efficiency takes into account energy when generating condensate. I stopped one more thing from buying - the need to drain water with acids. But after talking with the seller, I realized that not everything is so scary. I’ve been using the device for two years now, I’m absolutely happy with the purchase.
Victoria
Having studied the information on the sites and forums about condenser boilers, I could not make a decision. Confused by the fact that the moisture that is produced from gases contains acids. Some sites "intimidated" corroding plastic pipes, others, on the contrary, wrote that there was nothing to worry about. Exhausted by speculation, I turned to the manufacturer. It turned out that the acid content is very small - pH 3-5. Diluting with stock water, the solution does no harm.
Moreover, condensate also accumulates in conventional appliances, which leads to corrosion. In a private house you can organize a separate stock. So everything is solved.
Customer reviews prove that the advantages and disadvantages of technology are very relative. If you want to buy such equipment in order to save, then consider the facts. In Russia, the cost of gas is lower than the world. Given the installation (plus the arrangement of the drain, neutralizers), the savings on the capacitor device will be 15–20%. Therefore, the acquisition will pay off in 10–20 years. The product is very popular in the West, because the fuel there is much more expensive. As a result, the difference between convection and condensation equipment pays off in just a couple of years.
We recommend that you consult with a qualified professional before purchasing. Make cost calculations specifically for your home. Then you will understand whether the game is worth the candle.