Heating area
A very conditional parameter that slightly characterizes the purpose based on the size of the room. And depending on the height of the ceilings, layout, building design and equipment, actual values may differ significantly. However, this item represents the maximum recommended area of the room that the boiler can effectively heat. However, it is worth considering that different buildings have different thermal insulation properties and modern buildings are much “warmer” than 30-year-old and especially 50-year-old houses. Accordingly, this item is more of a reference nature and does not allow us to fully assess the actual heated area. There is a formula by which you can derive the maximum heating area, knowing the useful power of the boiler and the climatic conditions in which it will be used; For more information on this, see "Useful Power". In our case, the heating area is calculated using the formula “boiler power multiplied by 8”, which is approximately equivalent to use in houses that are several decades old.
Heat output
It is the maximum useful power of the boiler.
The ability of the device to heat a room of a particular area directly depends on this parameter; by power, you can approximately determine the heating area, if this parameter is not indicated in the specs. The most general rule says that for a dwelling with a ceiling height of 2.5 – 3 m, at least 100 W of heat power is needed to heat 1 m2 of area. There are also more detailed calculation methods that take into account specific factors: the climatic zone, heat gain from the outside, design features of the heating system, etc.; they are described in detail in special sources. Also note that in dual-circuit boilers (see "Type"), part of the heat generated is used to heat water for the hot water supply; this must be taken into account when evaluating the output power.
It is believed that boilers with a power of more than 30 kW must be installed in separate rooms (boiler rooms).
Heating circuit max. pressure
The maximum pressure in the heating circuit of the boiler, at which it remains operational, and there is no risk of physical damage to the structure. For a heating system, the maximum pressure is usually about 3 bar, and for a domestic hot water circuit up to 10 bar. When the maximum pressure is exceeded, a safety valve is activated, and part of the water is discharged from the system until a normal pressure level is reached.
Control bus
The control bus with which the boiler is compatible.
The control bus is a communication channel through which control and controlled devices can exchange data. Support for such a channel greatly simplifies the connection of thermostats and other control automation. It is enough that such devices are compatible with the same bus as the boiler. In addition, many types of tyres allow you to create very extensive monitoring and control systems and easily integrate various devices into them, including heating boilers.
In modern heating technology, the most popular tyres are
OpenTherm,
eBus,
Bus BridgeNet and
EMS. Here are their key features:
— OpenTherm. A fairly simple standard with modest functionality: it allows only a direct connection between the control and the controlled device and is not designed to create extensive systems. On the other hand, this bus has quite advanced capabilities for controlling heaters: in particular, it allows you to control the temperature not just by turning the boiler on/off, but by changing the power of the gas burner. This mode of operation contributes to saving fuel/energy, as well as reduces wear and increases the life of the heater; and in many cases, a system of two devices (boiler and thermostat) is quite enough for effective heating control. At the same time, the OpenThe
...rm standard is simple and inexpensive to implement, which makes it extremely popular in modern boilers. For several reasons, it is mainly used in gas models.
— eBUS. A control bus that has some pretty impressive features. Allows you to combine up to 25 control and 228 controlled devices in one system, with a data transmission distance between individual components up to 1 km. At the same time, eBUS is an open standard, its implementation (at least within the framework of the main functions) is freely available to everyone. And although nowadays eBUS support can be found mainly in Protherm and Vaillant equipment. However, in boilers, this is the second most popular type of control bus, after OpenTherm. It is mainly due to slightly higher cost, while advanced eBUS capabilities are not needed as often.
— Bus BridgeNet. Hotpoint-Ariston proprietary development, used exclusively in boilers of this brand. One of the advantages is a high degree of automation: the user only needs to set the temperature parameters (and for different zones, you can choose custom
options) and, if desired, a weekly programme, the rest of the necessary calculations and adjustments will be carried out by the system. However, such features are available only in special control devices such as temperature controllers; in boilers, Bus BridgeNet support usually means only compatibility with such automation.
— EMS. A control bus used primarily in Bosch and Buderus equipment. In general, it is characterized by wide functionality, a high degree of automation and the ability to create extensive control systems. However, note that nowadays you can find both the original EMS and the modified EMS Plus, and these standards are not initially compatible with each other (although support for both of them may well be provided in some devices). So the specific version of the EMS bus should be specified separately. We note that in Bosch devices there is mainly an original version, and in Buderus devices — EMS Plus (although exceptions are possible there and there).Inlet gas pressure
It is the optimum gas pressure supplied to the inlet of the boiler system. Most often indicated for natural gas and is about 15-20 mbar. This parameter must match the specs of the gas supply system. However, the pressure in the latter may be higher, which may require the installation of a special gas regulator.
Heat exchanger
The material of the primary heat exchanger, in which thermal energy from hot combustion products is transferred to the heat medium. The efficiency of the boiler, the heating rate and the service life of the unit directly depend on the material of the heat exchanger.
—
Copper. Copper is a material with the best heat dissipation specs and high corrosion resistance. It heats up quickly, which allows you to save energy during the operation of the heating boiler, has a low roughness coefficient, and has a long service life. The only drawback of this metal is its high cost. Copper heat exchangers are installed in heavy mid-range and premium grade equipment.
—
Aluminium. Aluminium as a heat exchanger material is characterized by excellent thermal conductivity and long service life. Moreover, it is cheaper than
copper. To reduce the cost of production in copper heat exchangers, they try to reduce the wall thickness. You don't need to do this with aluminium.
—
Cast iron. Boilers with a cast-iron heat exchanger heat up for a long time and cool down slowly, retaining heat for a long time after heating stops. Cast iron is also notable for its high heat capacity and low susceptibility to corrosion. The service life of a cast iron unit can be 30 or 50 years. The reverse side of the coin is the huge weight and size of hea
...ting equipment, which is why boilers with cast-iron heat exchangers are produced mainly in floor-standing boilers. In addition, cast iron does not tolerate sudden temperature changes — they can cause cracks.
— Steel. Steel heat exchangers in heating boilers are the most widely used. Steel has a combination of high ductility and strength when exposed to high temperatures, is inexpensive, and can be easily processed at production stages. However, steel heat exchangers are susceptible to corrosion. As a result, they are not as durable.
— Stainless steel. Stainless steel heat exchangers are rare in heating boilers, which is explained by the high cost of using this material. But they combine the advantages of both cast iron and steel. Stainless steel exhibits high corrosion resistance, resistance to thermal shocks, low inertia, and long service life.Mains water intake
The diameter of the pipe for connecting the pipe through which cold water is supplied to the boiler for heating and use in the hot water supply system.
Diameters are indicated in inches. It is allowed to connect a pipe of a different diameter through an adapter, but the best option is still a match in size. There are connection options
1/2",
3/4",
1" and
1 1/2".
Safety systems
—
Gas pressure drop. This protection system ensures that the boiler is switched off in the event of a critical drop in gas pressure, insufficient for the normal functioning of the burner. In the event of such a fall, the valve that supplies gas to the burner is closed and blocked. After the restoration of gas pressure, it also remains closed; it is necessary to open it and resume the gas supply manually.
—
Water overheating. A temperature sensor automatically turns off the boiler when the temperature of the water in the system is critically exceeded.
—
Flame loss. Flame loss protection is based on a sensor that monitors the combustion of gas and automatically stops its supply. It prevents the room from filling with gas and the possible tragic consequences of this.
—
Draft control. In boilers with an open combustion chamber, to maintain normal conditions in the room where such a boiler is installed, constant removal of products of combustion into the atmosphere is necessary. The lack of a normal draft in the chimney can lead to the accumulation of combustion products in the room. The draft protection system prevents this by automatically turning off the boiler when it detects the release of combustion products outside the chimney.
—
Power outage. Most modern boilers h
...ave an electronic control system; in addition, many structural elements (pumps, valves, fans, etc.) are also powered by electricity. Thus, a power outage during the operation of the boiler will inevitably lead to an abnormal mode of operation, which is fraught with breakdowns and even accidents. To prevent such cases, a power outage protection system is installed, which completely stops the operation of the boiler in the event of a power outage. When the power supply is restored, the boiler needs to be restarted manually.
— Water circulation failure. This protection system controls the normal movement of the water through the heating circuit. Water circulation failure can lead to overheating of some elements of the boiler and damage to it. To avoid this, if the circulation is disturbed, the system turns off the pump and shuts off the gas supply to the burner.
— Frost protection. A system that controls the temperature in the heating circuit. Freezing of the liquid in the circuit disrupts the normal operation of the heating, which may require heating of the pipes and lead to system damage. To avoid this, when the water temperature drops below 5 °C, the burner is ignited, the circulation pump is activated, and the circuit warms up to a temperature of about 35 °C — thus preventing the formation of ice in the pipes.
