With the onset of cold weather, many families have to think about additional heating appliances. There are a great many of these today. Central heating sometimes simply does not cope with the functions assigned to it, and in remote areas it may not have been carried out at all. In this case, a convection battery is a good solution .
The convection principle is applied in many devices. It allows you to heat the room very quickly. Therefore, it will be interesting to know about convector batteries for almost everyone.
Convection principle
Convector radiators operate from various energy sources. But the principle of their action is one. The air heated by the convector rises, and the cold masses descend. The same process takes place in nature. In this case, cyclones and winds are formed.
Heated streams of air rush to the ceiling in the room, as they are lighter. Cold masses are determined by the floor. This movement occurs naturally. Some devices provide additional ventilation, which speeds up heat transfer processes.
But a conventional convection battery independently circulates the air masses in the room. This is a simple but reliable method that allows you to heat your home quickly and with minimal energy costs.
Convector device
Convection heating radiators are characterized by a simple design. These devices consist of two main parts - a heating element and a certain form of housing.
There are special openings for extracting cold air at the bottom of the device. Warm masses exit through the top of the convector. There are also special departments. The heating element is inside. It is installed at the bottom of the system.
The air inside the case heats up. His convector sends up. Cold jets rush down. To improve the circulation of air masses in the room, the air outlet openings are located at a slight slope. This allows the heated stream to be released further into the room.
When the air cools, it gradually sinks to the floor. So there is a cycle of air masses in the room.
Types of structures
There are several varieties of convectors. First of all, they are grouped according to the energy used. In this case, distinguish between electric, gas and water convectors. Each of them has its pros and cons. The most popular today is an electric wall-mounted heating convector. Therefore, he should pay more attention.
Electric convectors differ in the device of the heating element. They can be tubular, monolithic or needle-shaped. In the latter case, the heating element is made in the form of a thin plate on which a chrome nickel thread is installed. This material instantly heats and cools. This is one of the cheapest varieties of electric convectors. They can not be used in wet rooms.
A tubular heating element (TEN) is a steel device in which a nichrome thread is installed . It is surrounded by a special heat-conducting substance. This is a fairly durable type of device.
Monolithic heating elements work silently. Their body is characterized as solid. These devices are considered the most effective.
Features of electric convectors
An electric wall or floor heating convector is very popular today. It is easy to operate, characterized by high heating efficiency. At the same time, energy costs are minimal. This is due to a well-thought-out system of electricity consumption during the operation of the convector.
Many manufacturers equip their heaters with a control unit or programmer. The programmable control unit allows the convector to remain off when the hosts are, for example, at work. This greatly saves family budget.
In order for convection heating radiators of the presented type to work for a long time and safely, it is necessary to give preference to trusted brands when buying.
Advantages and disadvantages of electroconvector
A convection heating battery has several advantages, but it also has disadvantages. This must be considered when choosing equipment. The advantages of the presented type of devices include operational safety. The surface of the case does not heat above 60 ° C, so it is impossible to accidentally get a burn from contact with the battery.
The efficiency of the represented convectors reaches 95%, and this, in turn, speaks of cost savings for the payment of energy resources. These devices are easy to operate, their operation is usually very quiet (if the model does not have a fan).
The disadvantages include a gradual decrease in efficiency in the process of equipment operation. Because of this, energy costs will increase. An electric convector heats a room of a certain area. To heat the entire apartment, it is necessary to put such a device in each room.
But, despite the shortcomings, it is this type of heating that is very popular among the inhabitants of our country. It is used as an addition to the main heating.
Advantages and disadvantages of gas convectors
The convector type battery can also be heated with gas. The principle of operation of such equipment is similar to electrical varieties. But the heat exchanger is heated by gas. To install such equipment, you must have some knowledge.
The gas convector is connected to the highway with a hose. This heating option will be cheaper. But when using liquefied gas, energy costs will be comparable to electrical equipment.
The advantages of gas heaters include operational safety and high efficiency. Even in severe frost, this device completely copes with the functions assigned to it. The disadvantages include difficulty in installation, the need to install a coaxial pipe.
Advantages and disadvantages of water convectors
Convector radiators can use water as a coolant. This is the cheapest type of heating. It is connected to a central heating system. Convectors of this type have many advantages over conventional batteries.
Thanks to the installation of shut-off valves, this equipment is very simple to operate. The water convector heats up quickly. It is safe to operate, there will be no burns from contact with the housing.
The disadvantages include insufficient efficiency in large rooms or in rooms with high ceilings. If air flows are not evenly distributed, drafts may occur.
Manufacturers Overview
A convection battery, the price of which depends on many factors, can cost in the range from 2 to 20 thousand rubles. The simplest types of electric batteries have a minimum set of functions. Their cost is from 2 thousand rubles. But among the entire variety of models presented, experts advise choosing electric convectors with TEN or a monoblock. The devices of the Electrolux, Polaris, Ensto brands have proven themselves well.
Gas convector will cost more. Its cost is from 13 thousand rubles. The most famous manufacturers of the presented type of equipment are Karma, ATON, Gorenje. Reviews about these manufacturers are more positive.
It should also be noted that the cost of a convector depends on the principle of its installation. Floor and wall models will cost much less than built-in equipment.
Expert Advice
The convection battery is selected taking into account the room conditions. All of the presented varieties of devices have different heat transfer. But in general terms, you can calculate the required power. If the ceilings in the room are of standard height (do not exceed 2.7 m), 1 kW is required for every 10 m² of area. In the corner, basement, this figure increases.
Experts advise installing a convector under each window. If the ceilings are high, the power of the convector must be increased. If the heater will be used only in a certain room, it can be installed on the wall. To be able to move the convector between rooms, the technician must have castors and stands in the set.
Having considered what a convection battery is, what kinds of it are, you can choose the best option for a heating device. Taking into account all the advantages and disadvantages, it will be simple to purchase a durable and efficient heater.