Thermal curtains on the entrance doors are designed to protect the premises from cold air from the outside. The principle of operation of such devices is the use of a powerful fan, which is installed inside the curtain and creates a high-speed warm air flow. Such devices form an “invisible barrier”, which does not allow heated air to go outside, and cold to go inside.
How to choose?
The choice of a thermal curtain depends on its type. The efficiency of the device lies in the speed of the air flow, the width of the doorway and the height at which the fan heater is installed.
The higher the opening, the greater should be the air flow rate generated by the device. The curtain must cover the entire opening, so it is best to install the device as close to it as possible. For doorways that are wider than standard, it is more expedient to install several curtains so that they are nearby and form a single system. In industrial or residential premises with large openings, it is necessary to provide for the effect of wind on the speed of drafts that occur inside the building. All these parameters apply to large buildings that have several exits and entrances.
Benefits
The thermal curtains on the front doors have a number of advantages that you need to know about when buying.
1. Protection:
- from the penetration of fine dust, exhaust gases, soot and various insects;
- heat saving indoors;
- protection in the winter from cold air.
2. Savings:
- You can save up to 30% of electricity. When using air curtains, it is easy to equalize the temperature regime. Due to this, significant energy savings are achieved. Since warm air is a priori lighter than cold, it rises to the ceiling. A layer of cooler and heavier air is located in the floor area. Due to such temperature differences, a gradient appears in the room. The flow of air that comes from the fan heater is directed down. Thanks to this, the vertical difference between temperatures can be significantly reduced. As a result, the degrees are stabilized in the "middle" area of the room where the person is.
- Additional room heating. The heat curtain on the front door with proper installation provides additional heating, as the flow of warm air enters the middle of the building even with the door open. If it is closed, the amount of heat increases several times.
3. Comfort. Thanks to these devices, drafts can be neutralized and thereby reduce the likelihood of acute respiratory viral infections. In the summer, you can condition the room and maintain a pleasant freshness, the veil will also not let in hot air and dust.
Principle of operation
All the curtains on the front doors have a fan that generates an active air flow directed towards the doorway. Due to the influence of kinetic energy, air jets create an insurmountable barrier that can easily be compared to a waterfall that impedes the flow of air, located between two rooms with different pressures and microclimate. Movement should be directed so that approximately 30% of the air is directed outward. This "discharge" is needed in order to prevent cold drafts near the floor.
Device mounting
The thermal curtain on the front door is not installed as you like, since in such a matter it is necessary to observe strict sanitary and epidemiological rules. Regulatory documentation clearly describes the power, installation height, as well as other values that are suitable for a particular room. It should be noted that for areas in which there are several entrances, you need to use more powerful units. And already in buildings in which there are vestibules, you can hang an apparatus in which power indicators are several times less than standard values. An important aspect is the adjustment of the device, in particular, the necessary point is the installation of the correct temperature and air velocity.
In order to correctly carry out the installation, it is necessary to calculate the thermal curtains in terms of power and speed, to which it is best to attract professionals even at the stage of choosing the device, and then entrust him with questions about the setup. Otherwise, the resulting savings can result in unnecessary costs and customer complaints about the malfunction of the device. If you nevertheless decided to do without the help of specialists, then in order to calculate the heat curtain by power, it is necessary to use the following rules:
1. Since the device of the thermal curtain is different in comparison with typical heaters, the quality of heating can only be calculated subjectively. The curtain acts as a door, thereby eliminating heat loss. It is necessary to pay attention to this parameter when choosing such a device.
2. In order to calculate the temperature, it is necessary to calculate the difference between the magnitude of the blown and intake air.
3. Most devices already have built-in programmed heating power.
4. Some manufacturers produce the same models, but only with different modifications in terms of power (for example, 12 and 15 kW).
Types: electric and water curtains
For those who want to get a comfortable atmosphere in the room, it is advisable to turn to heating experts who will tell you how to choose a thermal curtain. Features and types of such devices are described below.
1. Thermal veils electric - these are devices that work only from electric current. This type is the most common, as it has a lot of advantages. The main advantages include: affordability, location almost anywhere and ease of installation.
In winter, the electric thermal curtain allows you to create a comfortable and convenient atmosphere for visitors and employees. Also, such a device can be used as an additional heating device. In the summer, when the street is full of dust, various insects and exhaust fumes, this barrier prevents all this from getting inside the room.
2. Water air curtains - these are devices in which hot water acts as a coolant and are most often connected to a hot water supply system or to general heating. The main advantages of this device include its minimum operating costs, since they work almost without electricity. The disadvantages of this device are much greater than the electric thermal curtain. These include the cost (it is 3-5 times higher) and the installation, which is carried out only when installing water supply / heating systems or during repair work in the room.
Horizontal and vertical devices
Most often, thermal curtains are designed for horizontal installation on top of the opening opening. But there are such cases that it is impractical. Then you can use a vertical curtain, which is installed on the side of the opening.
Naturally, the air flow will be directed horizontally. The length of such a device must be at least ¾ the height of the protected opening. In other parameters, the devices do not differ from each other in absolutely nothing.
Control
All thermal curtains on entrance doors are equipped with power regulators and a switch. Also, some models have a switch that changes the flow rate. Curtains for standard doors are equipped with built-in control elements, and more powerful systems have remote controls in their kit. If desired, a thermostat is mounted, which will serve to turn off the system when it reaches the required temperature. This device can control both the entire curtain and its individual elements.
Performance and size
Choosing such devices, first of all, you need to pay attention to their length, namely the blow nozzle. Since with horizontal installation it should be 10 cm more than the width of the doorway. In the case of vertical installation, the nozzles should overlap ¾ of the opening height. These options will allow you to shield the entire input space.
Next, what you need to pay attention to is performance. Thanks to this parameter, you can calculate how many cubic meters the device can pump in 1 hour. Also, do not save on the power of the device or purchase devices for doors that are directly intended for industrial windows or retail premises. You need to understand that excess power is not useful, because it is not the temperature of the air, but the speed of the original flow that can protect against the ingress of street traffic.
Prices
For a comfortable stay in a commercial or industrial building, a thermal curtain is used. Prices for such devices are in a fairly wide range and depend on a huge number of factors, which include the manufacturer and capacity. Consider the factors that primarily affect the cost of devices:
- the length of the apparatus can vary from 0.6 m to 2 m;
- type of heating elements and power (of course, the better these indicators, the greater the cost of the device);
- a heat source, the cost of the entire curtain will also depend on it (in the case of using water, the device will cost more, but later it will still pay for itself, since there will be no need to use a large amount of electricity);
- methods of controlling the curtain, in case of using the remote control, the price will be higher.
Given all of the above factors, you can decide which thermal curtain is necessary for you. Prices for such devices, basically, vary from 200 to 2000 dollars and are selected individually for each. The simplest and cheapest devices have a price range from 200 to 500, the middle class from 500 to 1500 and premium from 1500 conventional units and above.
Application
Most often, devices are indispensable for offices, shops, cafes and restaurants. With a sufficiently large number of visitors, especially with regard to the winter season, such devices are necessary for employees who work in such establishments.
Recently, curtains have become widespread in private homes and apartments. This is very easy to explain, since in these buildings there is a very common drafts problem. It is not necessary to think that the devices will absorb a large amount of electricity, since for these options there are devices with a consumption of 42p3110w, and they are economical. It is best to purchase curtains with a thermostat, in which case the electricity bills will not bite, and the device will become fully automated.
Classification
Most often, thermal curtains can be classified as:
- mini-curtains - such devices are installed in small apertures, such as windows for dispensing goods, cash desks and kiosks, in general, where a small stream of warm air will be needed (the height of the aperture should be no more than 150 cm and width 80 cm);
- medium - can be installed above the entrance doors with a height of up to 2.5 (3.5) m;
- large - they are intended to protect small industrial openings, the height of which varies between 3.5-7m;
- heavy duty - they are intended for large and closed industrial entrances, the height of which can be 8-10-12 and more meters.
Thermal curtains Frico
Sweden has been releasing thermal curtains Frico for a long time, therefore this company occupies 80% of the market and is practically a standard of quality with which other manufacturers are compared. The equipment of this brand is characterized by low noise, high reliability and a fairly wide range. All industrial options are available in two forms - with water and electric heating. As heating elements, all types of Frico air curtains use heating elements.
Curtains with a length of 1500 mm have a single large-diameter turbine, which ensures uniform and powerful air flow. At the same time, they are the most expensive options, and therefore some buyers prefer other brands.