Each of us, before the start of the heating season, thinks about the issue of installing more modern, and therefore efficient equipment. Agree, the more efficiently heat is transferred from the radiator to the room, the better.
Usually, a more powerful boiler is installed, which allows you to warm up the whole house or apartment well. But there is another way out - to install a vacuum heating radiator. This is a device that works on the principle of reducing heat loss during its passage through radiators and pipes in the room.
A little about the device
One can say that a vacuum heating radiator is not a revolutionary discovery. It has been known for a long time, another thing is that it has gained popularity only in recent years. The device is quite simple. In appearance, we have an ordinary sectional radiator, but not water is used as a coolant, but a lithium-bromide solution, which begins to boil already at +35 degrees Celsius. To reduce the pressure in the system as much as possible, it is necessary to completely remove from thereair, hence the name - vacuum. Water flows in the lower part of the radiator, which does not come into contact with the coolant. These liquids come into contact through the wall of a metal pipe. It turns out that the water warms up the coolant, and it quickly enough gives off heat to the radiator walls.
In detail about the principle of operation
Since we have already got a little familiar with the design, I would like to better understand the operation of the device. So, hot water comes out of the system, which transfers heat to the lithium bromide solution. Due to the low boiling point, it quickly evaporates, then the condensate flows down and again turns into steam. For this simple reason, intensive cooling of the lower wall of the pipe occurs. The temperature difference contributes to the fact that the heat flow increases.
From all this it follows that vacuum heating radiators have such advantages as rapid heating and high heat transfer. In addition, for a radiator of 10 sections, only 0.5 liters of solution is enough for efficient operation. To achieve the same effect, it is necessary to pour 4 liters of liquid into a cast-iron battery, and about 3.5 liters into an aluminum radiator.
Who is suitable for this method of heating
In most cases, it makes sense to think about buying radiators of this type in the country or in a large country house. This is due to the fact that in rooms with a large area it is necessary to heat a large amount of coolant to a high temperature. And vacuum heating radiators allowsignificantly reduce heating costs. Moreover, the room will warm up much faster. In addition, radiators have several sensors. When the desired temperature is reached, they will turn off themselves, and the boiler will go into standby mode. What's more interesting: absolutely any boiler will do. It doesn't matter if it runs on solid or liquid fuel. Of course, one cannot say that such batteries do not have their own nuances and shortcomings, they are. But we will talk about this a little later. Now let's deal with the choice.
How to choose a vacuum radiator?
Before buying, it makes sense to pay attention to the quality of the product. We can say that the liquid used as a coolant is poisonous. Therefore, you should not have any contact with her. In order not to be mistaken, pay attention to the build quality, connections and tightness. Of course, the last point is very significant, and it is almost impossible to determine it by eye, but when testing the system, everything will immediately fall into place. In principle, the amount of lithium bromide also plays a role. It shouldn't be too much. To check this, take the radiator in your hands and try to swing it. If you hear only a slight rustle, then everything is in order. When a transfusion of fluid is heard, this indicates its excess amount. Do not forget that vacuum heating radiators, the principle of operation of which we have already considered, must be completely sealed.
Vacuum heating radiators: consumer reviews
According to statistics, many prefer other types of heating. The reason is quite simple - the possibility of leakage from the vacuum radiator. Let it be negligible, but it is. Agree, you can’t put such a device in a children’s room anymore. It’s good if a breach in the case is found immediately, but if not? The results may not be the best. This is perhaps the main drawback, according to potential buyers.
But there are those who speak extremely positively about such radiators. Many say that this allows you to significantly save an average of 20-40% on electricity. You can believe this, because the boiling point of the coolant is quite low, and its heat transfer is at a high level. In addition, there are also responses regarding the appearance of the slightest crack in the case. You can be sure that in this case the room will quickly become cold. Depressurization will lead to the fact that there will be atmospheric pressure in the system, and this, in turn, will increase the boiling point of the coolant. In principle, these are all the advantages and disadvantages that, according to users, vacuum heating radiators have. Reviews, of course, largely depend on the manufacturer.
About EnergyEco
We can safely say that these are the most famous Russian-made vacuum heating radiators. The company manufactures instruments from carbon steel with a thickness of 1.5 mm. The approximate heat transfer of one section is 170 kW at an operating pressure of 0.6-1.3 MPa. In principle, the productwithstand a pressure of 2 MPa, and already at 5 MPa it is completely destroyed. EnergyEco products have practically no negative reviews among consumers, on the contrary, everyone talks about the high build quality.
You can't say that such pleasure will cost you cheaply. So, a six-section battery costs about 300 euros, a 12-section unit costs 550 euros. But, despite this significant drawback, an electric vacuum heating radiator is purchased not only for apartments and country houses, but also for heating industrial buildings and offices. As noted above, this popularity is due to significant savings compared to cast iron and aluminum radiators.
Install a vacuum heating radiator with our own hands
If there is no desire to pay money for assembly to specialists, then it is quite possible to do it on your own. You may not have practical experience, but it is better to gain theoretical knowledge first. There is nothing complicated here, and all work takes place in several simple successive stages.
First you need to dismantle the old heating system, if, of course, you have not already done so. To do this, the coolant is first drained. Then apply the attachment points for vacuum radiators. Install the brackets and check them for stability and strength, and only then hang the battery. If suddenly the mount fails, the radiator may fall andget damaged. At the next stage, ball valves are sealed. To do this, you can use ordinary sealant. It is necessary to connect the main pipeline to the taps and re-pressurize the system. Please note that abrasive should not be used when cleaning joints. This is due to the fact that metal particles in the system pose a danger to the pump and seals. At the last stage, the coolant is poured into the system.
About the advantages and disadvantages of vacuum radiators
Most of the advantages of such devices have already been described. For example, a vacuum radiator can work both on wood, and on coal or gas. Electric power sources are no exception, as well as innovative solutions such as solar panels, etc. At the same time, the amount of water in the system is reduced to a minimum, by about 70%. It is needed only for heating the coolant. In addition, you can forget about air locks and rusting inside the radiator forever. For most manufacturers, the declared service life is about 30 years, and the efficiency of devices is 98%.
You are probably wondering why, then, vacuum heating radiators in Moscow, and, in fact, in many other cities of Russia, are not very common? It's all about their high cost. However, in Europe, this method of heating a room is very popular, and there are not too many such radiators.
Conclusion
As you can see, this is a rather interesting wayheating. However, due to the high cost and possible poor-quality assembly, many consumers still prefer radiators, where water acts as the main coolant. By the way, during installation it is recommended to glue isolon or foil to the wall, that is, a reflector. This will achieve an even better effect in terms of heat transfer. As you can see, vacuum radiators have their strengths and weaknesses. But in any case, to buy them or not, it's up to you and only you. If you are confident in their safety and you have free money, then why not?
