Water heating is a process of heat transfer using a source of energy to heat water above its initial temperature. Typical domestic hot water uses include cooking, cleaning, bathing and space heating. In industry, hot water and steam-heated water have many uses.
Traditionally, water is heated in vessels known as water heaters, boilers, boilers, pots or coppers. These metal vessels that heat a lot of water do not produce a continuous supply of heated water at a preset temperature. Hot water rarely occurs naturally, usually from natural hot springs. The temperature varies with the rate of consumption, becoming cooler as the flow increases.
Any water heaters, warmed water heaters, hot water tanks, boilers, heat exchangers, geysers (southern Africa only) or calorifiers supply equipment that supplies hot water continuously. These names depend on the area and are used domestically or industrially for heating potable or non-potable water and their source of energy. Domestic hot drinking water is also called domestic heat water for other applications than room heating (DHW).
Types Of Water Heating Appliances
Manufacturers produce models designed to supply hot water (DHW). They differ in their design and type of energy consumption. All bathroom appliances are divided into a number of groups:
- Storage Water Heater
- Tankless Water Heater
- Electrical. The heating element is connected to the AC power supply.
- Gas. The water is heated with a gas burner.
- Indirect heating. The water is heated by the heating system.
The owner of the house or apartment decides, of course, which water heater is best suited to the bathroom. This takes into account the most accessible type of energy carrier.
Storage water heater
There is a capacity for this type of water heater in their model. Depending on the number of people using the supply of hot water, the amount is chosen. The presence of pressure in the water supply system is given by the use of storage water heaters It is necessary to displace the contents from the tank.
The temperature is sustained continuously by the thermostat within the specified limits. It reads data from the temperature sensor and turns the heater on or off when the indicators change. Manufacturers complete the devices with a safety valve for security reasons. Excess pressure that occurs during heating and expansion of the material needs to be relieved.
The advantage:
- The flow of liquid to several points of the intake simultaneously (bathroom, kitchen, etc.). The tank is connected to the DHW system.
- High fluid temperature. The indicator reaches 80 ° C, it is adjusted separately for each case.
- Possibility of installation at a great distance from the bathroom.
The disadvantages of storage-type devices include a long heating time. It will take 60-180 minutes to heat up until the entire amount of water is consumed
Tankless Water Heater
There is a selection of flow-through products on the market Their design provides for heating the liquid directly at the point of intake. Water flows through thin channels. In this case, a powerful electric water heater heats up the flow. There are also gas instantaneous water heaters .
When choosing a boiler, pay attention to the technical characteristics of the cold water supply system. Manufacturers produce pressure and non-pressure models.
Heating in such water heaters is carried out using electricity or gas.
The advantages are:
- High heating rate. Hot water in the bathroom does not run out.
- Small size. The dimensions of the devices allow them to be mounted in the smallest possible space.
- Ease of installation. The device is placed directly in the bathroom or near the water intake point.
Electric water heater
There is an electric heating element in an electric shower head that heats water as it goes by. These self-heating bathrooms with showers are specialist water heaters for point of use (POU) and are popular in a number of countries.
In the maximum heating environment, the power usage of electric showers is around 5.5 kW for 120 V and 7.5 kW for 220 V. The lower costs for electric showers are due to the time of use compared to the higher costs for boilers: an electric shower requires energy only as the water flows, while a boiler works several times a day to keep a quantity of standing water hot for use during the day.
In addition, in an electric shower head, the conversion of electric energy to the water is very efficient, reaching 100 percent. Compared to electric tank heaters, which lose some standby heat, electric showers can save energy.
The disadvantages of flow-through electric models include the low water temperature and the need for powerful wiring. When passing through the channels, the water does not have time to heat up to a high temperature.
A flow-through boiler is a high power device. In order not to reduce the resource of the wiring in the house or apartment, the device is connected with a separate wire to the shield.
To avoid electric shock, flow and storage models are grounded.
The negative consequences of using electric boilers are increased electricity bills. The advantage of this model is the possibility of installation in high-rise buildings, where the operation of gas equipment is prohibited.
Gas water heater
Manufacturers produce devices that use gas as an energy carrier.
Depending on the model, the devices run on liquid fuel or use low pressure gas. Such bathroom water heaters can be divided into 3 groups:
- Accumulative type. They have a container for storing and heating liquid.
- Flowing. Heating is carried out by a burner.
- Combined. Warm water in the bathroom comes from the tap constantly, in order to reach a high temperature, the user needs to wait a certain period of time until the contents are heated.
The advantages of a gas water heater include the heating rate. When determining the power of the product, there is no need to take into account the technical characteristics of the household network. Products of different capacities can be installed in the bathroom.
Disadvantages of gas equipment:
- Complexity of installation. For installation, you must use the services of specialists.
- The need to remove combustion products. To do this, equip a chimney. In some cases, its manufacture is associated with difficulties.
Solar Water Heater
Solar powered water heaters are being used increasingly. Outside homes, usually on the roof or walls or nearby, their solar collectors are mounted, and the potable hot water storage tank is typically a pre-existing or new traditional water heater, or a water heater specifically designed for solar thermal. 90 percent of homes in Cyprus and Israel have solar water heating systems
The most simple solar thermal models are the form of direct-gain, in which the drinking water is sent directly into the collector. Integrated collector storage (ICS) is said to be used by many such systems, as direct-gain systems usually have storage integrated inside the collector.
Summary
For each case, the person himself selects the type of water heating appliances separately. Models of different types have pros and cons. This is taken into account before purchasing the product. Which boiler do you use to provide hot water supply? What criteria did you consider when choosing? Share in the comments.
