Gas heating
A gas heater is a heating system that is operated with combustible gases. Most often this is natural gas , as well as so-called liquid gases , which consist of a mixture of propane or butane . Town gas or biogas are less common .
Heater types
The heat generated during combustion is transferred to a heat transfer medium in central heating . Depending on the version, this is water or air. A circulation device transports the heat transfer medium into the rooms to be heated.
In addition, hot water can be generated.
In older buildings, individual rooms can also be equipped with gas heaters (gas heating stoves ), which release the heat generated by burning the gas directly into the room air. Today it is common, but gas-powered heating systems via heated water (heating water) as a heat carrier radiators usually entire buildings at least an entire apartment as gas heating use.
Colloquially, a distinction is made between calorific value gas heating and condensing gas heating . The calorific value describes the amount of chemical energy contained in the gas, which z. B. is implemented during combustion of the gas and subsequent cooling and condensation of the flue gases. The calorific value relates to the amount of energy used by the respective heating system. The calorific value is always lower than the calorific value. Condensing gas heating systems achieve a higher degree of efficiency by also using the heat contained in the exhaust gas, in particular the condensation heat of the water vapor, for heating purposes.
safety
Gas heaters are equipped with an ignition safety device so that an explosion does not occur when the flame is extinguished due to the escape of unburned gas . Among other things, thermocouples are used on the burner . The thermal voltage generated by heating with a pilot flame is sufficient to keep a solenoid valve of the gas supply open. If the pilot flame goes out, the solenoid valve blocks the further gas supply. This is a proven technique that is still mainly used on gas stoves. The advantage is the self-sufficient mode of operation, which is independent of an external power source. The main disadvantage is the slow interruption of the gas supply due to the comparatively large masses of the thermocouple that have to be cooled.
Manufacturer
There are the following well-known large manufacturers of gas heaters:
literature
- Hermann Recknagel, Eberhard Sprenger, Ernst-Rudolf Schramek (eds.): Pocket book for heating and air conditioning 03/04 . including hot water and refrigeration technology. Oldenbourg Industrieverlag, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-486-26534-2 , 2 heating, p. 489-1062 .
