Heating boiler combined firewood electricity rating. Combined boilers for wood and electricity: the best solution for heating a country house. How to choose an electric wood boiler

Among multi-fuel equipment, boilers for heating a private house on wood and electricity are especially popular due to their simple and reliable design. The transition between firewood and electricity is carried out automatically.

How does a wood-fired boiler work with a heating element

Heating combined wood-electricity boilers, in their work use the possibility of using a backup heat source. It happens like this:

Almost all heating boilers for a private house on wood and electricity work in the manner described above. There are differences related to the design and the combustion principle used.

Boilers with built-in heating element

Combined heating boilers wood-electricity, with a built-in heating element, are offered in various modifications. Manufacturers offer models that differ in performance, both the units themselves and the electric heating element. The heating element is necessary to maintain the temperature of the coolant sufficient to prevent the building from cooling down.

It is impossible to use the heater as a full-fledged electric boiler, due to its insufficient power. In most boilers, a heating element is installed, with a capacity of up to 6 kW.

The consumer is offered models with a cast-iron and steel heat exchanger. Holes for the heating element are cut out by laser welding or, in the case of cast-iron analogues, are provided during the casting of the heat exchanger.

Floor combined heating boilers wood-electricity, factory assembled, have the following advantages:

1. Possibility to choose any type of heat exchanger.
2. Full automation of the combustion process, turning on / off the heating element.
3. Compliance with safety requirements.
4. Convenient adjustment of the operation of the heating element and the selection of a suitable mode.
5. The anti-freeze mode is provided.

Hybrid electric wood-burning boiler, factory assembled, ideal for heating a private house. The consumer is offered a wide range of products of all sizes in terms of power, allowing you to choose a heating unit, taking into account the individual characteristics of the dwelling.

Modifiable boilers

Almost any solid fuel boiler can be converted to install an electric heating element. The work is carried out as follows:

• Steel boiler - heating element and thermostat, inserted directly into the heat exchanger. Installation requires welding. After installation, the holes are hermetically sealed.
• Cast iron boiler - the design of the heat exchanger is somewhat different. In the body there is a water jacket surrounding the combustion chamber. Independent production of holes for the installation of a thermostat and a heating element will lead to an increase in the load on the cast-iron heat exchanger. During the work, microcracks appear, which eventually leads to the failure of the boiler. For this reason, it is not recommended to remake a cast-iron boiler for the installation of an electric heating element.

Some manufacturers, even at the stage of manufacturing the heat exchanger, provide a place for installing an electric heating element in a wood-burning boiler. In the future, you can choose a heating element of the required power. Modification is carried out quickly and does not require large material costs.

How to choose a heating boiler on electricity and wood

There are several types of boilers for wood and electricity, differing in the principle of operation and design. When choosing, pay attention to the following characteristics:

• The principle of operation - the most profitable and economical, are pyrolysis boilers that operate 6-12 hours from one tab. During operation, heat is extracted in two ways: during the combustion of firewood and the afterburning of gases.
  A gas-fired boiler is more expensive than a classic model, but the costs are paid off by reducing the consumption of firewood, better efficiency and heat output.
• The number of circuits - single-circuit units are characterized by high performance, they are able to heat large areas. The design provides for connection only to the heating system. Water heating becomes possible only after modification (indirect heating).
  Double-circuit combined boilers, simultaneously work to heat the coolant of the heating system and hot water.
• Heat exchanger - There are two types of wood-fired boilers. Cast iron units are heavy, inconvenient during installation, but at the same time, they are distinguished by a long service life and high heat transfer.
  Steel boilers are cheaper, sensitive to excessive overheating of the coolant, cool down quickly after the firewood has burned down. Most manufacturers focus on the manufacture of steel boilers, since production is cheaper, and they are in constant demand from consumers.

When choosing a mixed-type boiler, from electricity and firewood, it is important to calculate the required power, select equipment by manufacturer and cost.

How to calculate the power of an electric wood boiler

Domestic bi-fuel mixed wood-electricity heating boilers are offered to the consumer in different power sizes. Productivity varies from 8 to 40 kW. (in industrial analogues up to 400 kW).

Accurate calculations, taking into account the characteristics of a residential building, are carried out only after an audit of heat losses. The approximate power of a combined wood and electricity boiler is calculated using an online calculator or a special formula.

Calculations are performed as follows:

1. The total heated area of ​​the building is calculated.
2. The amount of heat required for heating is calculated. Use the formula 1 kW = 10 m².
3. When calculating, for a universal double-circuit boiler, taking into account the need for heat for hot water supply, 15-20% is added to the result obtained.

Heating systems with electric wood-fired boilers are equipped with an electric heating element with a power of up to 6 kW. The performance of the heater is sufficient to prevent freezing of the coolant or full heating of 60 m² of the building.

Manufacturers of combined electric-wood boilers

In the domestic market of heating equipment, the consumer is offered boilers of European, Asian and Russian companies. The following brands are in constant demand:

• - German boilers, characterized by high build quality, long service life and high cost, 3-5 times higher than what the Russian manufacturer asks for their products. In the case of Buderus, the price is fully justified. The boiler consumes fuel economically and has sensitive automation that controls the combustion process. In an additional complete set the storage boiler is offered. Productivity up to 350-400 kW.
• - the consumer is offered steel boilers with a capacity of up to 18 kW and a built-in electric heater of 6 kW. Suitable for full-fledged heating of rooms with a total area of ​​up to 200 m². In addition to the boiler Mister Hit AOTVC, a remote control unit is offered that allows you to control the combustion process using the remote control.
• - one of the largest domestic manufacturers offering products that meet European standards of quality and reliability. Products are offered in the Master series. Zota boilers provide a place and a hole for installing a thermostat and an electric heater. The heating element and sensors are purchased separately and are not included in the basic package. One of the main advantages of the model is the ability to install a heating element for 9 kW, instead of the traditional 6 kW.
• – the company offers heating equipment with power from 8 to 30 kW. Boilers are distinguished by low cost, minimal equipment, small dimensions and "omnivorousness". You can pick up a Karakan boiler with a hob, which is especially convenient when heating a country house.
• Kupper OVK - boilers offered by Teplodar are presented in two power sizes of 10 and 18 kW. Models are equipped with a cast-iron hob, able to work on any type of solid fuel. If necessary, they are equipped with a pellet and gas burner. Kupper HVAC is the optimal solution for heating a house with a maximum area of ​​up to 200 m².
• Stoker Aqua is a brand promoted on the domestic market by Ermak. Four standard sizes are presented, in terms of performance 12, 14, 16, 18 kW. Built-in electric heater, power 1.5 - 3 kW. The automatic draft regulator is installed separately, as an option. The model has a capacious combustion chamber. The Stoker Aqua series offers boilers exclusively with a steel heat exchanger.

The main advantage of Russian heating boilers running on wood and electricity is unpretentiousness to fuel quality. In Western counterparts, heat efficiency drops sharply if the moisture content of firewood is more than 20%.

The cost of wood-electricity boilers

Prices for combined double boilers vary depending on the country of manufacture, brand awareness and technical parameters of the equipment. Moreover, even in Russian models, the difference in cost can be 10-15 thousand rubles.

Buderus offer luxury boilers, to purchase a universal boiler, even of low power, will cost about 150-250 thousand rubles. Domestic boilers are cheaper. Models similar in their characteristics are offered on the Russian market for 15-45 thousand rubles, depending on the manufacturer and configuration.

Where and how to install electricity-firewood boilers

Wood-fired hot water boilers with a switch to electricity are installed in accordance with the general rules of SNiP and PPB regarding the installation of solid fuel heating equipment. In particular, it states:

• Models with built-in heating elements do not require an installation permit, provided that the maximum power consumption rate does not exceed 3 kW. Heating element 6-9 kW, creates an additional load on the power grid. A separate voltage line is allocated for connection.
• Boilers, with a capacity of up to 40 kW, are installed anywhere in the house. A boiler over 40 kW is best placed in a separate room used exclusively for the needs of the boiler room.
• The connection of the electric wood-burning boiler is carried out through separate machines located on the control room. The electric heater is not afraid of power surges in the network, but if a remote control controller is used, voltages are set.
• As a boiler room, for heating a house on wood and electricity, a dry heated room is chosen, with a total area of ​​​​at least 8 m². Be sure to have natural lighting and ventilation.
• Universal combined boilers powered by wood and electricity are located in such a way that there is at least 50 cm to the walls lined with combustible material. Installation is carried out on a fire-resistant base. The chimney, when passing through floor slabs and roofs, is placed in a special box filled with thermal insulation material.

Dual-fuel combined solid fuel boilers for heating wood-electricity, connected to the water circuit. To replenish the coolant, it is recommended to connect a water treatment and filtration system. Additionally, a safety group is connected that automatically relieves pressure in the system.

The electricity parameters for electric heaters, with a maximum power of 9 kW, do not require the use of a three-phase power supply. The connection is made to a regular 220 V household network.

Owners of private houses who use for heating are well aware of the problem of cooling down a dwelling after a complete burnout of firewood or coal. This happens at night or in the absence of the owners, when there is no one to throw new logs into the firebox. The issue is resolved in several ways:

• use a combined wood-electricity heating boiler;
• install 2 separate heat sources - solid fuel and electric;
• do not mess with electricity and put a boiler on long-burning wood.

We propose to consider in detail the listed options in order to choose the most comfortable way of heating a country house.

The use of combined boilers

Heat generators operating on various energy carriers did not appear yesterday. Since the times of the USSR, gas - firewood has been known, in which it was necessary to remove the burner in order to switch to wood. In modern heating units, solid fuel is combined not only with gas, but also with electricity, which is more relevant for users. A homeowner who decides to buy a wood-fired heating boiler and electricity solves several issues in one fell swoop:

1. It uses two energy carriers for heating at once, alternative to natural gas.
2. Eliminates the cooling of the premises of a private house, when the contents of the firebox are completely burned out, and a new portion of coal or firewood is not loaded.
3. It increases the convenience of using water heating, since it is no longer necessary to get up in the middle of the night and run to the boiler room.

The device of the electric wood-burning boiler "Kupper" from the manufacturer "Teplodar"

Combined heat generators of the new generation are designed in such a way that the electric heating is switched on automatically when the water in the boiler tank starts to cool down. The reverse transition to wood burning without the intervention of the owner of the house is impossible.

The principle of operation of an electric wood boiler

The design of this type of heater is similar to that of a traditional solid fuel boiler, consisting of the following main elements:

• combustion chamber (firebox), where logs and coal are loaded;
• outside, it is washed by a coolant enclosed inside a water jacket;
• a fire-tube or water-tube type heat exchanger, where the combustion products give off most of the heat to the water before being released out through the chimney;
• the grate is at the bottom of the firebox, and under it is an ash chamber;
• the firebox and ash pan are equipped with doors in front;
• to change the intensity of combustion in the heat generator, a mechanical draft regulator or a fan-air blower is used (if manual control of the air damper is not provided).

Scheme of the electric-coal heat generator of the mine type "Kupper-Carbo"

Household combined heating boilers differ in the design of the water jacket, where a place is provided for the installation of a block of tubular electric heaters - heating elements. The heating part of the element is immersed in the coolant, and the contacts are brought out and connected by cable to the control panel.

The operation algorithm of a solid fuel heater equipped with electric heaters looks like this:

1. Kindling and heating of the boiler are carried out in the usual mode. While the firewood is burning, the temperature of the coolant is maintained by a mechanical thermostat or a fan together with a sensor, and the heating elements are inactive.
2. After the contents of the firebox burn out, the water in the system begins to cool, which is recorded by the temperature sensor. When the coolant has cooled to a certain point, the heating element (one or more) will turn on at the signal of the sensor. From this moment the boiler switches to electricity.
3. After loading the next portion of solid fuel, the coolant is heated from the side of the combustion chamber, and the electrical part is automatically turned off until the next cooling.

The heater control unit can maintain a certain water temperature, focusing on the readings of a water or air sensor

The transition from one mode to another allows you to provide continuous heating of water, which is what the inhabitants of a private house need for comfort.

Pros and cons of universal heat generators

By installing a combined wood-electricity boiler for heating a private house, you get the following bonuses:

1. Thanks to the built-in heating elements, water heating will continue to function after the main furnace is attenuated. This will keep the house warm, and during your absence it will not allow pipes and heating radiators to defrost.
2. Comfort. Support for heating the system with electricity will save you from night trips to the boiler room to lay logs.
3. If electricity is metered according to a multi-tariff scheme, then in addition to convenience, you will receive savings from the operation of heating elements at night.

The electric heaters of the combined boiler are designed only to maintain the temperature of the water in the system; they cannot fully replace the combustion of solid fuels. The reason is the insufficient power of the heating element block installed by manufacturers on TT boilers.

Example: in all Kupper units of the well-known Russian brand Teplodar with a power of 9 ... 20 kW, there are identical electric heaters with a heat output of 6 kW.

It looks like a block of heating elements with a power of 6 kW, used in Russian-made wood-burning heaters "Teplodar", "Prometheus" and ZOTA

This feature of combined heat generators can be safely attributed to the disadvantages. An exception is low-power heaters (the same 9 kW Cooper with 6 kW heating elements), purchased for small dwellings (up to 100 m²). In this case, heat transfer from electricity is comparable to burning firewood, so in moderately cold weather (down to about -5 ° C in the yard), heaters are able to completely heat a modest-sized house.

Another important point. Like a conventional solid fuel heater, a combined wood-electricity boiler should be connected to water heating through a three-way valve, as shown in the diagram below. A small circulation circuit serves to protect the firebox from the harmful effects of condensate during kindling.

So that condensate does not appear on the walls of the combustion chamber from the temperature difference, the TT boiler must be connected according to the standard scheme with a three-way valve

If the power of the heating elements is enough to heat the coolant to a temperature of +55 ° C and above, then condensate will never form in the combustion chamber of the combined boiler during kindling, and the unit with a three-way mixing valve becomes seemingly irrelevant. In fact, a small circulation circuit is still needed, at least in case of a power outage or a breakdown of one of the heating elements.

Heating a private house with wood and electricity from one boiler has other negative aspects:

1. The block of heaters takes away the useful volume of the firebox to the detriment of the duration of burning from one load.
2. The operation of the unit depends on the stability of the power supply.
3. The prices of combined products are higher than classic solid fuel boilers.
4. The efficiency during the operation of electric heaters is reduced by 2-5% due to the air flow passing through the cooled furnace. The reason is the constant draft in the chimney, which forces the air from the premises to go through the fuel path into the chimney and cool the water jacket of the heater.

In order to fully replace natural gas with electricity and firewood, it is better to look at another option for heating the building - put 2 separate heat sources, properly tie them up and connect them to the heating system.

Connecting boilers for wood and electricity

Without a doubt, the purchase, installation and piping of two separate units will cost you more than one combined heat generator. But, by implementing this option, you get full-fledged heating with two energy carriers, effectively operating in automatic mode.

Reference. In non-gasified private houses of the Russian Federation, the joint operation of a solid fuel and electric boiler is used quite often, since this is the most convenient way to heat a home with firewood. The combination of gas and firewood is no less common, and the third place is occupied by the so-called multi-fuel boilers, which we will discuss in a separate article.

In our pair of heat sources, a wood (coal) boiler is the main one, and an electric one is an auxiliary unit. As the latter, you can use any of the three types of electric boilers offered on the market:

• traditional heating element with built-in circulation pump and control unit;
• electrode with a remote control panel;
• induction with a separate remote control.

We will not analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each type of electric boilers, this is the topic of another article. Here we will show on the diagrams how to connect boilers for wood and electricity, so that the second insures the first in automatic mode. Let's start with the joint piping of a wood-burning and heating element heating unit:

Connection diagram for 2 boilers - on electricity and wood. Thermostats provide automatic start of the electric boiler after stopping the wood-burning one and vice versa.

Reference. The presented scheme can be used for joint connection with a gas wall-mounted boiler, which is put in place of the heating element.

The algorithm of the system looks like this:

1. The TT boiler is idle and its circulation pump is switched off. Heaters receive heat from an electric boiler, guided by a room thermostat, where you set the desired temperature. To prevent the coolant from moving in a circle through a parallel ring, 2 check valves are involved in the circuit.
2. You have melted a solid fuel unit. For a while, it will begin to gain temperature, and the water will circulate in a small circle, guided by a three-way valve with a thermal head. The pump will turn on at the command of the overhead thermostat installed on the supply pipe.
3. When the coolant in the small ring heats up to 55 ° C, the temperature sensor of the thermal head, which is located on the return line, will work. The three-way valve will open slightly and the heat will flow into the heating system.
4. The electric boiler will turn off the heating at the signal of the room thermostat and go into standby mode.
5. After burning solid fuel, the water in the system, and after it the air in the premises, will begin to cool. The overhead thermostat of the TT boiler will “see” that the coolant has cooled down and stop the pump.
6. When the temperature in the house drops to the value you set, the room thermostat will turn on the electric boiler again.

Important! Since the internal circulation pump of a wall-mounted heat generator cannot be turned off, a solid fuel heat source must. As a rule, a pump with a pressure of 0.6 bar is enough (in an electric boiler it usually costs 0.5 bar). The second moment: put all overhead sensors and thermostats on metal pipes, they will lie on metal-plastic or polypropylene.

Our expert will tell you in detail about how to properly connect an electric and solid fuel boiler in his video:

Induction and electrode heat generators are not equipped with their own filter and circulation pump, so the latter will have to be bought and installed separately. This is the only difference in the connection diagram of heaters of this type, only the pump unit must be connected to the network through the control cabinet so that the room thermostat turns it off together with the electric boiler, as shown in the diagram:

In this scheme, the circulation pump of the electric boiler will be turned off with it thanks to a separate control cabinet

If the heating system of a private house consists of several circuits (radiators on different floors, underfloor heating and an indirect heating boiler), then a wood-burning and electric boiler is connected to work together using the method of primary and secondary rings. The principle of operation of this type of strapping is described Use of long burning TT boilers

Not every homeowner has the technical ability to connect powerful electrical equipment, which includes combined and purely electric boilers. The reason is the limitation of the allocated power limit for a private house. The limit value depends on the capacity of local power supply networks, which the owner of a country cottage cannot increase.

In the absence of natural gas on the site or at the high cost of connecting to the main line, there is only one real way out - to buy a boiler on wood and long-burning coal or make it yourself. The duration of work from 1 load for a conventional TT boiler is 3-6 hours, which forces the owner to work near him as a stoker. A comfortable interval between fillings of fuel is at least 8 hours, and not every heater provides so much.

The latest pyrolysis boiler with an increased volume of the firebox ATMOS D30

The trouble is that any seedy manufacturer calls his products long-burning boilers in order to sell to an ignorant user. You can find out the correct unit among other heat generators by the following features:

• at the same power, a boiler with a large power reserve is equipped with a firebox with an increased volume (from 100 l) and differs in size;
• the passport indicates the duration of burning from 8 hours (on wood);
• for convenience the unit is equipped with an additional loading door.

Detailed information about heat generators of this type and recommendations for their selection are published.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, we will offer some simple tips for organizing comfortable heating of a private house using solid fuel and electricity:

1. A combined wood and electricity boiler is one of the best options for a small country house or residential house. In a cottage on 2-4 floors, heating elements can only protect the system from defrosting.
2. In a country house over 100 m², it is appropriate to use 2 separate heat sources with the correct piping.
3. When electricity is supplied intermittently or the power limit does not exceed 5 kW, you should not mess with electricity at all. Find an opportunity to purchase a long-burning heat generator, although at a price it will cost more than usual.
4. Do not discard the opportunity to arrange air heating on wood from a stove if it has already been bought or built. As a safety net at night, install electric convectors or fan heaters equipped with thermostats.

The latter method is often used to heat wooden houses in the Scandinavian countries, where homeowners are familiar with bitter frosts firsthand. This is the latest video:

The large-scale construction of suburban real estate has led to the rapid development of the heating systems market. Owners of private and country houses increasingly prefer modern autonomous heating systems, refusing gas water heaters. Often this is due to the high cost of natural resources or the inability to connect gas to the house. Universal combined boilers are gradually replacing gas units.

Combined boilers are designs that are able to operate on various types of fuel. Versatility of these units lies also in the fact that they can be used absolutely in any area, they do not require special conditions. Plus, combined boilers can be used without worrying about a weak gas supply or electricity fluctuations. In case of problems, you can easily switch to another fuel source. Combined equipment can operate on diesel and solid fuels, gas and electricity.

The device of combined boilers

Types of combined boilers

Depending on the combination of fuel types, various types of combined boilers are distinguished:

• diesel fuel and natural gas;
• diesel, natural gas and solid fuels (usually wood is used);
• diesel, natural gas and electricity;
• diesel, solid fuel, gas and electricity.

Combined boilers for diesel and natural gas are less common than others. This is a rather unusual combination of the most expensive and cheapest fuel. But this model of the combined unit is very technically efficient.

Gas, diesel and solid fuel boilers have been gaining more and more popularity in recent years. It has become unfashionable to use boilers only on wood, however, boilers with a combination of different types of fuel continue to be produced. In addition, it is not at all necessary to use firewood, they can be replaced peat or wood briquettes, coal or coke.

Gas-fired boilers are no less popular, but these models have the lowest level of control. security and automation, accordingly require more attention and concentration of the owner. In this regard, such boilers have the lowest cost.

Combined gas-solid fuel-electricity boilers. Very common in private and country houses. The only and most important drawback of such boilers is inability to fully heat the entire house. This device can only maintain the optimum temperature level in the system.

A boiler using electricity, gas, diesel and solid fuels is a universal device for heating and water supply residential premises. The use of such boilers minimizes heating costs, and also reduces the risks of operation.

A variation of this model is a combined boiler that runs on electricity and solid fuel (wood).

Combined wood-electricity boiler

The design of this unit is well thought out and practical designed. In order to warm the house in a short time, you can use wood or wood waste. Electric mode operation is switched on only to maintain the optimum level of temperature in the room. This is very convenient, especially at night, when it is almost impossible to constantly monitor the firebox.

Unlike traditional solid fuel boilers, an additional heating element is installed in the heat exchanger tank. In addition, this combi boiler model has a built-in automation system, allowing to change the power and operating modes of the boiler. Also in such models automatic switching between types of fuel is provided, which provides maximum unit safety. It can be concluded that this model of boilers is the most efficient and has a number of advantages over other types of combined boilers.

pros

1. Low cost of the unit;
2. Versatility;
3. Availability;
4. Availability of an automation system;
5. High quality heating.

Principle of operation

This model works almost the same as a conventional solid fuel boiler. Firewood is loaded into the furnace, which is located below, and the heat that is released during the combustion of wood is heated by a heat exchanger with water that enters the heating system. Additional heater maintains the required temperature preventing freezing of the coolant. After burning firewood, it turns on automatically.

What to Look for When Buying an Electric Wood Boiler

A combined boiler that runs on wood and electricity is worth buying, given the main parameters:

• power;
• the presence of a coil for hot water - the second circuit;
• grate material for sifting ash, when using firewood, it is better to give preference cast iron grates, they are the most heat-resistant, ceramic grates are suitable for bulk materials - straw or wood chips;
• unit weight - some models can weigh more than a dozen kilograms, so additional floor reinforcement may be required before installation;
• furnace size;
• valve for silent operation of the boiler;
• heat exchanger material, it can be steel or cast iron the latter are heavier in weight and can crack from temperature extremes, but, unlike steel ones, they will save them from corrosion.

The use of combined heating systems will ensure reliability, high performance and heating efficiency of your home.

Recently, more and more often you can find universal combined heating boilers in private homes that can operate simultaneously on two types of fuel. The combination of electricity and firewood is an excellent choice: such a boiler is very compact, practical and reliable. In the event of a power outage or lack of fuel, you will not be left without heat and hot water in winter.

Externally, the combined boiler is practically no different from a conventional solid fuel unit. In principle, this is the same wood-burning heating boiler, in which a heating element is installed in the heat exchanger. Another important difference is the design of the water jacket. One of the walls of the furnace of such a boiler has a complex configuration and is made by cold stamping. Heating elements are mounted between the walls of the jacket, and there is a special contact hole to which the contacts of the electrical wiring wires are connected.

Combined boiler: wood - electricity

Combined boilers that run on wood and electricity are designed very competently and thoughtfully, the main working units are:

• solid fuel loading hatch - solid fuel is loaded into it, the volume of fuel loaded at a time depends on its size;
• ash pan - supplies oxygen for burning fuel and collects ash;
• burners allow you to switch from one type of fuel to another;
• draft damper - regulates the intensity of fuel combustion. The chain drive opens or closes the ash chamber damper;
• heat exchanger - provides warm water supply;
• temperature sensors - automatically regulate the operation of heating elements, which ensures the continuity of heating.

The automation system allows you to adjust the operating mode of the boiler, as well as its power. There are models of boilers that have hobs for cooking, they are installed above the firebox. Boilers with two circuits allow you to connect the "warm floor" system, for this there are special outlets for installation.

Combined boiler device

They produce boilers with one circuit and with two circuits. In the first case, the boiler is used only for heating, in the second case it will provide hot water for household needs. Also on sale are units with a manual control system and with an automatic one. Boilers with a manual control system are cheaper, and automatic control makes maintenance and the life of the owner easier.

Advice. When choosing a boiler for heating a house, it is necessary to correctly calculate the power of the device based on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room. This will affect fuel consumption.

Principle of operation

The principle of operation of a combined heating boiler is quite simple. The heat generator, powered by the mains, starts the electric heater. Pipe electric heaters begin to heat the coolant (water) in automatic mode according to the principle of a boiler. This process is automated by a special device, only firewood is loaded into the firebox manually.

While the heater is heating the water, you need to fill the combustion chamber with firewood and set it on fire. The combustion chamber is located below and transfers heat from burning firewood to the heat exchanger. When the temperature of the coolant reaches a predetermined level, the heating element turns off, and then only firewood generates heat. The burning power of firewood can reach 30 kW, which is enough to heat the house.

Combination boiler operation

When the firewood burns out, the heating element turns on again and maintains the set temperature. You can only heat with firewood, and turn on the heating element only for safety. If firewood runs out, then only the heating element will provide heat. But often electricity and firewood are used simultaneously, this is especially convenient at night, when it is not possible to constantly put firewood in the firebox. Then firewood is laid in the evening, and the heating element is turned on to maintain heat not at full capacity.

If electricity is used as a priority for heating, and firewood is used only as a reserve, then boiler maintenance is simplified to a minimum. The desired temperature is set automatically and the heating element is responsible for maintaining it. When the electricity is turned off, as is often the case in our country, you put firewood in the furnace, and the boiler starts to work on solid fuel.

Important. When operating the boiler on wood, make sure that the damper on the chimney is open. When working on electricity, the valve can be closed.

Advantages of combined boilers

Advantages of boilers firewood and electricity compared to single-fuel devices are obvious.

Combined boiler with built-in heating element

1. Versatility. You can use one of the two types of fuel as you wish.
2. Profitability. Electrical energy is the most affordable type of fuel, and so is wood. In addition, coal and waste from the woodworking industry can be used as an alternative. It turns out the perfect union: wood - electricity.
3. Thoughtful design. Heat is intelligently distributed and energy losses are minimal, which makes these boilers very efficient.
4. Long service life. With proper operation, such a boiler will serve you faithfully for a very long time, at least 20 years.
5. Autonomy. There is no need to constantly monitor the process - automation will do everything for you. Especially when working on electric fuel, the heating mode with the help of a heating element is limited by an uninterrupted supply of electricity.
6. There are models with pre-built pipes for connecting the "warm floor" system.

Important. Combined boilers that run on wood and electricity work efficiently even in low-power modes.

disadvantages

And yet, with all the advantages, combined boilers have their drawbacks, like any other heating equipment.

It is better to install the combined boiler on a pre-strengthened base

1. It is necessary to equip a separate room - a boiler room, it is also necessary to store fuel reserves.
2. Weight. Devices made of cast iron can weigh several hundred kilograms; before installing such a boiler, a concrete pad may be required to reinforce the subfloor. Due to the significant weight of the product, there are no models for wall mounting, only models for floor mounting.
3. The design of combined boilers is more complex, which affects the cost of installation and service repairs.
4. Another disadvantage is the low power of the electrical component. The power of electric heaters should not exceed the power of the wood burning chamber. The power range of a wood-burning firebox is within 6 - 25 kW.
5. The cost of models of combined boilers is 20-40% more expensive than similar solid fuel boilers, but their purchase is much more justified than installing one type of boiler and then replacing it with another.

The manufacturer offers combined heating boilers powered by electricity and wood of various capacities, configurations and performance. When purchasing such equipment, pay attention to such moments.

Think about how much fuel you need to put in at a time

1. Power - depends on what kind of fuel is used. Decide in advance on what type of fuel the priority units will operate.
2. The size of the combustion chamber - the volume of the combustion chamber depends on how often you need to load fuel.
3. Noiselessness - installation of a special valve ensures quiet operation of the unit.
4. Number of circuits - for some models, water is heated only by a heating element. More economical than models in which the coolant coil is mounted in the combustion chamber.
5. Heat exchanger. It can be made from cast iron or steel. Cast iron devices are resistant to corrosion, heat up for a long time, but they also give off heat for a long time, have a significant mass and can crack with a sharp temperature drop. Steel is subject to faster oxidation and corrosion, lighter in weight and resistant to temperature extremes.
6. Grids. They are made from various materials. It can be cast iron or ceramic. Cast iron is more heat resistant and suitable for the combustion of any solid fuel. They use honeycomb cast iron grates with ceramic coating, they are suitable for bulk materials that use more oxygen during combustion.
7. The weight and dimensions of the boiler. It may be necessary to reinforce the surface area on which the unit will be installed with a concrete screed.

An autonomous housing heating system in modern conditions largely outperforms the centralized option. Having independent heat sources in the houses, for example, combined solid fuel and electricity boilers, one can not be afraid of accidents at the city heating plant. And at the same time independently regulate the energy consumption and the level of temperature in the premises.

An autonomous heating system makes it possible to live comfortably in houses located outside the area of ​​​​providing urban heating networks and having an area of ​​​​up to 200 square meters. This has certain advantages of using your own boiler in the house, connected to the local heating system:

• the homeowner can choose the temperature schedule for the operation of the equipment;
• fuel consumption can be controlled independently;
• modern boilers allow you to maintain the desired temperature in automatic mode;
• The use of alternative fuels and relatively cheap electricity provides significant cost savings.

Creating an autonomous heating system in your home, it remains only to competently and professionally choose the best option for equipment. It should be as efficient and economical as possible in the specific conditions of your home.

Wood plus electricity is a popular combination of energy carriers

Having abandoned centralized heating, the user necessarily faces a global question - which model of heat source to choose? The modern market for heating appliances today offers a significant variety of options. For their work, various types of fuel are used:

• hard easily burning - firewood, sawdust, fuel briquettes, peat;
• solid high-temperature - coal and brown coal;
• diesel;
• natural gas;
• electricity;
• non-traditional - mining, gas condensate, plant waste, etc.

The use of gas today has to be abandoned more and more often due to its significant cost and the insufficient development of the gas pipeline system in the country in areas remote from civilization. Coal, diesel fuel can not always be regularly obtained in the required quantities over long distances. The use of non-traditional fuels is limited precisely by their unusualness. Of the most affordable and relatively inexpensive options are firewood and electricity.

However, even the most efficient wood-fired ultra-long-burning boilers, which can burn up to 30 hours, are not able to work continuously if there is no person nearby who would put fuel in them. In such cases, only electricity, which is available almost everywhere, can help. And, fortunately, it is their combination that allows you to achieve the best performance when used. Accordingly, equipment manufacturers could not leave this option without their professional interest. And today on the market, combined heating boilers for wood and electricity are represented by a number of modern models.

Combining Fuels Increases Efficiency

Even the most modern wood-fired boilers, with an efficiency of over 90%, can ensure the duration of maintaining the temperature in the room only within the time it takes to burn a batch of fuel. However, with a long absence of an operator capable of loading a new portion of firewood into the furnace, the process of heating the coolant is interrupted and the temperature of the heating circuit gradually decreases. In winter, this is dangerous because of the threat of freezing at home and damage to the entire heating system due to freezing of fluid in pipes and radiators.

Therefore, today cast-iron and steel household combined boilers have been developed, which can change energy sources in the course of their work. In open flame heating mode, they use wood and other dry combustible materials as fuel. And if it is impossible to regularly maintain combustion, such models are transferred to the mode of operation from the electrical network.

To do this, the boiler design uses a built-in electric heating element, which is placed directly in the coolant tank. The flame from firewood produces a quick heating of the coolant, and the heating element maintains its temperature in the future. This option does not require an additional firebox. The electric heating element is simply mounted in the tank and connected to the automatic control panel.

The simplest design of such a boiler is two metal cylinders of different diameters, welded one into the other. The inner cavity is a furnace, the outer cavity, limited by the walls of a small cylinder, is a reservoir for the coolant. An electric heater is also placed in the lumen.

When firewood burns out in the combustion chamber and the temperature in the circuit drops, the appliance automatically turns on and maintains the heating mode according to the specified schedule. This option is well suited for houses in which permanent residence is not possible in the winter season, but which must be maintained in a residential condition. After all, even one winter without heating can lead to a completely high-quality structure unusable.

In these cases, combined boilers become an excellent solution to the problem - leaving for a few days, you can not worry that the heating system will freeze. The boiler set to the supporting mode will ensure the preservation of the coolant in a working liquid state.

What is the best way to switch to combined heating?

When a homeowner decides to make an automated local heating system in his home, traditional long-burning boilers used in private homes can be:

• improved;
• replaced by more modern combined models;
• supplemented with boilers with electrical connection;
• Each path has its own characteristics, requirements and conditions.

Not every old-style solid fuel boiler can be converted. Technical parameters do not always allow to do this even in a workshop and using modern equipment. And in most cases, such retooling is unreasonably expensive, which makes it simply pointless.

Therefore, it will be easier to simply remove the outdated heat source, and install a modern boiler in its place. The only limitation in this case may be in the correct choice of a place for installing new equipment. There are certain requirements of fire and construction services that must be observed when installing a heating system in a house.

If the currently used boiler is quite satisfactory for the owner of the house and the time has not yet come to replace it, you can simply connect the electric boiler to a solid fuel boiler, having previously calculated all the technical parameters and made a diagram of the updated heating system. In this option, it will be necessary to somewhat modify the already existing circuit, since the piping of the boilers should form a single whole. At the same time, the entire structure must work extremely clearly and efficiently, which can only be achieved by competent preliminary calculations and the highest quality performance of all work on the re-equipment of the heating system at home.

The piping scheme you need can be prepared by specialists who are closely involved in autonomous heating in the private sector. It will not be difficult for professionals to evaluate an existing system and choose the most suitable equipment for specific conditions. As a result of such work, the efficiency of the heating system will increase significantly - economical wood-fired boilers, supplemented by electric heat sources, allow not only to efficiently heat the premises, but also significantly save on heating.

The choice is clear – maximum comfort in fuel combinations

The benefit of using combined options makes them the most in demand in modern conditions. Efficient and economical automated solid fuel boilers with electric heaters are increasingly appearing in homes far from the benefits of civilization.

In such devices, you can burn not only firewood. Coal, capable of burning up to 70 hours in a row, gives heat no worse than wood. In addition, today in many cities the production of fuel pellets has been established, which provide more energy than ordinary firewood.

Even small-sized objects can be equipped with independent heating devices - boilers for wood-fired saunas perfectly cope with the rather high requirements for such premises in terms of temperature conditions. And supplemented with electrical elements, they will be able to maintain an optimal atmosphere in them even during the downtime of the sauna between visits.

Each homeowner will be able to see for himself by testing modern heating boilers in his house - this is the best option for combining heat sources for a private home, which allows efficient and economical use of heating equipment.