The ventilation system is the basis for a favorable microclimate both in the house and in the apartment. Full air exchange, in which the stale waste is regularly replaced fresh air, contributes to the well-being of households and a decrease in the frequency of respiratory diseases.
However, outside air entering through the intake valve can significantly lower the room temperature and increase the cost of heating a home. In such cases, heating of the supply ventilation in the apartment is required, due to which the temperature will not fall below the desired values.
In this article, we will consider the popular and ergonomic types of air heating systems for supply air, we will determine the key characteristics of the heaters and tell you about the appropriate stages of installation of the ventilation system, at which it is appropriate to carry out the installation these nodes.
The content of the article:
- The need for supply ventilation with heating
- Ventilation air heating methods
- Design and operation of supply ventilation
-
Types of heaters for the ventilation system
- Type # 1 - water heater
- Type # 2 - electric air heater
- Integration of the heater into the ventilation system
- Conclusions and useful video on the topic
The need for supply ventilation with heating
Supply ventilation is a proven way to ensure normal air exchange in an apartment. It is necessary to replace heavy stale air not only in the kitchen or in the bathroom: in all rooms, where residents spend most of their time, you need to take care of the supply of fresh air from streets.
According to the old norms, adopted back in Soviet times, for each person constantly staying in a living room, at least 60 cubic meters must be received. m of fresh air per hour. A similar indicator is relevant for a bedroom or children's room.
For a zone with a periodical stay of residents, for example, a living room, the minimum threshold for the amount of supply air is 30 cubic meters. m / h. Modern European standards for the performance of the supply ventilation system are lower and offer 30 and 20 cubic meters. m / h per person for rooms with permanent and periodic stay, respectively.
However, even a reduced flow of fresh air from the street can significantly affect the temperature in the entire apartment. Cold air masses increase the load on the heating system, reducing its efficiency. As a result, energy is wasted irrationally, which is spent on warming up the air cooled by the supply.
Additionally, staying in a room with a low air temperature can cause hypothermia and provoke the occurrence of certain diseases.
A cold room and high humidity due to poor-quality ventilation are an ideal environment for the development of mold, which not only spoils repairs, but also causes significant damage to health
These problems can be solved with the help of an air heater, which is installed on the supply ventilation of the apartment. For the domestic climate, such a unit in the ventilation system is an urgent need. With a noticeable drop in temperature outside the window, a heating element will become the only effective way to prevent drafts and keep warm in the house.
A ventilation system with an air heater allows you to simultaneously compensate for heat loss and saturate the internal climate with the required volume of fresh air masses.
Ventilation air heating methods
In fact, you can warm up the air coming from the outside using different methods:
- use of a recuperator;
- installation of a special heater or thermal fan;
- application of the recirculation principle.
These outdoor air heating systems for supply ventilation are the most popular among users. Let's consider them in more detail.
A fairly effective mechanism for reducing heat loss - recuperation heat in ventilation systems. The recuperator is a heat exchanger in which cold air from the outside is heated by heat transfer of air masses previously warmed up in the apartment, which are removed by the ventilation system. However, a significant disadvantage of structures with a recuperator is their high cost, which does not always pay off quickly by minimizing the cost of operating the supply ventilation system.
A heating element, built into the chain of units of the supply ventilation system, is an equally reliable and effective way to heat cold outdoor air. With this method, the streams are warmed up even in the ventilation duct, passing through the heating coil, and enter the apartment, having the required temperature.
Such ventilation systems with heated supply air from the street are often equipped with a thermostat that allows you to independently regulate the temperature of the air entering the apartment.
Supply ventilation with a heating element is usually cheaper in an installation, however, heating the air itself requires more energy resources than the process of heat exchange during recuperation.
Air recirculation is in many ways similar to recuperation, in which the heating of air masses occurs due to the heat of the exhaust air. However, if during recuperation the air flows do not mix, recirculation provides for the merging of room air with fresh outside air, due to which the temperature of the latter rises.
For integration into an apartment, the most convenient is a ventilation system with supply air heating with a separate heating unit. Such complexes are cheaper to install and are often more compact.
Design and operation of supply ventilation
The design of supply ventilation with heated air masses consists of several key links:
- At the entrance to the system, there is an air intake grill, which has decorative and barrier functions, preventing large particles of dirt, insects, and dust from entering the system.
- The non-return valve regulates the volume of air passed through, limiting the air flow if necessary.
- Filter units clean air masses.
- The air heater, recuperation or recirculation unit heats the air.
- The fan directs the flows, contributing to the formation of the required level of draft, after which the air enters the apartment.
In addition to these elements, the system can have diffusers to help distribute air, noise dampers and fans.
A silencer in a ventilation system often works to suppress the hum generated by the fan itself. To reduce the level of noise from the street that penetrates into the apartment, it is necessary to additionally use noise insulation materials
An integral part of the structure is the thermal insulation of the channel, thanks to which the system itself and the wall, in which a hole for air intake and exhaust is made, does not freeze.
In more detail, we examined the device and principle of arrangement of supply ventilation in next article.
Types of heaters for the ventilation system
Heaters-heaters of two types can be built into the air heating system in the supply ventilation: water and electric. Let's consider their features in more detail.
Type # 1 - water heater
The water heater is most often used in central ventilation and is interconnected with the heating system. Integration with the heating system saves energy, since the air is heated using the heat carrier.
The block is a radiator with tubes containing a coolant. The very surface of the pipeline has ribbing, which increases the contact area of the heater with air masses. Heat exchange occurs as follows: the coolant heats up the tubes, which give the resulting heat to the finning. From the latter, the air is directly heated.
In more detail, we examined the device and principle of operation of the water heater in this publication.
A water heater for supply ventilation is a rather bulky unit, but its efficiency and economy fully compensate for its large size.
However, the installation of such a complex costs significant funds and requires significant intervention in the room itself, after which repairs may well be required. The design of such ventilation systems must be carried out by specialists. In addition to these disadvantages, there is always a risk of water freezing in the heater with minimal radiator operation.
Type # 2 - electric air heater
The electric heater works from the mains and is no less efficient. Such a unit insignificantly, but still increases power consumption. However, heating the air using an electric heater is the most acceptable solution for a small apartment.
Like a water heater, an electric heater can be finned to increase the area of contact with air.
The diagram above shows the device for an electric heater. The heating element in the unit can be made of stainless or black steel. The latter is more susceptible to corrosion and deteriorates faster. Less commonly, the heating element is made of ceramic.
Additionally, electric and water heaters differ in shape. Depending on the configuration of the ventilation duct, they can be round, square or rectangular.
We wrote about the rules for calculating the power of a water and electric heater in the article: Calorifier calculation: rules for calculating the power of water and electrical units.
Integration of the heater into the ventilation system
It is possible to qualitatively install the necessary heating in the supply air at the stage of installation of the entire ventilation system, since the analysis of a ready-made complex for the integration of a separate node is quite laborious process. And to install a water heater, this procedure is almost impossible, since this unit must be connected to the heating system of the apartment.
To install the electric air heater into a ready-made type-setting and functioning ventilation system, it is necessary to disassemble the latter up to the unit with the fan inclusive.
The figure shows a schematic design of a supply ventilation system acceptable for an apartment with outdoor air heating using an electric heater.
The heater is installed in front of the fan immediately after the filters.
This location is due to the fact that in winter, the lubrication of bearings in radial fans is prone to thickening, which can provoke jamming of parts and overheating of the winding. The heating element neutralizes the effects of cold and prevents damage to such an important unit.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
The video below provides recommendations for choosing heated supply ventilation and discusses the key differences between a type-setting ventilation system and a monoblock:
The author of the following video examines the advantages and disadvantages of a supply ventilation system and a breather, which is popular among apartment owners:
Air exchange and the removal of carbon dioxide from the room are the basis for a healthy microclimate in the apartment. It is possible to carry out the most complete air circulation using a supply ventilation system. Effective heating of the air coming from the supply ventilation is practically indispensable in our climate.
A rationally selected heater will make it possible to save energy resources and maintain the optimal temperature in the apartment, providing the room with the necessary volume of fresh air.
What method of heating the supply air do you use? Do you think your option is the most rational - share your opinion and useful information on installing the heater with other users in the comments section below.
