Especially for you, we have performed an analysis and compiled a rating of solid fuel boilers for long burning. The data were taken from the online sales market among the most popular Russian resources and electronic catalogs of climate technology for heating a private house, and tried to figure out what modern long-burning solid fuel boilers are, what is the difference between them, and what are the advantages and disadvantages.
In order to answer the question "How to choose a long-burning solid fuel boiler for home?" - to begin with, let's define what they are and what are their differences. What is behind the definition - long-burning boilers, what is their difference from other solid fuel boiler installations?
Features of long-burning boilers
The first and most important fundamental difference is the way the fuel burns. In these units, the combustion process technology differs significantly from the traditional classical "bottom-up" scheme, as is customary in conventional furnaces and furnaces, and which covers the entire portion of fuel with a flame at once. In this case, everything happens exactly the opposite - "from top to bottom", like a candle. A stable effect is achieved due to the telescopic design of the air flow distributor, which, under the influence of its own gravity, presses on the flame and gradually moves it down. As a result, the fuel slowly burns out in layers, along the entire height of the vertical combustion chamber, starting from the upper level - a kind of upper combustion boilers.
This design makes it possible to burn material in a measured, even and better quality, increasing the efficiency and duration of the mode of one load. In addition, this feature allows: to increase the service life of the unit, since the movement of the heat energy source in time reduces the "fatigue strength" of the steel heat exchanger in comparison with traditional furnaces, in which the hearth is stationary and motionless; and completely abandon the use of additional storage heat storage.
Mechanical regulation of the coolant temperature is carried out by a thermomechanical draft regulator (based on a bimetal), which directly acts on the air valve. Therefore, they can be used in systems with both natural and forced circulation of the coolant.
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And the second distinctive feature is their "unpretentiousness and omnivorousness." And what is especially important in the heating system is the most economical fuel consumption. For example, to generate a power of 20 kW, their operational indicators are (type of fuel / one-time load, kg):
- firewood (≤ 50 kg);
- fuel briquettes - wood (≤ 110 kg) and peat (≤ 119 kg);
- coal - hard coal (≤ 145 kg) and anthracite (≤ 170 kg).
Due to specific design features, they are single-circuit, and have an efficiency of about 91–93%, one of the highest in their class. To completely burn out a one-time bookmark of firewood, they need about 30 hours, and the amount of heat released during the combustion of coal is enough for four days (for a private house with a daily requirement of 150 kW / h), depending on the temperature difference inside and outside the house. Their few disadvantages can only be attributed to the restriction on the use of pellets, manual loading of fuel and ash removal.
Nevertheless, today solid fuel boilers are considered one of the most promising alternative heating sources. Convincing evidence of this is the popularity ratings and the constant trend of growing interest in this particular segment of technology for heating a private house.
TOP-3 most popular solid fuel boilers
- Lemax Forward-12.5
- NMK Siberia-Gefest KVO 15 TE
- Protherm Beaver 20 DLO
Advice:
Read also: How to choose an electric boiler for home heating.
Market trends - choosing the best long burning solid fuel boiler in 2016
The popularity rating of long-burning solid fuel boilers is based on an analysis of statistical data on demand and consumer preferences of numerous users of the Russian Internet network (stores and product catalogs). Having carefully studied the rating data, choosing the best solid fuel boiler will not be difficult.
It is safe to say that out of all the variety of heating equipment, solid fuel models are confidently gaining popularity and winning their adherents, especially those who do not want to be dependent on prices, the state of the economy and the vagaries of nature. Over the past year alone, the growth of their segment has confidently reached 7%, while the most demanded for heating houses still remain: gas (73%), and gas with a boiler (10%). Electric and condensing - in total, they cover no more than 8% of the market demand.
By energy type the boiler rating is as follows:
- natural gas - 86%;
- solid fuel (all types) - 8%;
- electricity - 6%.
Net power, kW:
- ≤ 15 – 18%;
- ≤ 16–25 – 53%;
- ≤ 26–35 – 16%;
- ≤ 36–50 – 7%.
TOP-3 best solid fuel boilers Lemax
- Lemax Forward-12.5
- Lemax Forward-20
- Lemax Forward-16
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The most popular models - rating of the top 10 solid fuel boilers
What solid fuel boiler better? Among the variety of brands on the market, consumers give preference to well-known brands, choosing reliability and quality for home heating. The best solid fuel boiler should be chosen under the brands: STROPUVA, Zota, Candle, Pereko, Heiztechnik, Buran, Gefest, SWaG, Metal-Fach, Viessmann.
Among these manufacturers, the top rating of the most popular models is headed (power, kW / maximum heated area, up to m2 / dimensions: H × W × D, mm / weight, kg / price range, rubles):
- STROPUVA:
- S40-U (40 / 300 / 2100×680×680 / 333 / 112636–126000);
- S30 U (30/240/1850 × 680 × 680/309 / from 109725);
- S20 (20 / 150 / 2100×560×560 / 231 / 56400–80654);
- MINI S8U (8 / 64 / 1350×557×557 / 164 / 52800–59840);
- Pereko:
- KSD 22/28 (28/80/160/1350 × 660 × 760/352 / from 128250;
- KSW Prima 20 (20/160/1150 × 450 × 660/245 / from 128250);
- KSX 21 (21/168/1400 × 450 × 570/269 / from 109000);
- KSW Alfa Plus 18 (18/144/1200 × 390 × 525/214 / from 89175);
- Zota 40 Carbon (40 / 320 / 1090×695×1150 / 284 / 66045–67970);
- Candle 20 (20 / 160 / 2070×570×570 / 250 / 107861–151504).
- Heiztechnik Q PLUS 15 (15 / 120 / 1390×530×700 / 304 / 77210–81460).
From the rating we conclude that Lithuanian boilers of the company are recognized as the best solid fuel boilers for home heating Stropuva, The efficiency of which reaches 91.6%, all other firms do not exceed 80%.
With all the positive advantages, at first glance, heating private houses with solid fuel boilers has its own specifics of operation, imposes certain restrictions on the owner and causes some difficulties associated with their constant maintenance, procurement and storage of fuel materials. Unlike gas and electric ones, they constantly need to be manually “refilled”, cleaned and ash removed as it burns out. They are unable to work autonomously without human intervention for more than 3-4 days in a row. Heating up of the heating system and its exit to the operating mode is longer. This means that you cannot leave your home unattended for long.
Nevertheless, modern technologies are gradually increasing the efficiency and ease of use of these units, the types and quality of the fuel used, automated methods of loading, feeding and removing ash are being developed and implemented, and the automation of monitoring and control is improving.Therefore, the consumer chooses exactly solid fuel boilers for long burning as the best alternative to expensive gas heating.
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