The constant increase in energy costs has led to the emergence of new heating technologies. In addition to upgrading existing systems, manufacturers offer fundamentally new methods of heating water. Of particular interest is the induction heating of a private house with a DIY boiler.
Features of induction heating
To increase the temperature of the heat carrier, it is necessary to ensure the transfer of heat from the energy carrier to water. In traditional electric boilers, heating elements are responsible for this. However, they have several disadvantages, which are primarily associated with increased electricity consumption. A modern induction heating furnace works on a different principle.
In order to make induction heating with your own hands, you need to thoroughly study the specifics of its work. Its functioning is based on the principle of an electromagnetic inductor. Its design consists of two windings, each of which performs a specific function:
- Primary. It is necessary for converting the electricity supplied to it into an eddy current. This is one of the steps to create an induction phenomenon;
- Secondary. Due to the influence of the electromagnetic field, it begins to heat up, thereby transferring the received thermal energy to the coolant.
In practice, to make induction heating of a private house with your own hands, you will need an external circuit that performs the function of a housing. The inner core is made of steel rod, the thickness of which is usually 10 mm. This design allows you to reduce weight, and at the same time increase work efficiency. For factory models, the efficiency index can reach 98%. At the same time, even a correctly made induction heating boiler with your own hands has a value of this characteristic of the order of 87-90%.
All induction heating systems are not equipped with circulation pumps, expansion tank and security system. These components must be purchased separately.
Pros and cons of induction boilers
Is this type of heating really effective, as manufacturers advertise it? Reading reviews about induction heating, you can not make an unambiguous conclusion. Many consumers complain about the high energy consumption, some home-made boiler models are clearly dangerous in operation.
Before making an induction heating boiler with your own hands, selecting components and accessories for it, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of this type of heat supply in detail.
Benefits:
- Rapid increase in coolant temperature to the required level. In contrast to the operation of heating elements, induction heating of water for heating does not require additional insulation materials. Those. thermal energy from the rod is transferred directly to the coolant;
- Long service life. This is due to the lack of moving parts and the high reliability of the materials of manufacture;
- Small dimensions of the structure;
- The formation of scale on the inner walls does not occur. This is due to the slight vibration of the rod during its operation. However, if you read the reviews about induction heating boilers, then no one complains about the high noise level.
But along with this, it is necessary to take into account the negative aspects of the operation of heating boilers of this type:
- The high cost of factory models. Really high-quality electric induction heating boilers are made using modern materials, the cost of which to a large extent determines the high price. Therefore, home-made models are significantly inferior in quality and technical parameters to factory ones;
- For the installation of boilers with a capacity of more than 7 kW, it will be necessary to equip an electric network of 380 V. Otherwise, the load will not allow the equipment to operate in normal mode;
- In the absence of water during operation of the induction heating furnace, overheating and its failure will occur. Therefore, the design should include pressure sensors that are connected to the circuit breaker. When the pressure drops, the device will automatically shut off.
Having decided that it is still necessary to do induction heating yourself, you can proceed to the selection of the optimal boiler circuit and the calculation of its parameters.
The induction heating principle has been used for several decades in the steel industry for heating metal. It was from this industry that induction heating boilers came.
Homemade induction boiler
To make induction heating a private house with your own hands, you first need to make a housing. Heat resistant steel should be used for this. As an internal rod, a steel pipe is usually used, on which a winding of copper wire is installed.
To reduce heat loss, the outer walls are insulated with basalt wool. Thus, it is possible to install induction boilers for heating a private house in utility rooms.
After installing the internal circuit, you must perform the following work:
- Route contact wires through special holes on the external structure.
- Insulate the cables carefully in the area where they pass through the outer casing.
- Connect the boiler to the control system. It is best to purchase a factory model of this component, as it has protective and regulatory elements.
Before the first start of the do-it-yourself induction heating boiler, you need to check the tightness of the entire structure. To do this, one of the nozzles should be sealed, and in the second, using a pump, supply water. After filling the internal space, increase the pressure to the maximum design pressure. Usually this indicator is 15-20 atm.
In practice, truly reliable and efficient boilers for induction heating of water in heating can not be done independently. The exceptions are only small structures, which are more likely to perform the function of hot water supply than heating.
This is due to the difficulty of complying with all technological standards of manufacture. Often in reviews of self-made induction heating boilers, one may encounter attempts to make them yourself. But after a series of tests, the choice is stopped on the factory models of this heating equipment.
In the case of improperly made windings, inter-turn electrical breakdown may occur. This will lead to a short circuit and equipment failure. Therefore, boilers must be equipped with an RCD.
Rules for organizing induction heating
Since induction electric boilers for heating differ from ordinary ones, the requirements for their operation are also different. First of all, you need to know that the installation of this type of equipment is possible only in closed heating systems. To improve the circulation of the coolant, a pump can be installed.
In order for the heating from the induction cooker to be safe, it is necessary to adapt the existing wiring.To do this, calculate the power of electrical appliances in the house, including the boiler, and add a margin of 20% to the resulting figure. Technical characteristics of the electric cable must be no less than the received figure.
The connection of the induction heating furnace to the mains should be done through a separate cable. It must be connected directly to the central distribution panel. The connection to this power line of other devices is prohibited.
To improve the efficiency and safety of self-made induction heating, the installation of the following components will be required:
- Expansion tank. It is necessary to compensate for pressure in case of excess due to overheating of the coolant. The temperature inside the induction boiler for heating the house can reach + 110 ° C;
- Pressure and temperature sensor. They are connected to the central control unit;
- Circulation pump. Its installation is optional, but desirable. Natural thermal expansion of water may not be enough to create a normal speed of movement;
- Security group - air vent and water drain valve.
Often in reviews of induction heating, you can find complaints about the deformation of plastic pipes due to excessive overheating of water. In order to avoid this, all technical and operational characteristics of the heating system must comply with the preliminary design.
In order to avoid water cooling during a power outage, it is recommended to install an emergency generator. This is especially true for induction heating systems of a private house.
Overview of induction boiler manufacturers
But what if induction electric boilers are required for factory heating? Alas, there are currently not many manufacturers on the market whose products meet international standards.
When assembling induction heating, which is done by one's own hands, it is recommended to analyze current offers on the market. At the same time, it is necessary not only to read reviews about induction heating boilers, but also to check their compliance with current standards. It will not be easy to do the latter, since at present there are no GOSTs and SNiPs regulating the production process for their manufacture. The maximum that you can check with is the manufacturer’s internal specifications.
But how, then, to equip the induction heating of a private house with reliable equipment? To solve this issue, we offer a review of manufacturers of boilers for induction heating systems.
Geyser
One of the largest and most reliable companies for the production of equipment for electric heat supply. Currently, the consumer can choose an induction heating boiler with power from 4.5 to 250 kW. It is noteworthy that the design has an electrical safety class of "2", which does not require the organization of an additional ground loop.
In the models of the "E" series there is an accumulative capacity, which allows making induction heating of the heat carrier for heating more economical.
Edison
The company specializes in the production of large heating systems designed to heat public and industrial buildings. The supplied set of equipment includes all necessary components. In the assortment there are models designed for heating from an induction stove of low power. But their number is extremely small.
Miratron
A feature of electric heating boilers of induction type from this company is a modular layout. This makes it possible at any time to increase the capacity of the heating system without a complete replacement of equipment. The range includes boilers from 4.5 to 30 kW.
Before purchasing an electric boiler for induction heating, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with its technical passport.It should indicate the operating conditions of the equipment.
Induction Heat Reviews
To form an objective point of view on the relevance of acquiring this type of equipment, you need to read reviews on boilers for induction heating:
- For heating, they decided to install a new induction boiler. According to the manufacturer, he must heat the water in a very short time. However, in fact, it took about 2 weeks to exit to normal operation. During this time, it was necessary to replace the control unit under warranty;
- In our house, heating from a solid fuel boiler. In winter, the water in the pipes heats up for a very long time. Therefore, we decided to install an additional induction, operating from the mains. Now start it first, and then wait until the main boiler reaches the desired temperature. Such a system is very convenient;
- I wanted to build an induction boiler myself. But after several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to purchase a factory one. It is good that before that everything was calculated - power, pump parameters. After installation, the heating works like a clock. Very satisfied.
Should I install an induction boiler for autonomous heating? This option will be acceptable only if the house does not have a connection to the gas main. Only then can installation options for induction heating be considered.
In the video material you can get acquainted with the features of the organization of induction heat supply:
