Self-deception or technologies of the future: how profitable is the transition to alternative heating sources?

Due to the constant increase in the cost of gas and electricity, many users have begun to pay attention to eco-friendly and economical in servicing the heating system of buildings.

The most popular of them are geothermal systems, wind turbines, biofuels and solar systems. Alternative methods of heating a house, although initially expensive, pay for themselves quite quickly.

What are alternative heat sources?

The main task of the systems is obtaining energy from renewable sources. Most alternative devices can be used to generate heat energy in any location, which indicates that ease of use and minimal requirements.

Features of solar systems for a private home

Solar collector can be used for heating apartment buildings and private houses. Heliosystems are also often used to heat water for personal needs of consumers. Solar systems can operate in various modes and, depending on the selected equipment, provide energy generation throughout the year or certain seasons.

Panels and collectors the coolant is heated by means of special absorption coatings inside the installations. The liquid is fed into a special tank, from which it enters the heating system of the house or into the hot water circuits.

Solar panels pass the coolant between the plates, and the tubular system increases the temperature of the liquid due to the vacuum between the outer and inner flask. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, the absorption layer begins to interact with the liquid and can heat it up to 90 degrees.

Solar collectors are sources of heating the coolant that goes directly into the heating circuits. To use the energy of solar batteries you will need an expansion tank and a pump, which will pump water out of the installations once the set temperature is reached.

Pros heliosystems:

• Tubular collectors easy to install.
• Solar panels are different low cost and high performance in the warm season.
• The equipment is suitable for use in different climatic zones.

Wind generator connection diagram

The installations represent a device with blades, during the rotation of which an electric current is generatedWind turbines can come in different sizes and shapes, depending on their purpose and the terrain.

When wind generators are operating, batteries are charged, which then supply energy for heating buildings via a converter. The installations have two types of rotation axes - horizontal and vertical.

Photo 1. Wiring diagram of the wind generator in the power grid via the controller to household appliances.

Equipment with horizontal fastening The blades are designed to operate in areas where the average annual wind speed more than 5 m/s.

Windmills with vertical axis rotation, due to their compact dimensions, are ideal for use in private homes. The required average annual wind speed should be above three meters per second.

Among the advantages of generators, we can note environmental friendliness, ergonomics and renewable energy sourceThe disadvantages of wind turbines include their instability, low efficiency, high cost.

Geothermal heating - reliability and durability?

Heat pumps represent two circuits with coolants, connected by special equipment. One of the circuits is below ground level, and the other is located in the building it heats. Geothermal heating system uses heat extracted from the earth's interior. In places where the equipment is installed, the average annual ambient temperature is 8-10 degrees.

The liquid, which is in the external circuits, is heated by the soil or water and fed into the pump, after which the device cools the substance to negative temperatures, and redirects the released heat into in-house heating system. Geothermal equipment is an excellent option for heating rooms using low-temperature devices.

Photo 2. Laying of heating mains, which are located horizontally, below the freezing level of the ground.

Thermal systems are installed in three ways:

• Horizontal.
• Vertical.
• Underwater.

On the plus side The advantages of geothermal heating include the inexhaustibility of the natural resource, the absence of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, and the high efficiency of the system. Cons equipment is the low temperature of the coolant in the internal circuits (within 35-60 degrees), high cost of installations.

When biofuels come to the rescue

Biofuel is a substance obtained from animal or plant materials, organic waste from industry, and the results of human activity. There are different types of biofuel, but the most common options are pellets or briquettes.

For heating a house with biofuel Need to install a boiler, which will be compatible with an alternative energy source.

When burned, the substance releases heat, which heats the liquid in the heating system and ensures that the desired temperature is maintained.

The main advantage This type of alternative energy is its mobilityThe process of using biofuels to heat buildings does not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere. The main disadvantage raw materials are use of large areas for sowing crops from which this fuel can be produced.

Is it possible to install alternative heating yourself?

Most systems difficult to install independently, since the installation process requires special tools and skills.

Wind generator connection diagrams are selected individually depending on the task at hand. Wind turbines are connected to the controller, which charges the batteries and transmits electricity to the inverter. This design can be perfectly used to provide a private home with electricity.

Heat pumps most often installed vertically. To install the equipment you will need drilling wells to a depth of more than 50 meters. The size of the contours depends on the capacity of the heat pump. Sometimes the total length of the wells reaches two hundred meters. External circuits are connected to a pump, which takes heat from them and transfers it to the house heating system. Low-temperature equipment receives heated coolant and heats the building.

Biofuel boilers are mounted on a pre-prepared screed, the thickness of which is not less than 7 cm. For the most efficient operation of the heating system, connect buffer capacity, which is a tank of water.

The volume of the device is calculated depending on the boiler capacity. If the heating equipment is energy-dependent, then it should be supplied with electricity.

The chimney that is installed on the biofuel boiler must be equipped with condensate collector and have a diameter not less than 18 centimeters. The height of the chimney is usually more than four meters. To protect the heating system from back pressure and siphon drainage, a check valve is installed in it, which is located on the general water supply pipe. Liquid regulation and temperature control are carried out using balancing and mixing valves.

For installation of solar collectors need to prepare frame, on which the solar system will be located. For the stability and safety of the system, a heat accumulator and expansion tank. The equipment is controlled and adjusted using a pressure gauge, a relief valve, an air vent, thermometers, a pump, check valves, a mechanical filter and a flow meter. Installation of solar systems requires precision and care.

Useful video

Check out this video that discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different types of alternative heating sources.

Economic feasibility of installing systems

Despite the fact that the systems are quite expensive, the purchase of equipment pays for itself in less than five years. The service life of such devices is often exceeds 20 years, which is due to the high quality of the equipment and its increased wear resistance. Once you install an alternative heating system, you can save for a long time on the funds that would be spent annually on heating the building.