Currently, when intensive acquisition and construction of suburban real estate is taking place, many are paying attention to new equipment and technologies that will help not only create comfort in the home, but also save money. Ionic electric heating boilers, which differ from conventional boilers using heating elements, are becoming increasingly popular.
Ion or heating element boiler. What to choose?
An ion (electrode) boiler and a boiler operating on heating elements have differences in the method of heating the coolant in the heating system and in quality characteristics related to the size of the heated area and the amount of energy consumed.
In an electrode boiler, the coolant (water) is heated by heat generated by an electric current that flows between two electrodes (anode and cathode). In a conventional boiler, water is heated by heat heating elements (heating elements).
How does an electric ion boiler work?
Positively and negatively charged ions that appear as a result of the splitting of water molecules begin to quickly move to the anode and cathode. In this case, thermal energy is released, due to which the temperature of the coolant increases.
Based on the laws of physics, the water in the ion boiler, being a conductor of electric current between two electrodes, is heated by this current according to the Joule-Lenz law known from the school course. The law allows us to quantify the thermal effects of electric current.
Note to the curious
The Joule-Lenz law states that the heat released in calories at constant current can be calculated using the formula:
Q=CI²Rt, Where
C is the electrical equivalent of heat, I is the current strength, t is the time it passes, R is the electrical resistance of water.
During the process of heating water in an ion heating boiler, its resistance decreases and its electrical conductivity increases. This means there is a gradual increase in power. It can be concluded that the ion boiler is able to gradually supply heat. Power consumption will depend on two factors:
- temperature, which is set by the consumer;
- amount of water in the system.
Heating of the coolant after switching on occurs at 40-60% of the rated power value. As practice shows, the set temperature can be reached approximately 4 times faster than in.
How do heating elements work?
The power consumption of a heating element boiler is constant and does not depend on the temperature of the water in the heating system. It takes much longer to heat the water to the set values, and the power consumption is maximum. In addition, it exceeds the starting power of the ion electrode boiler by 40-60%.
Comparative characteristics
The performance results of the types of heating boilers under consideration vary greatly. This is especially clearly seen in the table presented. The data is indicated for boilers with automatic temperature control of the coolant, which are installed in rooms with a height of 2.5 meters and heated to a temperature of 20° C.
| Boiler with heating elements | |||||||
|
Power |
Heated area (sq.m.) |
Consumption energy (kW/h) |
Power |
Heated area (sq.m.) |
Consumption energy (kW/h) |
||
| 3 | 1 | 50 | 0.5-0.7 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 1.1-1.4 |
| 5 | 1 | 80 | 0.9-1.2 | 5 | 1 | 50 | 1.6-2.1 |
| 9 | 3 | 120 | 1.8-2.3 | 9 | 3 | 90 | 3.0-3.9 |
| 25 | 3 | 350 | 4.5-5.5 | 25 | 3 | 240 | 8.5-10.1 |
Based on the data in the table, we can conclude that with the same power, the heating area when using an ion heating boiler is larger, and the electricity consumption is significantly less than when using a heating element.
When comparing both heating methods, one cannot help but remember the service life of boilers. Manufacturers indicate that heating elements can last from 3 to 5 years; it happens that these figures may be much less, which is due to reasons beyond the control of the consumer. The purity and quality of the water poured into it, the material of the heating elements themselves and the boiler body, as well as the intensity of use have a great influence. The scale that forms on the heating elements does not allow them to cool properly, which leads to their combustion.
They are free from this drawback, since the polarity of the cathodes in them constantly changes. The ions change their direction with the frequency of the mains voltage (50 oscillations per second). Even scale formed from untreated water will not cause a breakdown; it can only reduce the power of the boiler.
How to choose an ion boiler?
A heating device of the required power is selected, based on the condition that 1 kW of rated power can warm a room with an area of 20 square meters. m, volume 60 cubic meters. m, and the amount of water in the system is 40 liters.
You need to know this!
- An ion electric boiler requires the creation of reliable grounding of the housing.
- There is no need to install an RCD (residual current device) in the boiler network.
Advantages and disadvantages of ion heating boilers
The obvious advantages of electrode boilers include the following:
- efficiency (heating of the coolant occurs almost instantly, efficiency approaches 100%);
- durability (scale does not form);
- compactness, ease of installation (overall dimensions and weight of boilers are significantly less compared to heating elements);
- possibility of automatic regulation (correct setting of the digital block allows you to save about 40% of electricity consumption);
- safety of operation with correct installation (if the heating system depressurizes or a liquid leak occurs, the movement of ions will stop and the boiler will not work);
- no noise;
- environmental safety (no combustion products, no need to store fuel resources);
- no need to re-equip the existing system;
- there is no need to coordinate the installation of the boiler with the boiler inspection authorities;
- not a high price.
Like any equipment, ion heat generators, along with their advantages, have their disadvantages:
- preparation of water poured into the heating system (certain parameters are set for water that must be strictly followed);
- there is no possibility of using alternative types of coolants (distilled water, oil, antifreeze);
- to create normal operating conditions for the boiler, constant circulation of liquid in the system is necessary;
- the anti-corrosion material of the electrodes provides them with a long service life, however, it is necessary to constantly monitor their condition and replace it on time;
- high cost of electricity.
conclusions
Ionic electric heating boiler has minimal weight and compact dimensions, which makes its installation simple and easy. To heat large areas, it is possible to create a system with the simultaneous connection of several boiler units. The absence of the need to obtain permits from supervisory authorities and control by the boiler inspection is also a positive factor influencing the choice of boiler type.
In conclusion, we can say that when choosing heating equipment for your home, the decision to install an ion boiler is the most acceptable, but do not forget that it will take time to prepare the coolant. Such a heating system will become a reliable and economical source of heat.
Today there are three types of electric heating boilers on the market: induction, based on heating elements and electrode. Electrode boilers are also called ion or ion exchange boilers, but these are the same devices.
Principle of operation
This equipment differs from other electric boilers in the presence of open electrodes, to which current is supplied from the network (alternating with a frequency of 50 Hz). The electrodes are placed in water of a certain chemical composition. When a potential difference occurs in the electrolyte, which is water, the ions begin to move. Due to the constant change of potentials on the electrodes, the movement of charged particles is chaotic. When the ions move, a large amount of heat is released, which heats the coolant (water in this case).
Advantages and disadvantages
Is it convenient to use this type of boiler for heating? I guess, yes. It is especially good in places where the network voltage is unstable: even when the voltage drops to 180 V, the electrode boiler continues to operate. Its power drops, but it continues to work. What else is such a system convenient for: if you have competent automation and the correct connection of the boiler, the system is autonomous and can maintain the set temperature independently. Another positive point: if for some reason water disappears from the system, the equipment will simply stop working. It won’t burn, won’t deteriorate, but simply won’t work, since water, in this case, is the working medium. Without it, there is no current.
Now about the disadvantages. From the principle of operation of the electrode boiler, their main drawback emerges: they are demanding on the composition of the water. Not just any water is suitable, but with certain characteristics. When starting the system, it is necessary to prepare the coolant according to the recommendations of the boiler manufacturer. Usually this is a few teaspoons of salt or soda per liter of water in the system. That's all. You can also use special liquids that are produced by the same manufacturers. But this is for those who don’t want to bother at all.
On the other hand, by changing the composition of the water, you can “adjust” the boiler’s power to your needs: in principle, you can make it work with both more and less power relative to what is stated in the passport. It is only necessary to change the chemical composition of the coolant-electrolyte. Here it is important not to overdo it, otherwise you can “modify” the composition until the boiler completely and instantly fails. Therefore, stay within the limits specified by the manufacturer (as usual, “from” and “to” are indicated).
Another unpleasant moment. Even more. The current spreads in the water, and the water circulates in the system. And, in principle, it is possible that if you touch the radiator you will receive a considerable electric shock. This leads to another indispensable condition for safe operation when using electrode boilers for water heating: high-quality and reliable separate grounding is required. It will just help avoid such a situation.
Not the most pleasant moment is the need to periodically clean the system and replace the electrodes - they gradually become thinner and the heating efficiency decreases. In this regard, electrode boilers do not have any advantages over traditional electric boilers with heating elements.
How economical are electrode boilers?
There is constant debate about the energy consumption of electrode boilers. Sellers and manufacturers claim that these boilers are more economical than heating elements. They even name a figure – 30%. Their opponents say that if the boiler is 6 kW, then it will consume 6 kW. No more, no less.
This is true. But owners of operating systems claim that they pay less for heating (some previously had heating elements, and some compare their bills with the bills of friends). Note that negative messages are written only by theorists who advocate the use of good old, well-known heating elements. There is not a single negative review from the owners (5 forums viewed).
There is one conditionally negative one: after 2.5 years of “excellent” operation, the efficiency of the system dropped significantly, and it was only possible to increase it partially, but not sufficiently, through careful preparation of the coolant. At first glance, a significant reduction in the power of the heating unit is possible for two reasons: the electrodes are worn out and need to be changed, or something is wrong with the automation. In any case, you need to contact a specialist service center.
How can an electrode boiler for water heating at home benefit? Due to the low inertia of the system: there are no intermediate carriers, and all the energy is immediately transferred to the coolant. This is important not only during system startup, but also to maintain the set temperature. As soon as the air temperature in the room (for greater comfort you need to monitor this indicator, not the temperature of the coolant) becomes lower, the system turns on. Heating begins instantly, without delays for heating the same heating element.
The situation is the same with the shutdown: the power supply is turned off, the heating stops. And again, there is no inertia, and the temperature remains stable, and there is no excessive wastage of electricity. This is true. But in order for everything to be as described, high-quality automation is necessary, and this, as we know, is not cheap.
Practitioners say that electrode and induction boilers are more suitable for the device than boilers using heating elements. They have more advanced automation and the temperature is maintained more accurately. But modern multi-stage boilers using heating elements can also regulate their power, although this transition is abrupt - turning on/off one or more heating elements gives a power jump. So, if you have to choose, preference for organizing water heated floors can be given to electrode ones. They are also good in this area, but they are much more expensive.
The advantages of using electrode boilers for water heating include their small size, low cost (even in relation to boilers using heating elements) and noiselessness during use (unlike induction boilers, which are sometimes very noisy). But here you need to take into account that in addition to the need for a separate power line, you will also need to build a separate grounding circuit, and this is also a cost.
In general, it is impossible to say unequivocally whether electrode boilers are good or bad. There are some positive aspects, but there are also a fair number of negative ones. Actually, you need to decide in each specific case: as always, when there are several options, the problem of choice arises. But everyone makes their own choice. We are trying to present the situation as fully as possible, but it’s still up to you to decide.
Galan electrode boilers: table of characteristics and reviews
Therefore, it is quite difficult to suspect them of bias, and they persistently promote electrode boilers. They produce flow-type equipment. This is good because the installation of such a unit does not require approval from the boiler inspection department. Another positive point: electrode boilers from this manufacturer can be used in conjunction with another hot water boiler.
Now about the characteristics and prices. The data was taken from the official website, prices there are displayed in rubles, but due to the instability of the situation, we converted them to dollars at the current rate. Therefore, some errors are possible.
| Power consumption/voltage | Room volume m 3 / m 2 | Coolant volume | Price | Dimensions | |||
| Length | Diameter | Weight | |||||
| Galan Hearth 3 | 2 and 3 kW/220 V | 80-120 m 3 /25-40 m 2 | 20-50 l | 67 $ | 275 mm | 35 mm | 0.9 kg |
| Galan Hearth5 | 5 kW/220 V | 200 m 3 /65 m 2 | 30-60 l | 69 $ | 320 mm | 35 mm | 1.05 kg |
| Galan Hearth 6 | 5 and 6 kW/220 V | 250 m 3 /150 m 2 | 35-70 l | 71 $ | 335 mm | 35 mm | 1.1 kg |
| Galan Geyser 9 | 9k W/220 or 380 V | 340 m 3 /110 m 2 | 50-100 l | 130 $ | 360 mm | 130 mm | 5 kg |
| Galan Geyser 15 | 15 kW/380 V | 550 m 3 /180 m 2 | 100-200 l | 136 $ | 410 mm | 130 mm | 5.3 kg |
| Galan Vulcan 25 | 25 kW/380 V | 850 m 3 /285 m 2 | 150-300 l | 142 $ | 450 mm | 130 mm | 5.7 kg |
Important! The table shows the price only for the boiler itself. You also need automation, which, depending on the functionality and capabilities, costs from $50 to $150; you will need sensors (each about $15) as well as a circulation pump.
Of the entire range, mini-electrode heating boilers “Galan Ochag 3” are probably more suitable for heating a dacha. They will also be good for a one-room apartment. Available in 2 kW and 3 kW capacities. Boilers with a lower power of 1 kW have not yet been found anywhere. Reviews about all Galan electrode boilers are positive. But almost all of them indicate: you need to follow the rules for installing and preparing the system: check the water and bring its composition to the required levels, or fill in a specialized solution produced by the same company. Properly selected automation plays an important role. There is an announcement on the manufacturer’s website: “We are not responsible for the operation of boilers with non-recommended automation.”
Galan produces both electrode and heating element boilers
The most reviews come from owners of Galan Geyser 9 boilers. There are no dissatisfied people. Here are some facts that relate to the issue of electricity consumption by these boilers:
- House 135 m2 in Kharkov region. Galan Geyser 15 is heated. During the heating season 2012-2013, the meter showed 2750 kW.
- Room 120m2 in Dnepropetrovsk region. Galan Ochag 5 installed. The owner says that he “missed the mark” a little - he needs Hearth 6.
- House 150 m2 in Energodar (which is not specified). The cost of “Galan Geyser 15” for the 2013-2014 season in frosts down to -25°C per month on the meter is up to 1300 kW.
The reviews do not indicate the materials from which the house is built, how it is insulated and many other nuances, but certain conclusions can be drawn. Almost every review indicates that you need to monitor what kind of fluid is poured into the system. In one of the messages, a person repairing heating systems responded to a call: the electrode boiler had stopped heating completely. All due to the fact that the system was filled with ordinary, unprepared tap water. After working for a couple of weeks, the boiler stopped heating. After flushing the system and cleaning the electrodes, the coolant temperature still did not rise above 35 o C. The owner bought new electrodes and fluid for these systems, and after installation and repeated flushing, everything works.
In general, it turns out like this: electrode boilers are simple in design, but demanding to operate. Coolant parameters and high-quality automation are important.
There are situations when using electricity to heat a private home becomes the only option worthy of consideration. Gas pipelines, unfortunately, have not yet reached the level of ramifications to reach everyone. Solid fuel The heating system requires constant attention from the owners of the house, a mandatory separate boiler room, storage areas at least minimum supply of firewood or briquettes (pellets). Diesel fuel boilers are very expensive in themselves, require large installation costs and precise adjustments, and cannot do without preparing a large container with a volume of several cubic meters for storing liquid fuel.
So, in such a situation, there is nothing left to do but switch to electric heating of the home. There are many options for solving this problem. For example, this could be using cables, mats or infrared films. Modern ones, which are easy to hide behind the decoration of the ceiling or walls, are gradually gaining appreciation. But still, the usual water heating systems remain in first place in popularity, into which, in this case, an electric boiler crashes. But here options are also possible - heat sources can be ordinary - with heating elements, induction of various types. And the most controversial, causing considerable, sometimes even heated discussions, are ion heating boilers.
These devices are credited with absolutely fabulous heating efficiency indicators, for example, efficiency above 100%, and are incredibly criticized for the fact that they can usually quickly render the heating system unusable, praised for ease of installation and compactness, and at the same time “ostracized” for its low level electrical safety. As usual, in reality the truth is somewhere in the middle... Let's try to understand this, without bias, citing in the article both the positive qualities of such boilers and their inherent disadvantages. In addition, the most popular brands will be considered, indicating the technical characteristics of various models and approximate price levels. And finally, as the presentation progresses, attention will be paid to some issues regarding the installation of such equipment.
How does an electrode (ionic) heating boiler work?
Probably everyone who has ever lived in a student dormitory or served in the army knows the simplest device for boiling water, which made it possible to brew a cup of tea in literally a matter of seconds. Two metal plates (old razor blades or even metal shoe shoes), spaced with a small air gap from each other, connected to a 220 volt power cable.
The simplest boiler is a kind of “prototype” of an electrode (ion) heating boiler
Such a “device”, lowered into a glass and connected to power, ensures a rapid, unusually violent boiling of water. A this is a fairly clear example how an ion (or electrode) boiler is designed in principle.
(By the way, you should not repeat such experiments at home - this is unsafe both from the point of view of a wire fire from a short circuit and from a high probability of getting an electrical injury).
Conductors placed in an electrolyte solution (and ordinary, non-distilled water is, to a certain extent, an electrolyte due to the salts dissolved in it), when voltage is applied to them, they cause ionization of the solution and the movement of ions in the opposite direction: anions - to cathode and cations, respectively, to the anode.
This would lead to the electrolysis process if the supplied current were constant. But when connecting to household mains voltage, the polarity of the electrodes changes 50 times per second (frequency 50 Hz). Instead of a uniform movement of ions, they begin to oscillate rapidly in a medium that offers considerable resistance to this. As a result, very rapid heating of the liquid occurs - that is, the coolant, which is used to transfer energy through heat exchange points.
By and large, the developers of such a circuit managed to get rid of the “middleman” - a heat-generating electric coil made of materials with high resistivity. The role of the heating element is assumed by the coolant-electrolyte itself. This is what is attributed to the special properties of efficiency and economy of this method of converting electrical energy into heat.
Right away, we should probably make some clarity about the terminology used. In various sources you can find the name of this technique as both “electrode” and “ionic” boilers. Moreover, some manufacturers even try to make a distinction between these concepts - they say that in ion installations it is possible to to a certain extent control and regulate the number of ions involved in the process of heating the coolant. Understanding heating specialists regard such statements as nothing more than a marketing ploy to highlight their products against the general background. But even if this is true to some extent, the merit lies not in the design of the boiler, but in the complexity of the electronics of the control unit and the quality of the coolant electrolyte. And the boiler itself was and remains electrode.
General structure of an ion (electrode) boiler
This method of quickly heating a liquid is certainly not some kind of innovative development. As a physical phenomenon, this has been known for a very long time, and its practical application in order to obtain thermal energy for heating premises was mastered in the middle of the 20th century. It is generally accepted that the first detailed boilers were developed for the needs of the navy, or more precisely, for heating the compartments of submarines. And one of the requirements for any military equipment of those years was maximum simplicity and the highest reliability. Ion boilers fully met these requirements. There are absolutely no moving mechanical parts in them, and the internal “electrical equipment” is such that there is simply nothing to burn out in it. And the active service life of such a water heater, in fact, was determined by the strength and corrosion resistance of its body.
However, only in the early 90s were they developed, patented and put into production for use in heating systems of residential buildings. By the way, despite the fact that a quarter of a century has passed since then, neither the layout diagram nor the appearance of these devices have undergone major changes. All improvements to this equipment are made, for the most part, in the area of modernization of control systems, and to some extent - in selection the most optimal, resistant materials for the housing and electrodes and the chemical composition of coolants.
Although Similar boilers are produced by several companies, domestic and foreign, all of them are basically similar in layout, and differ only in minor details.
The layout of almost all electrode boilers is very similar - a vertically located cylinder with a thickening at the power connection point
It is always a vertically located cylinder, with a thickening on one edge - there is an electrical switching unit. There are always two threaded pipes - for the coolant inlet (in the terminology of heating systems - “return”) and for the outlet of the heated liquid (supply pipe). More often they are located as shown in the figure - the “return” pipe is on the side of the cylinder, and the outlet is on top. Although, occasionally there are models in which both threaded pipes for insertion into the system are located on the side.
Electrodes are located inside the housing.
If the boiler is designed to operate from a single-phase 220 V network, then this is one electrode, which will be located in the center of the cylinder. The role of the second in this case will be played by the inner surface of the “glass” in the body.
Three-phase boilers are more powerful. Here the electrode block will consist of three rod elements isolated from each other, also located in the common “glass” of the boiler body.
It is clear that the electrode block has a reliable sealing system that prevents the electrolyte (coolant) from leaking out. Reliable electrical insulation is provided for the contact part and the outer surface of the boiler body itself - for this purpose it is covered with a layer of polyamide.
The dimensions of the boiler are usually not too large - this depends on its total power and on the specific model. This will be discussed in more detail in the section on the main manufacturers of such equipment.
Most often, there are no longer any control or adjustment devices on the body of the boiler itself. But every boiler must be equipped with an electronic or electromechanical control unit of varying degrees of complexity.
These control units allow the boiler to be turned on only to maintain the set heating mode. Thus, the system can be equipped with one temperature sensor ( on the pipesupply of heated coolant) or even two (an additional one is on the return pipe). The maximum heating temperature and its hysteresis are set on the control unit (Δt°, that is, the difference in temperature values in both directions, at which a control signal is generated to turn the boiler power on or off).
In some control systems that can be more finely tuned, it is possible to set the nominal temperature value in the “return” and the hysteresis value for it. There are also more “sophisticated” control schemes that are typical for certain equipment manufacturers.
About the advantages and disadvantages of ion (electrode) boilers
Much has been written about the advantages of electrode boilers, often contradictory. Let's look at it one by one:
Advantages - truth and speculation
- Electrode boilers have the highest efficiency, close to 100%. This - pure truth, but with some reservations.
By the way, you can come across publications that claim that the efficiency even exceeds this threshold - 100%. More precisely, it says that the coefficient is higher than that of conventional boilers with heating elements by 30 — 40%. There is no way to believe this.
Indeed, any electric boilers have a high efficiency, tending to 100%, no matter what heating principle is used: resistive (heating element), induction or ionic - almost all electrical energy is converted into heat and is ultimately transferred to the coolant. The only question is how quickly the boiler reaches the design heating temperature - at the start-up stage, a boiler with heating elements will, of course, require a little more time. And so, no one has canceled the law of conservation of energy, and one cannot expect any miracles from an electrode boiler.
- With equal heating power, electrode boilers are the most compact and lightest in weight among their “brothers”. It's hard to disagree - this is true. They are especially noticeable compared to induction heaters, which are always distinguished by their massiveness and overall dimensions.
- An electrode boiler does not require the installation of a chimney system - like any other boiler powered by electrical energy.
- There is absolutely no possibility of overheating and failure due to coolant leakage from the system. Indeed, an important advantage: the electrodes do not contact each other in any way, and the lack of liquid leads to a complete open circuit - the boiler, by definition, cannot operate in such conditions.
- Heating of water occurs very quickly, which, according to the laws of thermodynamics, is accompanied by a sharp increase in pressure in the system. It is possible to do without a circulation pump.
It would seem that everything is correct, but for some reason such systems are still not used without a pump. Firstly, it is completely unproductive to direct part of the energy to ensure circulation (with a pump, consumption for these purposes will be lower, and the process will be more controlled). And, secondly, we can talk about such a powerful pressure surge only when the system is starting up. In the future, when the control switches to maintaining the temperature within the established hysteresis, this process will not differ in any way from all other boilers.
- The inertia of such a boiler is the smallest and h all electrical varieties. Therefore, there is the possibility of very precise and rapid operation settings that will help save on energy costs.
A classic example of how two expressions are combined in one expression. completely unrelated statements among themselves. Indeed, inertia is low. First of all, due to the fact that the mass of the boiler itself is insignificant, and heating of the liquid begins faster. Regarding energy costs - they, at the same time, as we have already found out, efficiency depend, rather, on the level of thermal insulation of the building, that is, on the existing heat losses. But the efficiency of switching and the accuracy of settings is unlikely to have any tangible effect on both the comfort of living and efficiency. Is it possible that such a boiler will turn on and off more often, which, by the way, is not even particularly good.
As for the accuracy of the settings, this is still a very controversial issue. If we take into account the nonlinearity of the electrolysis heating process and the special requirements for the quality of the electrolyte, then perhaps controlling a conventional boiler looks like a much simpler task.
- Voltage drops do not affect the operation of the boiler - its power may only change, but operation will not stop.
Reading about such an “advantage” is even somewhat funny. By and large, voltage drops are also not afraid neither ordinary boilers nor heating elements. But complex automation, which regulates and directs the operation of any boilers, requires a certain stability of power supply. And electrode boilers are no different from others in this regard.
- Electrode boilers can be installed in the heating circuit as additional energy sources.
Indeed, it is possible, but in this case you will have to bring the state of the coolant to the one that is required specifically for an electrode (ion) boiler.
A very “solid” battery of electrode boilers!
It is also possible to install several boilers in parallel with the same power - in this case it will be possible to stepwise adjust the total heating power - by turning on all or a selected number of heaters.
- The operation of electrode boilers is absolutely harmless from an environmental point of view.
Question about porn. Yes, there are not and cannot be any harmful emissions into the atmosphere - but this is typical for all electric heaters. But due to the composition of the coolant, electrode boilers can even pose a certain environmental hazard. Often it contains very toxic substances (such as ethylene glycol), and the spent electrolyte, if replaced quite often, requires a special disposal procedure - simply pouring it onto the ground or even into the sewer system is strictly prohibited.
- The cost of electrode boilers, compared to other electric ones, is the lowest.
This is indeed true, but one cannot help but notice one “marketing trap”. Very often the cost of such boilers is indicated without taking into account the price of automation units. Ordinary boilers with heating elements, as a rule, are assembled in one housing with all the built-in electronics, temperature sensors, thermostat, etc., so their price is appropriate.
The cost of control equipment must also be taken into account immediately, since without it all the advantages of electrode boilers are literally reduced to zero - uncontrolled heating of the liquid will not only be uneconomical, but also extremely dangerous!
Disadvantages of ion boilers
Honestly, if you just look at the list of disadvantages of electrode boilers, then any desire to get involved with this type of heating disappears. However, let the reader judge for himself, since some of the “cons” are clearly far-fetched and do not deserve special attention.
- Sometimes the disadvantages include the fact that the electrode stake requires only alternating current - with constant current, the process of electrolysis of the coolant will begin with its chemical decomposition.
Considering this a drawback is the same as complaining that a car does not want to run on alcohol, and a home TV refuses to work on a AA battery. Each device has its own capabilities and its own energy sources, and this has nothing to do with disadvantages.
- The need to equip the heating circuit with a circulation pump.
This has already been mentioned above, but such a “disadvantage” is inherent in almost all home heating systems, with the exception of open ones with natural circulation. And even then, it is also recommended to install pumps in them - this affects the uniformity and overall efficiency of heating the home.
- Special requirements for the quality and chemical composition of the coolant.
Here, you can’t argue; indeed, the electrode boiler will not work with any liquid that gets into it. Several criteria must be combined here - the possibility of ionization (for example, distilled water will not work in principle), relatively low electrical resistance (if the value is high, the current simply will not flow through the liquid). And at the same time, we must not forget about high heat capacity, resistance to freezing, operating temperature range, environmental friendliness, etc.
Many manufacturers of electrode boilers directly give recommendations on the use of specific brands of coolants, which they often produce themselves. Moreover, there are cases where warranty service for equipment was refused due to violations of recommendations.
Many craftsmen are very critical of factory-made compounds and recommend using saline solutions (brines) made independently. But independently selecting the optimal composition, without special equipment for testing electrical conductivity, is an extremely difficult task. This approach is complicated by the fact that over time the electrical characteristics of the coolant can change significantly, and in addition, they largely depend on the current heating temperature.
In a word, selecting the right coolant for the system in the case of electrode boilers turns into a very troublesome task. And if we also take into account that replacement of the entire volume of working fluid will have to be carried out before each heating season...
- Not all heating radiators can be used in conjunction with electrode boilers.
The honest truth is that for such a heating system, either or aluminum radiators are recommended. Moreover, when choosing aluminum, you should also pay attention to the quality of the material - is it a primary metal, or a processed product. The fact is that the processed metal will necessarily contain a large number of impurities - oxides, and they can very seriously disrupt the chemical composition of the electrolyte, sharply increasing or decreasing the electrical conductivity, which will unbalance the operation of the system.
Cast iron radiators are very undesirable for two reasons. Firstly, their very significant heat capacity can exceed the normal heating capabilities of an electrode boiler, and it will work almost non-stop. And secondly, old cast iron batteries, as a rule, are not distinguished by internal cleanliness, they lend themselves to really high-quality cleaning due to the porosity of the surface, and can quickly render the coolant unusable for operation. And no one has canceled the corrosion of ferrous metals, and any electrolyte is always characterized by increased corrosion properties.
As an exception, modern cast iron radiators made in Europe may be suitable. They have a smaller volume and a higher quality of metal.
- Electrode boilers have particularly increased requirements for grounding.
By and large, any powerful electrical installations must have reliable grounding of the frame. But if in most cases it is - means protection against accidental phase breakdown on the housing, then in the example with ion boilers everything is more serious. Their metal body is directly involved in the work process, and therefore, indeed, grounding becomes of utmost importance for ensuring safety. Moreover, the standard RCD unit is not applicable in the case under consideration, since there will be a voltage leak one way or another, and the power with such protection will be constantly forcibly turned off.
You can find out how to do it correctly by following the link to the corresponding article on our portal.
- There are strict restrictions on the maximum heating temperature - up to 75 degrees.
It's more likely no no wealth, but the peculiarity of the operation of such a heating circuit. The fact is that the electrical conductivity of the liquid changes nonlinearly, and at temperatures above 75 ° WITH there may be unnecessary waste of energy without increasing power. However, this temperature should almost always be enough for high-quality heating. And the upper heating limit, by the way, exists for any boilers (including gas and solid fuel) and this must be monitored by automation.
- The electrodes become overgrown quite quickly, due to the specific nature of the work, and require regular replacement. Probably too no no prosperity, and operating costs - any equipment eventually requires replacement of consumable parts.
- It is impossible (in any case, extremely undesirable) to use such a boiler in an open-type heating system.
This is true - the electrolyte itself is a rather aggressive environment for the elements of the heating system. If air oxygen still has free access to the coolant, its ability to cause corrosion will increase many times over, but the necessary chemical composition to ensure the required electrical conductivity may change for the worse.
- It is inadmissible to use heated water for domestic and technical needs (with a single-circuit heating system). This drawback can be eliminated by installing an indirect heating boiler, of course, having correctly calculated the overall capabilities of the system.
- Very big difficulties when starting the heating system.
We are not talking about the installation of the boiler itself, its installation and piping - here experienced craftsmen should not have any special problems. The main problems, as already mentioned, are the correct selection of the chemical composition of the coolant and fine adjustment of the system. It is not recommended to carry out such activities on your own; you will need to invite experienced specialists.
The same can be said about regular preventive measures in preparation for the heating season, since it is almost impossible to correctly assess the condition of the coolant and the overall performance of the system without gained experience and without special equipment. This means that you will have to put up with the annual call of the relevant specialists.
Find out how to do it, and also read the detailed instructions in the article on our portal.
Electrode (ion) heating boilers on the Russian market
Thanks to their advantages, and despite their rather numerous disadvantages, ionic heating colas remain very popular in the Russian open spaces. Several domestic companies are engaged in their production, and products are also supplied from foreign countries. To help the reader with the choice of equipment, a brief overview of the most popular brands will be given
Electrode boilers "Galan"
The products of the Moscow company Galan are, without a doubt, a pioneer in the domestic market for equipment of this type, and it is possible that throughout the world too. Release them mastered back in the early 90s based on our own patented development. There are no exact statistics, but, most likely, “Galan” still holds the “palm of championship” in this area, in any case, in terms of mentions on the Internet and in terms of positive reviews, these boilers are definitely in the lead.
Model range of electrode boilers "Galan"
Today the company produces three main models, each of which has several gradations in terms of heating power level.
The smallest ones are “Galan-Ochag”. Weighing only 500 g, these “babies” are capable of efficiently heating quite large volumes - up to 200 m³, delivering power up to 5 kW. The cost of such boilers is from 3300 to 4000 rubles. A more modern model - "Galan-Ochag-Turbo" can be slightly more expensive - up to 6,000 rubles.
In private residential construction, the most popular are single-phase and three-phase electrode boilers "Galan-Geyser". They have two heating power thresholds - 9 and 15 kW, and this should be enough for a completely respectable country cottage with a total volume of sealed rooms of up to 450 m³. The average cost of such boilers is 6 to 7 thousand, and “Geyser-Turbo” is about 8 thousand rubles.
The most powerful are the electrode colas in the Galan-Vulcan line. They are all designed to operate in a three-phase network, have a power of 25 and 50 kW, and are intended for heating fairly large structures. The price for them is over 10 thousand rubles.
| Basic parameters of electric heating boilers | VULCANO 50 | VULCANO 25 | GEYSER 15 | GEYSER 9 | HEATH 6 | HEATH 5 | HEATH 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumption voltage, V | 380 | 380 | 380 | 220/380 | 220 | 220 | 220 |
| Heated room, m³ | up to 1600 | up to 850 | up to 550 | up to 340 | up to 250 up to 200 | up to 120 | |
| Coolant volume, liter | 300-500 | 150- 300 | 100- 200 | 50-100 | 35-70 | 30-60 | 25-50 |
| Current consumption, max, A | 2×37.9 | 37.5 | 22.7 | 13,7/40 | 27.3 | 22.7 | 13.7 |
| Peak power consumption in kW, at water temperature 90ºС | 50 | 25 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| Power consumption in kW, average for the heating season, (6 months – 4320 hours) from October 15 to April 15. | up to 36000 kW | up to 18000 kW | up to 12000 kW | up to 8000 kW | up to 6000 kW | up to 5000 kW | up to 3000 kW |
| Recommended outlet temperature, °C | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Coupling diameter for connecting the boiler to the heating system | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| weight. kg | 11.5 | 42130 | 42130 | 42130 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| diameter, mm | 130 | 130 | 130 | 130 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
| length, mm | 570 | 460 | 410 | 360 | 335 | 320 | 275 |
If the basic models of Galan boilers themselves remain practically unchanged, then the control automation is constantly being improved. Thus, it is recommended to purchase control units for modern household-grade boilers “ Galan - Navigator» in various designs (price - from 6 thousand).
There may be other proposals - for example, equipping the Galan boiler with an ABB or Hager circuit breaker, a modular digital coolant thermostat "BeeRT", which will simultaneously regulate the performance of the circulation pump, and a room thermostat "by air" COMPUTHERM Q7" . Such a system is fully agreed with the boiler manufacturer, but its cost, of course, will be somewhat higher.
Video: variety of Galan boilers
Prices for the Galan heating boiler range
Heating boilers Galan
Beryl"
Another popular Russian product is the Beryl family of electrode heating boilers.
They are produced in two sizes, depending on the power supply used - 220 or 380 volts, and on the installation power, respectively - up to 9 and up to 33 kW.
Single-phase electrode boilers "Beryl"
Dimensions of the three-phase modification "Beryl"
A characteristic feature of all Beryl boilers is the top location of the power connection unit - this somewhat simplifies both installation and maintenance. Even to replace the electrode block, in most cases it will not be necessary to dismantle the entire boiler from its piping.
| Name of boilers, control systems: | price, rub. |
|---|---|
| BERIL ion boilers and automation (manual power change, step 200 (600) W) | |
| Boilers 220V; 5, 7, 9 kW | 4450 |
| 8450 | |
| Control unit "Euro" for 220V and 380V boilers | 14000 |
| BERIL ion boilers and automation (automatic / manual power change, step 600 W) | |
| 380V boilers with triac unit 6, 9, 12, 15, 25, 33 kW | 20000 |
| CSU control unit (with PID mode function) | 15000 |
| BERIL ion boilers and automation (automatic / manual power change, step 2000 W) | |
| Boiler 380V with built-in triac unit, 100 kW | 75000 |
| Boiler 380V with built-in triac unit, 130 kW | 100000 |
| CSU control unit (with PID mode function) for 100 and 130 kW boilers | 25000 |
| Electrode boilers BERIL and automation | |
| Boilers 220V; 5, 7, 9 kW | 4450 |
| Boilers 380V; 6, 9, 12, 15, 25, 33 kW | 8450 |
| Control unit ETsRT GEKK for boilers 220 and 380 V | 8500 |
| BERIL thermal modules of unlimited power with one control unit | |
| Boilers 380V 33 kW with triac unit - 1 pc. | 20000 |
| Control unit GEKK 63/3M TsSU for module operation in PID mode | 20000 |
| Control unit GEKK 60/3 TsSU for operation of the module in group control mode | 25000 |
| Coolant BERIL V.I.P. propylene glycol based | |
| temperature -35C (-45C crystallization temperature) polye canister 20 liters | 2200 |
By the way, it is some models of Beryl boilers that are positioned as ionic boilers - because, according to the manufacturer, they implement the ability to control the overall level of electrical charges. Such products can be equipped with control units of varying complexity:
Control unit for boilers "Beryl" CSU "Euro"
TsSU "Euro" control units allow you to manually adjust the heating power of the coolant in steps of 200 W.
1 – connection block (power contactor);
2 – step boiler power regulator;
3 – automatic overload protection;
4 – thermostat control unit, according to the coolant heating level.
Beryl ion boiler with triac unit
More expensive models, with automatic control and regulation of power at each specific moment in time, are equipped with a special triac unit (pictured) and a PID system - electronic temperature control. It is believed that the PID controller, which consists of an amplifier, integrator and differentiator, most quickly and accurately estimates the heating level taking into account the immediate future and generates control signals that allow saving up to 20% of energy.
Line of boilers EOU (Energy Saving Heating Installation)
This is also a Russian-made product. Simple in design, relatively inexpensive, but quite easy to use, the boilers cover a power range from 2 to 120 kW. They can be produced for single- and three-phase current networks, differing in size.
Dimensions of electrode boilers "EOU"
Such boilers are popular not only in our country, but also in neighboring countries, and last year the products received certification from the Customs Union.
The table shows technical data and the average price level for boilers operating on a 220 volt network, as the most popular in domestic conditions:
| Technical data | Unit measurements | Single-phase modifications | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 1/3 | 1/4 | 1/5 | 1/6 | 1/7 | 1/8 | 1/9 | 1/10 | 1/12 | ||
| Operating voltage | Volt | ~220 | ~220 | ~220 | ~220 | ~220 | ~220 | ~220 | ~220 | ~220 | ~220 |
| Power consumption | kW | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 |
| Heated room volume | m³ | 120 | 180 | 240 | 300 | 360 | 420 | 480 | 540 | 600 | 750 |
| Heated area | m² | 40 | 60 | 80 | 100 | 120 | 140 | 160 | 180 | 200 | 250 |
| Electricity consumption per day | kW | 2-16 | 3-24 | 4-32 | 5-40 | 6-48 | 7-56 | 8-64 | 9-72 | 10-80 | 12-96 |
| Raising water in a water system (without pump) | m | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 |
| Weight, no more | kg | 3 | |||||||||
| Price of the device, without control panel | rub. | 4200 | 4300 | 4400 | 4500 | 4600 | 4700 | 4800 | 4900 | 5000 | 5100 |
| Price of a set of components for the control panel | rub. | 1410 | 1990 | 1990 | 1850 | 1850 | 1850 | 2540 | 2540 | 2540 | 2540 |
Despite the unpretentious design of EOU boilers, the manufacturer gives them a factory warranty of at least 10 years, and the total service life is estimated at 30 years.
Video: examples of using EOU electrode boilers
Imported electrode boilers
In addition to Russian-made boilers, models produced in some neighboring countries are in demand.
Ukrainian-designed and produced Forsazh boilers are interesting in that they are equipped with a special casing - a casing, which increases the operational safety of the installation and still makes its appearance more attractive.
Boiler "Fast and Furious" in the box
The line of Forsazh boilers is represented by five models operating from 220 V, with a power from 3 to 25 kW. All of them are equipped with a control unit of our own design - an electronic digital temperature controller (EDRT).
Set - “Forsazh” boiler with electronic digital temperature controller
The basic characteristics of Forsazh electrode boilers are given in the table:
| Parameter name | Execution options | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAST AND THE FURIOUS 3 | FAST AND THE FURIOUS 5 | FAST AND THE FURIOUS 9 | FAST AND THE FURIOUS 15 | FAST & FURIOUS 25 | |
| Rated voltage, V | 220 | ||||
| Permissible deviations from the rated voltage, % | ±10 | ||||
| Rated frequency, Hz | 50 | ||||
| Rated current in one phase at a coolant temperature of 63°C, A | 13.6 | 22.7 | 13.6 | 22.7 | 37.9 |
| Rated power consumption, kW | 3 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 25 |
| Electronic digital temperature controller (EDCRT) | ECRT-3 | ECRT-5 | ECRT-9 | ECRT-15 | ECRT-25 |
| Coolant | Special coolant "Forsazh-M" | ||||
| Coolant volume in the heating system, l | 20 - 40 | 30 - 60 | 60 - 120 | 100 - 200 | 160 - 300 |
| Coolant operating pressure (cold) | 0,1 - 0,15 | ||||
| in the heating system, MPa (bar) | (1 - 1,5) | ||||
| Maximum permissible pressure, MPa (bar) | 0,3 (3) | ||||
| Maximum volume of heated premises, m 3 | 100 | 170 | 300 | 450 | 750 |
| Overall dimensions, mm | 265x135x88 | 470x190x136 | |||
| Nozzle diameter | 1,25" | ||||
| Weight, kg | 1.85 | 1.95 | 6.05 | 6.4 | 6.85 |
| Execution according to the degree of protection against moisture | IPX3 | ||||
And finally, we can mention a device developed and assembled in Latvia – the STAFOR boiler. It is interesting for several innovative solutions, including the use of a “Faraday cage” - separation of the protective and working zero.
Of all the boilers, it has the highest safety indicators, and is the only one of its kind - it has passed full certification according to the very strict requirements of the European Union. This boiler is fully equipped with its own electronics. In addition, with it you can purchase not only a branded coolant, but even a special additive, STATERM POWER, which allows you to timely adjust the chemical composition of the electrolyte to adjust the boiler power.
So, the principle of operation, advantages and disadvantages of such heating boilers are clear to the reader. He is familiar with the variety of models and approximate price levels. All that remains is to make your own choice - “for” or “against”.
Often, when planning an autonomous heating system, the choice is made on traditional heat sources - gas or solid fuel boilers. What to do in a situation where installation of such equipment is impossible? The recently appeared ionic ones can not only optimally solve the issue of heating a room, but also take up a minimum of space during installation. Their main advantage is the innovative method of heating water in the heating system.
The operation of heating elements of this type is based on the chaotic movement of water ions as it passes between the active elements of the boiler - the anode and cathode. The electric current flowing between them accelerates the movement of the ions, thereby raising the overall temperature of the water. The general scheme of operation is shown in the figure:
Ion boiler operating diagram
But don't be fooled by the simplicity of the design. It is impossible to assemble a reliable and safe ion boiler entirely at home. For the production of the cathode and anode, a special material is used that is not subject to corrosion and has high mechanical strength. The boiler body must be completely sealed, since the slightest discrepancy between the standard connection and the pipe distribution can lead to a breakthrough.
The standard equipment consists of the heating element itself, a thermostat for temperature control and a protective relay.
Advantages
A special feature of using this type of heater is its compactness and the ability to create several closed heating systems in one room. Advantages of using ion heating boilers:
- Overall dimensions allow it to be installed anywhere in the heating system.
- High efficiency (up to 99%). Installing the cathode and anode directly in the heating system reduces energy losses to a minimum.
- The heating area of 1 kW of consumed energy is about 20 m2.
- Short heating time for water in the system. Due to the low start-up inertia, the water in the batteries will warm up to the required level in a short time.
- High degree of protection against voltage surges in the network. Also, the boiler will not fail during “idle” operation - there is no water in the system.
Thanks to the advantages described above, ion heating boilers can be installed both in private homes and apartments.
Wiring diagram
Connecting the ionic heating element does not require special installation skills. To carry out commissioning work, you can follow the simplest diagram shown in the figure:
General connection diagram for an ion boiler
For installation you will need:
Ion boiler. In order to choose a boiler of optimal power, you need to know the parameters of the heated room. Let's consider the option of a 2-room apartment (48 sq. m., ceiling height 2.6 m.) with good thermal insulation. Let's calculate the total volume of the room:
48*2.6=125 m³.
The power consumption for heating 1 m³ with an ion boiler is 0.025 kW, i.e. For a comfortable temperature in the apartment, it will be enough to install a 3 kW boiler in the heating system.
- A ball valve is necessary to shut off the water in the event of an unexpected breakdown or replacement of water in the system.
- The circulation pump ensures the movement of water in the system for uniform distribution among the coolants.
- The filter element prevents contaminants (rust, scale) from entering the boiler tank.
- To drain the water, use a drain valve located at the lowest point of the return pipe.
- An expansion tank is necessary to compensate for the expansion of water during its heating to the desired temperature.
- The boiler automatic switching module will start the system according to the specified parameters.
- Air intake.
It should be noted that for the normal functioning of an ion heating boiler, water of a strictly defined density is required. When installing into a previously operating system, it is necessary to replace all the fluid and add a special inhibitor to the new one. The water must be distilled.
For the first 120 cm of connection between the boiler and the system, use steel (but not galvanized) pipes.
Hello again! Many of you have heard about wonderful electrode boilers that save a lot of electricity. A legitimate question arises: “How and due to what does this happen?” Let's try to figure out where the truth is and where the fiction is. Let's start by explaining the physical principles of the electrode boiler.
The operating principle of an electrode boiler.
The physical principle here is simple - the coolant in the heating system is heated by directly passing an electric current through it. The phases of the electrical network are connected to the electrode group, and the zero is connected to the boiler body. And in a normal one, the network is connected to the heating element. To make it clearer, look at the following picture: 
Heat is released due to the fact that the coolant has some resistance. In general, selecting a coolant for such boilers is a difficult task:
- Distilled water is not suitable because it does not conduct electricity.
- Water with added table salt can cause accelerated corrosion of metal parts of the system and scale deposits on the electrodes.
In the passports for such heating devices, manufacturers usually write that the boiler is guaranteed to work only with their coolant, which contains “special” corrosion inhibitors or something else. I am tormented by suspicions that this is being done in order to refuse warranty service on occasion if the consumer used some other liquid. Manufacturers recommend using propylene glycol or ethylene glycol for electrode boilers. If interested, you can read my article about. Now let's touch on one more issue.
Comparison of the efficiency of an electrode and conventional electric boiler.
Manufacturers praise electrode boilers for their high efficiency. They explain the absence of losses by the fact that the electric current directly heats the coolant. But for some reason nothing is said about losses during use. Here's a picture to remind you of their structure:
Inside the heating element, sequential heating of the nichrome spiral, then the periclase filler, and then the metal tube occurs. This entire structure is tightly rolled and there are no air cavities inside that could retain heat. Therefore, almost all the energy released on the nichrome spiral goes to heating the water. Just like in an electrode boiler.
There is another statement from the manufacturers: “An electrode boiler heats water faster than a heating element. Because water is heated throughout the entire volume of the boiler.” This is also a controversial argument. There is not enough water inside the boiler, and a lot of power is applied to heat it. Of course, there will be some advantage in time, but most likely it will not play a role for you. And it won’t bring any of the promised 30% savings.
The temperature of the coolant in the system is also very important. This is due to the fact that as its temperature increases, its resistance drops. And this causes an increase in power consumption:
For this reason, the coolant temperature should not exceed 50°. What will this mean for you? This is another ambush! For example, the heat transfer of aluminum radiators is measured based on the condition that the coolant temperature is 90° and the air temperature in the room is 20°. At lower coolant temperatures, you will need to increase the number of radiator sections. This is done, for example, in a heating system called “Leningradka”, where the radiators furthest from the riser or boiler should have a large number of sections. The more sections, the more expensive the heating system will be in price. The only option with this coolant temperature is . But we must remember that for our cold climate they are not suitable as the main heating system.
The moral of everything said above is this: there is no particular advantage in terms of efficiency for an electrode boiler compared to a conventional electric one, but the difficulties with operation increase. We'll talk about other difficulties below.
Difficulties in operating electrode boilers.
In addition to what was listed earlier, there are also “features” in the operation of such heating devices:
- The need to monitor the condition of the coolant. The properties of the coolant change over time under the influence of electric current, and the power consumption depends on these properties.
- The need to universally ground all metal parts - radiator pipes, etc. Grounding systems are expensive and complicated
- Faster process of corrosion of metals under the influence of electricity. The phenomena of electrocorrosion destroy not only black but also stainless steels.
- High probability of refusal of warranty service for equipment. In order not to be unfounded, I will give excerpts from the passport for the electrode boiler:
In general, there are a lot of problems for one device.
Brief summary of the article.
An electrode boiler is, of course, an interesting technical solution. But there are many problems with its operation and they are serious. However, there is no evidence of its cost-effectiveness, except for the promises of manufacturers and sellers. I will also say that for some reason unknown to me, not a single well-known manufacturer of heating equipment produces electrode boilers. It is possible that this is caused by these problems. On this optimistic note, I conclude this article. I look forward to your questions in the comments.
