Economical condensation heating boilers are considered the most promising. Perhaps the most significant drawback is condensate formed when working. What is a similar condensation and how dangerous is it?
In this case, condensate is a weak mixture of acids and water generated during the combustion process of fuel. In traditional boilers, these combustion products are literally flying into the pipe, since their temperature is high enough and they remain in a gaseous state. And in condensation boilers, combustion products are cooled, highlighting additional energy - due to which, in fact, a higher efficiency of the equipment is achieved.
Photo: Ariston Thermo
In small quantities, condensate is not particularly dangerous. Its acidity approximately corresponds to the acidity of many effervescent beverages. However, condensate is formed so much that it is necessary to give it somewhere.
Photo: Bosch Thermotechnik
Depending on the power, condensation boilers are available for floor and wall mounting.
If urban sewage is connected to the house, you can agree with local services for the draining of household wastewater to completely neutralize the entire volume of condensate from the boiler. Such an opportunity is provided in our building standards and therefore does not cause objections from local services. True, for the drain of a large volume of drains, it will have to pay for the current rates, it will cost more than the installation of condensate neutralizer, the cost of which will be approximately 5-10 thousand rubles. For a boiler with a capacity of up to 100 kW.
Example Calculation of Lifetime
In the characteristics of all models of neutralizers, the volume of condensate is given, which can neutralize one frustration (for example, 520 m³ - the dosage depends on the number and pH level of condensate). In the manual for the boiler, the maximum amount of the resulting condensate per hour of work is always indicated (say, the Buderus GB162-100 model can produce up to 10.8 l per hour). To find out how much condensate is formed for the year, it is necessary to clarify the duration of the heated period (for the Moscow region, for example, it is 3200 hours per year). That is, for the year, the GB162-100 boiler in the suburbs will produce about 10.8 × 3200 = 34 560 l = 34.56 m³ of condensate. It remains to divide the flow capacity (520 m³) on the annual volume of condensate (34.56 m³), and we will see how long you will not need to call the service service for replacing the neutralizer - 520: 34,56 = 15 years. After this period, the neutralizing intensity should be completely updated.
The neutralizer will be needed in the event that the house provides its own sewage system. Usually it is a system of tanks where special bacteria live for which even a very low acid concentration is destructive. Therefore, it is impossible to drain sour condensate in the tanks. It is also unacceptable to merge condensate directly to the garden.
Photo: Legion-Media
Condensation boilers, like the boilers of other types, need an annual inspection of service specialists
The simplest neutralizer is a vessel with a granulate of a neutralizing agent. In more complex models there are a pump, an acidity indicator, its own control system and much more. All these details are important for the installer, and not for the consumer. The latter you need to know how much time a backfall will serve, and find out the frequency of its replacement. The service life of one backfill is easy to calculate.
Photo: Bosch Thermotechnik
Bosch neutralizers for condensate neutralization formed during natural gas combustion
During the arrangement of condensation boilers, do not forget that chimneys for them should be made of condensate-resistant materials, such as stainless steel or special types of plastic
The service maintenance of the simplest neutralizer is to replace swelling and testing the pH of the neutralized condensate (pH is allowed from 5.5) twice per year. Fasting can be changed independently if the neutralizer is simple and easily opens for maintenance. It is very important to find the neutralizing means of the manufacturer of your neutralizer, and it may not always be available on sale (be sure to specify the availability of backfills before purchasing the device). If the neutralizer provides additional functions and devices, such as a pump or an acidity indicator, then the maintenance is complicated, and its specialized service organization should be carried out.
Photo: Boris Bezel / Burda Media