Gas convector using natural gas: selection rules, advantages and disadvantages, price and reviews

A natural gas convector is ideal for low-heat rooms, or for those where there was no central heating initially, such as garage workshops or basements. This device is an excellent solution for people who are sensitive to cold temperatures; they require an increased temperature regime in a certain room, but they should not overheat rooms powered by a general heating system. When chosen correctly, portable heaters can improve the energy efficiency of the heating system as a whole, allowing you to maintain a sanitary temperature throughout the entire house and heat an additional specific room, such as a children's room.

Flaws

All of the above belongs to the category of advantages of gas convectors. Next we will look at the shortcomings. All pros and cons are such only in the context of this article. For example, if we take the speed of acceleration of a car, then high engine power can be considered a plus, and driver safety and fuel efficiency can be considered a minus.

This is the case with gas convectors. The biggest disadvantage of this device is that you need to drill into the wall to install it. And not just make a hole, but a hole for a coaxial gas outlet. The gas outlet is a special tube in a pipe through which exhaust gases exit, and the fresh air necessary for combustion enters the convector through an external pipe. It is logical to assume that there should be a hole in the wall in the place where the convector is located, and if they are located under every window in every room, imagine how many holes there will be in your house! And these holes cannot be hidden or brought to one place. And remember another hole in the wall for gas supply. A vivid picture of a house appears before your eyes, shrouded in gas pipes and full of holes in the walls. Agree, not a very inspiring sight!

Let's imagine a living room with an area of 30 square meters with two windows. Using a standard heating system, a convector would need to be placed under each window. In the case of gas convectors, this option does not work. We will need to install one convector with increased power in a certain place on the external wall of the room, where there would be optimal conditions for supplying gas there and making a duct for exhaust gases. With this installation there will be no temperature balance in the room. It will be hot in one corner and cold in the opposite. For comfort, you need to place another low-power convector under each window, which immediately doubles the cost of the entire system and the aesthetics of the room. We conclude that this option is inferior to a conventional water heating system.

The gas convector has low inertia. In other words, it heats up very quickly and cools down at the same speed, which can be considered both a plus and a minus, it all depends on how the device is used. In a residential area, of course, this negatively affects the comfort of the temperature regime, but for a garage, workshop or shed, quick heating is a definite plus.

There is one more nuance in a gas convector, which can, in a certain case, be considered a plus or a minus. It has a combustion chamber in which the gas, burning, heats a certain body and a chamber, which then heats the air. For a long service life of the convector, it must use steel that is resistant to fading. It’s good if it uses just such a special steel. But in this case it will not be cheap at all. If it uses cheap steel, then the convector will very quickly fail due to corrosion, burnout, etc. Now, if in a convector the combustion chamber is made of 10 mm cast iron, then such a device will practically last forever.

Calculation of power and gas consumption

The average power of a gas convector can be determined by multiplying the area of the room by a coefficient that takes into account the type of system and its operating conditions. The general formula is:

P = k * S , where:

P – convector power, kW;
k – correction factor;
S – room area, sq. m.

Correction factor

taken equal to 0.1 for balloon-fed systems or rooms with good thermal insulation.
The value k = 0.12 is set in the case when convector heating is the only source of heat in the living room and is operated stably throughout the day.
If the heating device is installed in a walk-through or poorly insulated room , as well as in country houses or dachas, where residents visit only periodically, take k = 0.15 .

But calculating gas consumption is a much more labor-intensive task. It would seem that it is enough to find out the throughput of the burner and multiply it by the operating time, but the fact is that this will not allow taking into account factors such as:

fuel pressure in the cylinder or line;
initial temperature of the external and internal environment;
intensity of gas supply to the burner;
thermostat response threshold;
the time during which the thermostat will keep the burner off (room cooling time).

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Since these factors cannot be predicted, the minimum gas consumption is selected from summary tables.

Here are some values demonstrated by the Uzhgorod gas convector:

power 2 kW - 0.13 cubic meters. meters per hour;
power 2.5 kW - 0.15 cubic meters. meters per hour;
power 3 kW - 0.2 cubic meters. meters per hour;
power 4 kW - 0.23 cubic meters. meters per hour;
power 5 kW - 0.29 cubic meters. meters per hour.

Products from other manufacturers of similar power have approximately the same consumption. In the process of warming up a cold room, it increases by one and a half to two times, but if the convector is used exclusively to maintain the temperature, the minimum flow rate is reduced by another 35-50%.

Design and principle of operation of a gas convector

How does a regular water convector work? This is the most common steel, cast iron, aluminum or bimetallic radiator connected to the heating system. Hot coolant enters the convector, after which the equipment begins to heat the atmospheric air. An electric convector works in approximately the same way, only instead of a coolant, electricity is supplied here, not through pipes, but through wires.

Gas convector device.

How does a gas convector work and what is this unusual device? A heating gas convector is an autonomous heating device that generates heat through a built-in gas burner. The resulting heat is released into the atmosphere, as a result of which the room is heated. But these convectors cannot be called completely autonomous - after all, they can also operate from main gas. Another thing is that such heating does not require laying pipes with coolant and installing a gas boiler.

Gas convectors for heating have a relatively simple design. Inside we will find:

gas burner;
closed (less often open) combustion chamber;
heating control circuit;
air heat exchanger;
security systems.

All this is dressed in a pleasant-looking case. The equipment turns out to be compact, but a little bulky - after all, inside there is a full-fledged gas burner and an impressive heat exchanger.

The air heated in the heat exchanger tends upward, and cold air fills its place.

The operating principle of a gas convector is very simple - natural or liquefied gas enters the burner, ignites and heats the finned heat exchanger, and the combustion products are removed outside using a fan. When heated, the air rises and enters the room. It is replaced by colder air masses. Continuous convection is created, in which almost all the air in the room takes part.

The operation of the burner is controlled by a thermostat that analyzes the air temperature in the room. It is he who turns the gas burner on or off, maintaining the set temperature.

These devices are used to heat buildings for various purposes - these can be residential premises, small offices, utility rooms and much more. Compact gas convectors for dachas are also produced, with minimal dimensions and designed for heating small rooms. A common feature of all such convectors is that they heat the air in only one room - if you need to heat two or three rooms, you will have to buy two or three convectors.

Structural diagram

The concept of a gas convector is based on the combustion of fuel, which forms a combustible mixture, mixing with air in a gas burner and transferring heat from the heat exchanger to the surrounding air.

Common heater elements:

A housing that combines component units.
Gas-burner.
The combustion chamber.
Heat exchanger.
Control system.

Gas heating convectors differ from each other in thermal power, types of combustion chambers, heat exchanger design and monitoring and control mechanism.

Installation recommendations

It is well known that the installation of a gas convector consuming main methane must be carried out by specialists from companies that have the appropriate permits. It is worth clarifying this somewhat generalized requirement: the issue is not installation, but connection to the gas supply network. This operation can indeed be performed by the above-mentioned workers in accordance with previously completed project documentation. This means that you can put the units in place with your own hands, but without connecting to the gas pipeline.

If you nevertheless decide to take bottled gas as an energy carrier, then the situation is simpler. Connecting propane heaters does not require any permits. However, it is strongly recommended to involve a specialist in this work, at least as a consultant. It will help you check the correctness and quality of the connections and carry out the first start-up of the unit.

Before installing a gas convector, you need to make a round hole of the appropriate diameter in the wall. Next, attach the device to the wall or floor according to the operating instructions. In this case, in some heater models, the external temperature sensor with a capillary tube must be moved from the transport position to the working position. After this, all that remains is to connect the fuel supply line to the inlet pipe on the device.

Installation

The fundamental document for installing heating equipment is the operating instructions included with the product. It provides a description and sequence of installation operations.

Peculiarities

Wooden house. Thermal insulation of wooden structures is required. It will be necessary to make fire breaks to the roof. The surface of the coaxial chimney heats up slightly due to its design features; there is no need to insulate it.
Distance from the floor. The minimum distance to the base is no less than 10-15cm. This is necessary for efficient supply of cooled air. Increasing the distance will lead to the formation of a lower cold layer, increasing the temperature under the ceiling.
Location along the walls. It is limited to the point of external supply of the main pipe for a natural fuel convector and the outlet of the coaxial chimney. The use of a balloon option adds freedom to choose the installation location. It is necessary to take into account the location of people and the location of barriers to heat flow in the form of furniture.
Connection. Gas pipe laying, wiring and connections are carried out by accredited gas service specialists. The connection to the steel pipe is made with a flexible hose.
Commissioning activities. The presence of representatives of the local gas service is required. Based on the test results, a note is made in the accompanying documentation for the gas converter.

A gas convector for heating a private house or garage is a successful design for temporary residence of people. An additional function is backup heating equipment.

How to turn on a gas convector

Again, it is recommended to entrust the first start-up of the unit to a specialist. After he has completed the commissioning work, you can safely use the equipment yourself. The algorithm for turning on the convector is as follows:

check the presence of draft, and then open the gas valve at the inlet of the heater;
press and hold the adjustment knob on the valve;
use the piezo ignition button to light the igniter;
hold the handle for 10-15 seconds, then release;
If the wick does not go out, slowly turn the handle and set the desired temperature. The main burner will light up automatically.

If your convector is equipped with a blower fan, a supercharger and electric ignition from batteries, then it starts automatically. You just need to plug in the device, open the gas tap and press the corresponding button on the front panel.

What gas is used

In the original version, the convectors were designed to consume mains gas, which created a false assumption that the installation used only natural gas.

But when using special transition kits, it is very easy to convert it to liquefied fuel. Some device models are already designed for the possibility of transition.

The use of bottled gas has several nuances, including:

It is economically inefficient to work on liquefied fuel, since the cost is equal to the price of electricity if correctly recalculated.
There are strict requirements for the installation and operation of equipment. It is better not to deal with the installation process yourself, but to entrust the arrangement to specialists.

Gas convectors technical characteristics or what they are

Essentially, we have before us a simple heating device consisting of a heat exchanger in an attractive housing and a gas burner.

Construction of a gas heating battery

An excursion into history: back in the 19th century, rooms were heated and illuminated with gas, and even in those days this heating method was cheap, convenient and practical. But then the heating systems and lighting ran on acetylene and were ordinary gas jets, i.e. open burners. Such burners required adjustment to minimize the volume of soot. In addition, combustion products exited the room through a common single ventilation. At the same time, oxygen was consumed to maintain combustion from the volume of the room.

Gas heating convectors have several pleasant innovations, which, ultimately, make them modern heating batteries from rarities:

The gas flow rate is automatically adjusted, which means more economical gas consumption. A simple thermostat turns off the burner or switches it to maintain the flame when the required temperature is reached. If it becomes 3° less, then the fire lights up again.
The flame heats the heat exchanger, and not the actual air in the room.
For most models of modern gas heaters (convectors), air to support combustion comes from the street. And combustion products are removed there too. In this case, it is not a fan that is used, but a pipe in a pipe, the so-called. “coaxial duct”, which is discharged through a different opening.

These are closed-type gas heating convectors. However, there are also so-called open-type gas heating batteries that take air from the room and discharge combustion products into the general ventilation system. Such gas convectors are in great demand due to their easy installation: for heating you just need to connect the battery to the gas source.

Open type gas heating appliance

Fuel for operating a gas heating appliance

You should not think that gas heating radiators can only be placed in places with a natural gas supply from the main gas pipeline. In essence, the operating principle of a gas convector is to use such gas. But manufacturers also produce special adapters that allow the gas convector to operate on liquefied gas, i.e. connect the heating device to a regular cylinder.

Gas convectors using natural gas

Features of a gas heating convector: pros and cons

How convenient and profitable is heating with a gas battery? Does it have any disadvantages? First, let's look at their advantages:

The cheapest way to heat both an apartment and a house. However, if gas convectors using bottled gas are used, heating costs are almost equal to those of an electric boiler. And less profitable than a solid fuel boiler or heat pump.
The efficiency of such heating devices can reach up to 97%, i.e. they are economical.
They can operate at any temperature, even at -50°C.
There is no combustion of oxygen in the air of the room. Since air is used for combustion, which comes from outside the house.
Service life - at least 20 years.
Installation of a gas convector is simple and can be done with your own hands. See below for more details.
Autonomy: you can easily heat several rooms of the house or just one room.

As with the operation of any gas equipment, batteries (convectors) must be used in compliance with strict safety measures, since the gas is explosive!

When using gas convectors using bottled gas, the saving effect from using such heating batteries is reduced to zero. Gas batteries are only useful when there is no electricity. At the same time, the process of replacing the cylinder with an interval of 1 to 4 days may seem quite tedious.

More cons:

Gas radiator heating cannot be used to heat water.
Quite limited thermal conductivity - 2-7 kW (for most models).
Despite their rather beautiful appearance, they are quite large in size, so they are not easy to disguise.
Since this equipment runs on gas, its installation and connection requires obtaining permission from a special gas service.

Top 5. ATEM Zhytomyr-5 KNS-4

Rating (2021): 4.63

Nomination
High operational safety The model is equipped with a flame sensor, non-volatile Italian automatic control and a sealed combustion chamber, which makes it absolutely safe for use in any room.
Characteristics Average price: 17,500 rub.

Country Ukraine

Power: 4 kW

Heating area: 40 sq. m.

Gas consumption: 0.42 cubic meters m/hour

Heat exchanger: steel

Chimney diameter: no information

Ignition: piezo

ATEM is a well-known company specializing in heating equipment. Its devices are leaders in the CIS markets in terms of production volumes, and the Zhitomir line is one of the most purchased, because it combines a low price and excellent technical characteristics. These convectors are one of the most reliable and safe ones running on natural gas. The combustion chamber is hermetically enclosed in a housing, so harmful substances do not enter the heated room. The device is equipped with Italian automatic equipment with a gas valve 630 Eurosit, the non-volatile mechanism of which does not require connection to the network. Another safety benefit is the flame sensor. It instantly shuts off the gas if the flame goes out.

Advantages and disadvantages

Reliable Italian automatics
Sealed combustion chamber
Flame sensor

Cracking noise during operation

15 best electric convectors

Construction of gas convectors

Let's consider the device of a gas convector. 1. Body. Provides device protection. Usually made of durable metal and coated with a special protective paint, which is resistant to temperature changes and protects the body from corrosion. 2. Heat exchanger. The task of this structural element is to heat the maximum amount of air as quickly as possible. For these purposes, the heat exchanger is made finned. Due to constant contact with gas, it is mounted from high-strength steel or cast iron and is also coated with high-temperature paint. 3. Gas burner. It is located inside the housing and consists of a pilot burner to which an electrode is attached to ignite the gas using a discharge. After this, the main burner is ignited. 4. Smoke exhaust system. There are open and closed types. 5.Thermostat. When the room air is heated to a predetermined temperature, the thermostat is activated and the gas supply is at the minimum level required only to maintain the desired temperature. 6. Automation system. Responsible for safety and at the first problems in the operation of the convector, it instantly turns off the device.

Different sizes of convectors

Principle of operation

Let's look at the operating principle of a gas convector. The combustion of gas occurs in a special closed chamber, the surface of which is heated to a high temperature. The cold air of the room comes into contact with the hot convector, heats up and rises, pushing the unheated air mass down onto the hot chamber. Thus, the next portion of air is heated, which contributes to heating the entire room. To speed up this process, fans are built into gas units, which increase air circulation and significantly reduce the time it takes to heat the room.

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Device

Gas convector operation diagram

The design of the gas convector is extremely simple, it contains:

the combustion chamber;
gas-burner;
automation unit (Eurosit);
a heat exchanger that forms the outer part of the combustion chamber;
coaxial chimney.

The combustion chamber is of a closed type. Air from the street is supplied into it and combustion products are discharged there. There are a small number of models of convectors with an open burner, but it is better to avoid such devices, as they quickly burn oxygen into the room and saturate the air with CO2 and other combustion products.

Combustion chamber and heat exchanger material:

steel;
cast iron.

A steel camera is lighter and cheaper. A convector with a steel filling is 10-15 kg less in weight than with cast iron. However, even if the manufacturer used special heat-resistant steel, it still burns out over time and the service life of such a device is lower.

The cast iron combustion chamber has an almost unlimited service life; it is sensitive only to sudden temperature changes. What causes microcracks in the material. Otherwise, cast iron is resistant to corrosion, does not thin out under the influence of open fire and has a high heat capacity, which is rather a positive characteristic for a heating device.

The convector uses a simple-shaped single-module burner that ensures even combustion over a distributed area

It is important that the flame on each nozzle is small, and the gas mixed with air in a certain proportion burns completely without residue

Gas convectors are designed for the use of natural gas in accordance with GOST 5542 low pressure 1274 Pa. Often convectors simultaneously support the installation of a liquefied gas cylinder, which is supplied through a nozzle and a reducer. Mechanical automation, more often the well-proven EuroSit, is responsible for controlling the gas supply, adjusting the output power and controlling the temperature in the room.

The chimney is presented in the form of a coaxial pipe, in which a pipe of a smaller diameter is inserted into a pipe of a larger diameter, forming two separate channels. Combustion products are discharged through the internal channel, and fresh air from the street enters through the gap between the pipes to maintain gas combustion. It is assumed that the convector is installed near the wall bordering the street. The chimney immediately exits to the outside of the building through a prepared channel. The shorter the chimney length, the better.

Supercharged

Heating of the heat exchanger occurs quickly and actively, its temperature can reach 600°C, although more often the heat exchanger area is designed so that the convection flow is sufficient to maintain a much lower temperature of 60-120°C.

One of the options to actively and quickly remove heat from the heat exchanger, and at the same time quickly warm up the heated room, is to use a supercharger, a fan that can quickly drive a large volume of air through the convector.

This approach is appropriate, for example, for heating a utility room, industrial or construction area, country house or garage. Where it is mostly cold, and it is necessary, if necessary, to quickly create comfortable conditions for people. If the convector is used as the main heat source, the fan will be partially occupied only at the beginning of the process, until the air is heated, and then it will turn off and not be used.

Separately, the most compact convectors should be mentioned. They use a fan constantly. The heat exchanger area is reduced to reduce the weight and dimensions of the device, and to achieve the required thermal power, a fan is needed to have time to remove heat from the combustion chamber.

Installation Rules

Once the convector has been purchased, it can be installed. Before you do this, you will need to have a certain set of tools:

drill;
spatula;
pipe cutter;
wrenches and adjustable wrench;
screwdrivers;
perforator;
gas tap;
special silicone;
self-tapping screws;
dowels

It is necessary to choose a place where it will be located. It is best to do this in accordance with GOST. According to it, installation must be carried out under a window. After this, you should prepare the room. That is, the surrounding space around the installation site must be covered. The installation is done according to this algorithm.

It is necessary to determine the hole for the gas pipe to enter. It is necessary to leave a gap for the pipe and fitting.
We make a through hole according to the size of the exhaust pipe using a hammer drill.
We make holes for the fasteners on which the heater will be mounted, and hammer the dowels in there.
We connect the device to the exhaust pipe and seal the joint with special silicone.
We fix the heater to the wall using self-tapping screws.
We seal all holes using foam to prevent cold air from entering the room.

pros

Economic indicator. Electric convectors are cheaper. But a special advantage of gas convectors is their reduced operating cost. For example, popular models with cast iron heat exchangers and a power of up to 3 kW cost twice as much as electric ones with similar parameters.

However, this difference is very quickly covered during operation. The fact is that, according to calculations, the cost of heating the same area of a room when using natural gas is sometimes 10 times lower than when using electricity. The price of a cubic meter of gas and a kilowatt of electricity are approximately similar. But savings are achieved due to the fact that only 0.1 m3 of gas is needed to produce 1 kW of thermal power. All these statements are valid only when a gas convector is connected to a main pipeline and natural gas is used.

Work on liquefied gas. A gas convector can be easily converted to bottled gas. This makes it possible to use such heating devices in areas where there is no electricity or where it is supplied intermittently. But from an economic point of view, convectors using liquefied (cylinder) gas are also economically imperfect, like electric ones.

Lack of coolant. This is a noticeable plus in the absence of running water in the rooms where heating devices are planned to be connected. This is also an excellent factor if during the frosty season you need to leave the building for a long time - the water in the convector will not freeze, since there is none there. This is a good option, for example, for cottages, garages, utility rooms.

Environmental friendliness. The gas convector does not burn oxygen and is safe if all operating standards are observed.

Temperature adjustment. Such convectors have the full possibility of easily setting the required temperature and adjusting it.

Classification

At the moment, several types of gas heating equipment are produced, each with its own characteristics. Devices are usually classified into several categories.

By location

There are wall and floor models. The former are characterized by ease of execution, compact size, and low weight. In addition, the standard place for their installation is under the window, which creates an additional thermal curtain. But, it is necessary to understand that limited loads are allowed on the wall, therefore for such products there are power restrictions.

Floor-standing models of gas equipment are suitable for heating large areas. Units of this type easily generate hundreds and even thousands of kilowatts of thermal energy. However, they require a seriously equipped foundation.

By fuel source

Many users believe that only natural gas can be used as fuel. This is not entirely true. Naturally, it is initially assumed that the convector will be connected to the main pipeline, but a special adapter kit allows it to be easily converted to bottled gas.

A convector operating on propane has the following features.

The cost of liquefied gas per 1 kW of energy will be similar to electricity. For this reason, this option is not particularly suitable if the main goal of installing the system is savings.
A gas heater will be an excellent heating solution if the area you live in has problems with the electricity supply or does not have it at all.
Strict requirements are imposed on systems operating on bottled gas. Of course, you can install them yourself, but if you lack the skills, it is better to seek help from qualified specialists.

Depending on the terrain and the availability of necessary highways, one or another type is selected.

By type of combustion chamber

A conventional convector has a similar operating principle to a stove: air is taken from the room and discharged through a vertical chimney. Such a device is characterized by an obvious drawback: only good ventilation can ensure a constant flow of air, and you will have to work hard on arranging a chimney passing through the floors and roof.

Modern models have a closed combustion chamber. In this case, a special coaxial (pipe-in-pipe) chimney is connected to the heat exchanger. An internal cavity is used to remove exhaust gases, and air is taken in through the interpipe part.

To maintain draft, such devices have a fan built into the chimney. The equipment is considered to be volatile and noise may be heard during operation. At the same time, models with a closed chamber are safer, more environmentally friendly and easier to install.

According to heat exchanger material

During operation, the heat exchanger is exposed to high temperatures, and its failure can lead to more serious problems. It is recommended to choose devices with a cast iron heat exchanger. This material has a specific structure that ensures uniform heating and a service life of about 50 years. However, this option will be expensive and the unit will weigh more.

Cheaper models are equipped with a steel heat exchanger. The service life of a combustion chamber made of high-quality metal is usually within 10 years.

By launch method

The burner ignition mechanism comes in two types: electronic and piezoelectric. In the first case, spark discharges are generated by an electronic board. The advantage of this circuit is its simplicity and reliability, but it requires a power supply that must be grounded.

The piezoelectric method is characterized by energy independence, but to use it you must have certain skills. This ignition option is preferable in cases where you want the heating system to be independent of electricity.

According to the availability of additional functions

Some models of gas equipment have additional capabilities. One of them is a built-in fan, thanks to which heating is faster and more uniform. In addition, its task is to supply air to the heat exchanger housing, which is necessary for cooling the system. This makes it easier to use the device and extends its service life. In particular, an integrated fan is preferable when the heat exchanger is integrated into a system of several hundred kilowatts.

Convectors can also have a timer that allows you to set the heating on and off time. For example, the setting is carried out in such a way that the device begins heating the room an hour before the owners arrive home.

Types of devices

A gas air heater, like other heating equipment, is an excellent option for creating a comfortable temperature regime. Depending on the place of use, they are made in two types:

Stationary are gas heaters using natural gas for the home; they are connected to the appropriate mains (they can also be powered by a liquefied gas cylinder); a prerequisite for installing such equipment is the presence of a chimney that ensures the removal of combustion products and the flow of air. For ease of use, models are available equipped with replaceable nozzles that provide various ways to connect the device.
Portable devices are not able to provide full heating of a residential building or an entire apartment, so they are used in dachas, in the garage, to maintain heat in the room. Due to their mobility (small size and weight), the devices can be placed in any room and, if desired, moved to other rooms. Such heaters operate on liquefied gas (connected to a household cylinder).

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For ease of placement, wall, floor and ceiling models are available. The combustion chambers also differ. The closed type of chamber is more practical to use, since the air required for combustion comes from the street and the products of work are discharged there.

Despite the variety of models produced, gas heaters have the same components. The main components of the devices are:

Frame.
Burner.
Heater.
Heat exchanger.

The most common models of gas heaters are:

Infrared heaters are equipped with metal or ceramic emitters that, when heated, emit heat (infrared waves), which heats the objects in the room, rather than the air.
Catalytic models are considered safe. During operation, there is no combustion process itself; the release of thermal energy occurs as a result of a chemical reaction. The fuel supplied to the catalytic panel is oxidized, resulting in the release of heat. The room is heated using both convection and infrared or mixed types.
Convection heaters are the simplest units. As a result of gas combustion, finned radiators heat up, from which heated air rises, and cold air falls in its place and heats up.

When used correctly, these devices will be reliable assistants capable of quickly creating a comfortable thermal regime in any room, even in the absence of electrical energy.

Internal layout and materials

As mentioned above, the main task of the heating system - heating the air - is solved by a heat exchanger. Therefore, the choice of its configuration, size and material of manufacture must be carried out especially carefully. In the first two points (configuration and size) there is a unity of opinion.

Thus, the most effective is the S-shaped position of the tubes in a ribbed radiator, which ensures uniform heating of the metal and rapid release of the body to the passing flow. The dimensions are set in proportion to the power of the device. Manufacturing materials are more difficult.

The buyer or system assembler will have to choose from several options, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The most popular are:

Steel is cheap, heats up quickly, but also cools down quickly. It is susceptible to corrosion, and therefore is relatively short-lived, and gradually loses efficiency during operation.
Cast iron is another budget solution, but more promising than steel. Cast iron is fragile, so products made from it should be installed carefully, and the large specific gravity of the material imposes additional requirements on the reliability of mounting the system on the wall. Among the advantages of cast iron is its high heat capacity, that is, the ability to release accumulated heat for a long time even after the burner is turned off.
Aluminum alloys – due to their low weight, high strength and chemical stability, are capable of functioning reliably for a long time. In terms of heat capacity, they are practically not inferior to cast iron, but they are an order of magnitude more expensive.
Copper – provides maximum heat capacity, is practically not subject to corrosion, can withstand temperature and pressure changes well, and is easy to mold and install. However, you will have to pay well for such versatility - copper heat exchangers are the most expensive offered on the modern market.

Having analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of each material, we can come to the conclusion that in industrial gas convectors, heat exchangers made of cast iron and aluminum alloys are preferred, since they provide the optimal price-quality ratio.

In home-made devices, it is better to give preference to aluminum alloys or copper as they are more reliable and not so demanding on the skills of the assembler.

Another dilemma to be solved is whether the system is equipped with an open or closed combustion chamber.

The open chamber takes cold air directly from the room, warming it up and removing combustion products into the external environment. However, if there is an installation error, an insufficiently efficient exhaust hood, or in a poorly ventilated room, there may be a lack of oxygen and an increase in the concentration of carbon monoxide. It is recommended to install a convector with an open combustion chamber exclusively in non-residential premises.
The closed chamber forces atmospheric air inside through a coaxial pipeline. Combustion products move along it in the opposite direction, which preheat the clean air through the pipeline wall. This system is more reliable and safer, it is compact and easy to install. However, a closed chamber is not without certain disadvantages - its operation requires electricity, which is not always convenient in suburban conditions, in addition, the price of a convector with a closed burner is always higher.

And the last feature, which was already mentioned above, is the presence of a fan heater. Everything is simple here - the more powerful the fan, the faster the heated air will reach remote rooms and walls, ensuring a more uniform distribution of heat. And as the fan power increases, the noise level and electricity consumption increase. In powerful devices, the fan also prevents the heat exchanger from overheating, thereby extending its service life.

How to choose power

Each heating device, and gas convector too, has a line in its description indicating the recommended heated area. The data is given for “average” insulation and standard ceiling heights (up to 2.7 m). If your room goes beyond these parameters, you need to adjust the power up or down.

Power is one of the first selection criteria

If you need to estimate the power of a gas convector in advance, the calculation is carried out by area: 1 kW of power is taken per 10 square meters. But this is if the insulation is “average” and the ceilings are 2.5-2.7 m. If there are differences, we again adjust in one direction or the other. And one more thing: it is better to take power with a margin of 20-25%. The benefit is double:

in case of extreme cold you will not freeze;
the unit will almost never operate at maximum power, which will extend its service life.

If a more accurate calculation is needed: taking into account wall materials, region, room location, etc., you can find information here.

Features of choice

When choosing a gas convector model, you must take into account its operating conditions. Among others, the area of the room and the required temperature for heating should be highlighted. The described heating devices have additional features, including:

circulation method;
thermal power;
drawing method;
installation option;
heat exchanger material.

As for the first factor, circulation may be absent or provided by a fan heater

Convectors can be wall-mounted or floor-mounted, sometimes this is important if the room area is limited. The heat exchanger can be based on cast iron or steel

As for the installation location, wall convectors are more practical. They take up little space and are usually installed near the window, creating a thermal curtain between the cold and warm zones. However, such devices should be quite light so as not to create additional load on the wall. Such devices are limited in thermal performance, which does not exceed 10 kW.

If it is necessary to heat a larger area, floor-standing equipment is selected, which usually has large dimensions and significant weight. The cost of wall-mounted and floor-standing units is approximately the same with similar capacities.

Heat exchanger material

Constant operation of a gas burner requires the manufacture of a heat exchanger from heat-resistant material. For this, high-strength steel or cast iron is used. The use of other materials does not guarantee long-term operation of the equipment.

Cast iron is preferable, since it heats up more evenly, cools very slowly, and the service life of such a convector can exceed 50 years. But such convectors also have disadvantages: large mass of the unit and high cost. When purchasing a device made of steel, you need to pay attention to its quality. If the steel is heat-resistant, then the operating life of such equipment will be 25 years or more.

Gas convector rear view

Nuances of installation and operation

Open type portable gas heaters are not recommended for use in bedrooms, bathrooms or hallways. Some models specify the minimum room size and mandatory ventilation requirements for heating appliances. The installation of gas equipment must comply with the state standard regarding the safety of gas installations.

Basic requirements for safe installation of a gas convector:

It is prohibited to place devices in fire hazardous areas. The heater is placed under the window.
The chimney pipe must be mounted externally and equipped with an outlet.
Installation, dismantling, adjustment and commissioning of gas equipment is carried out only by certified Gorgaz specialists.
After installation work is completed, commissioning work is carried out.
Before the first start-up, open the gas inlet valve and check all joints on the gas line with a brush and soap solution.
A piezo igniter is started to ignite the gas. It is possible that during the first hours of operation of the installation there will be a smell of burning oil due to the burning of the walls of the combustion chamber; in the future, the operation of the convector should be odorless.

Gas convector Hosseven HDU-5 DK

Gas connection

Friends, at this stage it is important to be extremely careful! Let's say that you do not have the skills to work with gas appliances - then to perform the following work it is better to turn to specialists.

Installation of a gas heater to a gas supply source proceeds according to the following algorithm.

Let's imagine that there is a special threaded outlet on the gas pipe. Then you just need to screw a gas valve onto this pipe. If there is no special allotment, then one will need to be made!
The next step is to bring the gas pipe to the convector and connect them using a fitting. This process cannot be rushed.
Secure the supplied pipe with special clips. The distance between them is 1 meter. To do this, you will need to drill holes on the outside wall of the building.
Treat fittings and pipe joints with silicone to ensure a tight seal.
Be sure to call your gas service representative to ensure proper installation and connections.

Purpose

The convector is designed to run on natural gas for heating premises for various purposes. In this case, combustion occurs in a closed chamber, air is supplied from the street and combustion products are discharged there. The heat released during fuel combustion is transferred to the combustion chamber body and heat exchanger, and then to the indoor air. Due to rapid heating, the air rises, making room for colder air, maintaining an active convection process throughout the room.

A gas convector heats the air faster and more actively than its electric counterparts or, especially, converter-type radiators for a water heating system. This is due to the higher surface temperature of the heat exchanger and the increased rate of heat transfer from the combustion chamber.

A gas convector is an excellent solution in the following situations:

The main heating of a small room or house with one or two adjacent rooms.
As a replacement for a solid fuel stove, which was previously used to heat the house.
For quick warming up and maintaining a comfortable temperature in the garage, utility room, or small country house.
As an addition to the central heating system in rooms where installing a water radiator is difficult (basement and semi-basement, attic, veranda, etc.).
For heating greenhouses.

As a replacement for main heating, a gas convector is only suitable for small houses or individual rooms. The efficiently heated area is easily calculated based on the available power models of gas convectors. Devices with a power of 2.5-6 kW are more often found on sale, less often up to 12 kW. In the first case, the convector is enough to heat a room up to 50 m2. The most powerful models are in demand only for industrial and public premises with an area of up to 100 m2.

Manufacturers and popular models

Gas convectors are popular devices especially in areas where there is no central heating and there is a main gas pipeline. In addition, many buyers use this type of heating as a peak heating system when the main heating is not enough in severe winter conditions.

Popular models according to the 2022 rating are:

KARMA BETA 5. Heater for small individual houses with an area of up to 60 m2. The device is quite efficient with an overall efficiency of up to 89%, providing a thermal power of 4.7 kW with a relatively low gas consumption. Thermal range: from +13C to +38C. Good system for protecting and regulating the heating process. The disadvantages include the high price - 19,672 rubles.
Alpine Air NGS-50F is a Turkish convector with a power of 4.9 kW for a heated area of 50 m2. The model of this Alpine series has an efficiency of about 87%. The device is equipped with an Italian Polidoro burner and Sit shut-off and control devices, which guarantee 50 years of trouble-free operation. The price of the set is 20,560 rubles.
Hosseven HDU-5 DK is another heater from the best Turkish brand with a power of 4.5 kW and an estimated heating area of 50 m2. The manufacturer guarantees reliable operation for up to 50 years, since the device is equipped with a cast iron heat exchanger and an Italian burner. The unit has a high efficiency for this class of equipment - 90%. The price of the model is 21,400 rubles.

A gas convector running on natural gas is the most energy-efficient equipment among heating equipment of a similar type. Modern advances in materials science and information technology have raised their efficiency to a new level, and therefore they have become more often used in autonomous heating schemes, having a long service life of several decades.