Panel heating radiators - the device and features

Heating radiators are an extremely important element of any heating system, since it is they who carry out the heating of the surrounding space. Therefore, the choice of these heating devices must be approached responsibly and get acquainted with their features and types in advance.

In this article we will consider the device and technical parameters of one of the most common designs - panel radiators.

Features of panel radiators

General information

The main structural feature of heating devices of this class is the absence of traditional sections; instead, the front side is made in the form of a solid panel. The latter is assembled from two steel sheets, which take the necessary shape as a result of pressing. In particular, ducts for heat carrier are stamped in them.

When welding two stamped plates, a thin panel is formed, the thickness of which hardly exceeds one centimeter. The radiator can consist of one or several such panels. This design has many advantages, but at the same time some disadvantages, which we consider below

In comparison with traditional or bimetallic radiators of heating, the capacity of steel panels is scanty. Due to this, in the heating system there is a rapid circulation of the coolant, and, as a result, almost instantaneous heating.

Already after 10 - 15 minutes panel heating heats the room. However, this feature also has a downside - the radiators cool down when the system is turned off, as quickly as they heat up.

In addition, an important feature of this design is the convection of air, although this applies only to radiators consisting of several panels. This feature is realized due to the presence of air channels located between the ducts for the coolant.

As a result, the device heats up not only by radiating thermal energy from the case, but also due to the circulation of thermal air in the room. Due to this, the design efficiency can reach 75 percent.

However, despite the fact that the panels for radiators are made of high-quality high-quality steel, they are designed to operate at low pressure in the system (no more than ten atmospheres) and coolant temperature up to 110 degrees Celsius. For these reasons, they are usually used in private and multi-storey country houses.

Since in centralized heating systems the pressure is above ten atmospheres, in the apartments panel batteries are installed only in the case of arranging autonomous heating systems.

Note! It is impossible to use panel radiators in a centralized heating system not only because of its high pressure, but also a polluted coolant. Narrow ducts quickly become clogged and the device fails. Therefore, to work in such conditions it is better to use bimetallic radiators.

Merits

The advantages of batteries of this type are quite a few, below we give the main ones:

• Neat, fairly simple, but at the same time stylish design. Moreover, modern equipment, which is used in the manufacture of these devices, allows you to produce products in different style options, ranging from classic to minimalism.
• The ability to adjust the degree of heating of the device, due to the fact that the products, as a rule, are equipped with all sorts of electronic or mechanical devices.
• Increased heat transfer - as mentioned above, the use of the principle of convection can significantly increase the level of efficiency.

• The price is significantly lower than other types of batteries. This is due to the fact that steel itself is significantly lower than copper and aluminum.
• Efficiency - since the devices have a small capacity, much less energy is expended on heating the coolant.
• Multifunctionality - the device performs the function of both a conventional radiator and a convector.
• The insignificant weight thanks to what it is possible to carry out installation of batteries independently.
• The ability to choose the device of the most suitable size and the required power.

Tip! You can also give the appearance of panels to ordinary sectional batteries, for example, cast iron, by installing special panels. Moreover, it can not only make them more attractive, but also more effective. Panels on radiators can be made of a variety of materials, for example, from wood or metal.

disadvantages

With all the advantages of these heating devices, they cannot be called ideal radiators for the following reasons:

• Exposure to water hammering is one of the main reasons why panel batteries cannot be used in centralized heating systems.
• Sensitivity to the level of acidity of water - to avoid corrosion of the steel surface, the pH level of the coolant must be stable and keep in the range of 8.3-9.5.
• The instruction manual for panel batteries prohibits draining water from the system for a long time. Otherwise, the internal steel walls of the structure will come into contact with oxygen, which will lead to corrosion.

For these reasons, it is far from all cases to acquire panel radiators.

Types of panel radiators

All existing steel panel radiators are divided into several groups.

In particular, according to the method of connection, they can be divided into two types:

• Devices with bottom connection - both battery connections are located below.. Such a connection is convenient in cases where the heating pipes are in the floor. However, it should be borne in mind that in this case the heat loss coefficient is quite large.
• With lateral connection - in this case the inlet is located on the top and the outlet is on the bottom.. This allows for uniform heating of the heating appliance. However, if the design has many sections, then in this case there will be significant heat loss.

As mentioned above, the considered radiators may differ in the number of panels. By this criterion, they are classified into the following types:

Tip! Knowing the types of radiators, it is not difficult to correctly select the heating devices, in accordance with the area of ​​the heated room.

Also, devices vary in size, which can be as follows:

• Width - 40 - 300 cm;
• Height - 30 - 90 cm.

Therefore, before purchasing a device, it is necessary to calculate the size of heating radiators, which depend on the area of ​​the room and the power of the system.

Panel Steel Battery Manufacturers

As you know, the quality of batteries depends not only on the type of design, but also on the manufacturer. Therefore, you should not give preference to the cheapest products from lesser-known manufacturers. A minor benefit may lead to the fact that very soon it will be necessary to change radiators with my own hands.

The panels of the following manufacturers have recommended themselves well:

• Buderus (Germany);
• Thermoplus (Italy);
• Lidea (Russia);
• Kermi (Germany) and others.

In addition, products should be purchased in large hardware stores to avoid counterfeiting and to be confident in the performance of warranty obligations by the seller.

Conclusion

Panel steel radiators have several advantages over their counterparts, however, it should be borne in mind that their use is limited to certain technical characteristics. If the conditions in your heating system meet the requirements of these devices, then they will be an excellent choice.

From the video in this article, you can pick up some additional information on this topic.