Heating of Buildings

The different types of equipment used for heating of buildings are given below:

1. High Temperature Radiators: The high temperature radiator essentially consists of a

high resistance element wound on porcelain or refractory former and mounted into decorative
frames. Resistance elements get heated to high temperature (1400oC to 1600oC) due to flow of
electric current through them and 50 to 70% of heat so produced is dissipated by radiation and
remaining by convection. Advantages of this type of heater are that it is portable, cheap in initial
cost, and simple in construction and attains its highest temperature quickly. The main draw back
of this type of heater is that heat dissipated is localised. These are used for domestic purposes or
where intermittent heating is required. The usual sizes are from 0.5 kW to 3 kW.

2. Tubular Heaters: The most common type of low temperature heater is 5 cm diameter steel
tubes of length ranging from 0.6 to 5 meters and containing resistance elements arranged on
mica, fire clay, or porcelain former. Such tubes are mounted around the skirting board to
room to be heated. The normal loading is 200 watts per meter length. The temperature of the
external surface is maintained at about 200oF. About 90 percent of the heat is transferred by
convection. These are spaced to produce convection currents in the room so as to heat whole
of it. These are specially suitable for thermostatic control, by which means they are switched
on and off automatically as the room temperature falls below or rises above the desired value.
When fixed at the base of a cold wall or underneath a window they prevent cold down-
draughts, which cause cold feet to the occupants of the room.

3. Convector Heaters: In these heaters, heating elements are mounted with in sheet-metal cases,
which admits cool air from bottom. Air after getting heated up, comes out from grills at the top.
The front and top may be of moulded plastic material for the sake of pleasing appearance. These
heaters may be either portable or fixed, and may be handled without fear of burns. In these types
of heaters, heating element attains low temperature of 66o to 93oC and proportion of heat
transmitted by convection is large as compared to heat transmitted by radiation.

A very satisfactory method of heating a room is to use convector heaters to warm the room to
about 13oC, together with a small radiant heater for local heating.

4.Panel Heaters: In this system of heating large panels of fire clay or some other suitable heat
resisting materials are used along the walls or ceiling of a room. The resistance elements are
embedded in these panels. The heat produced is utilized in the form of convection or radiation.
This system of heating of buildings is advantageous from the decoration point of view and gives
a uniform distribution of heat. Loading is of the order of 400 watt/m2 for the low temperature
panels and 6,000 watt/m2 for the high temperature panels. Low temperature panels operating at
temperature from 27oC to 65oC may be fixed in the walls or ceiling of a room and plastered over.
High temperature panels operating at temperature up to 288oC are used on walls and ceiling but
are not fixed in the wall surface. They are some times be suspended from the ceiling.
5. Thermal Storage System: Roughly this system is similar to the coal, coke, or oil-fired central
heating system, except that the heat is supplied to the storage tank electrically. Heated water is
circulated through the pipes and radiators situated throughout the building. There are two types
of heaters used in this system: the immersion heater for a load up to 200 kW and the electrode
type for loads exceeding 200 kW. In immersion heaters, resistance wire is embedded in an
insulating medium like magnesium oxide inside a copper or steel tube, which is bent to the
desired shape. Heat loading is 7-8 W/cm2 Single tubes in ratings of 4-5 kW are available. For
higher ratings, groups of tubes are used. The electrode type is only suitable for use on a.c.,
usually 3 phase, since d.c. may cause electrolysis. In electrode boilers water is heated by placing
cast iron electrodes directly in the water. For 3  supply three electrodes are placed in the water
and the tank is earthed so as to form a star connected system. Sodium carbonate is added, if
necessary, for increasing the conductivity. Power input can be controlled (a) by varying the
height of the electrodes in the water, (b) by means of a movable shield surrounding the
electrodes, (c) by moving one electrode relative to the other. or (d) in large units, by varying the
water level by means of a pump. A low voltage boiler operating at 400V is usually employed for
a requirement up to 500-700 kW while for larger requirement a high-voltage boiler operating at
voltages up to 11000V or even higher is used.

The advantage of this system is that the water can be heated during night (off peak period) and is
supplied throughout the day, thus use of cheap power available during off peak periods can be
made. This system of heating also provides hot water service for the building.

6. Floor Warming System: In this system a number of heating cables are embedded the
floor of a room or otherwise contained in the floor space. Thus, heat is given to the concrete or
other floor material slowly and heat from the floor is used in warming the air in the room, and in
warming the walls and the furniture. The electrical power intake is controlled by thermostat fixed
on the room wall in a suitable position. The cables used for heating are made from alloys of
nickel, chromium, iron or other resistance materials and are insulated with asbestos mineral
insulation, butyl rubber, or other heat-resisting insulating materials. Lead, copper, aluminum, or
PVC sheathing can be used for mechanical protection. Generally, 100 to 150 watts per m 2 of
floor is employed.

In this system, also the advantage of cheaper power available during night-hours can be used.
However, it will be desirable in such a case that one or more convectors or radiant heaters for use
towards the end of the floor-warming output cycle are installed.