Contents
If hot water is not supplied to the country house or country house or you do not want to depend on seasonal shutdowns, read this article. We will tell you how to make a boiler yourself. An indirect heating device can be assembled with minimal financial costs.
How is a water heater
An indirect boiler depends on an additional energy source: solid or diesel fuel. Therefore, it is the most economical among other water heaters.
How does the device work? A coil with a coolant is installed inside the body. When started, it circulates, heating the contents of the tank. The scheme of the boiler device is as follows:
The storage tank is connected to the boiler. Due to the constant circulation of the coolant, the temperature is maintained at the optimum level. The technique is able to provide several points of intake, instantly supplying hot water.
Advantages and disadvantages of DIY assembly
An indirect water heater allows you to use water not only for household purposes, but also for heating. And:
- In the summer, a heating element can be used as a heater.
- Installation is carried out near the heating boiler.
- Inexpensive installation design.
- Energy saving.
- Constant availability of water at the right temperature.
Disadvantages:
- To install the circuit will require a lot of space, and better – a separate room.
- During the heating of a large amount of water, the batteries warm up less intensively.
- Impurities in the water quickly stick to the spiral tube. Periodic cleaning required.
How to make a heater
There are several options – a home-made design is so simple that you can choose any:
- A container inside which a coil with a coolant is located.
- A tank in which the heat exchanger is placed along the walls.
- One large and one small tank. Water is poured into a small one, and a coolant circulates in a large one.
In addition, you will need: a check valve, a faucet, a heating element, a magnesium anode.
What are the steps to go through:
- Tank selection.
- Heat carrier production.
- Hull insulation.
- General assembly.
- Boiler piping.
- Crane installation.
It is important to correctly calculate the power and dimensions of the structure. How much water will the boiler heat? Up to what temperature?
The heating power is based on:
- The temperature of the contents of the coil.
- circulation power.
- Inlet water temperature.
For example, for a 120 liter tank, a 1 atm pump is suitable. He can drive 200 liters per hour. The maximum temperature of the heat exchanger is 85 degrees. This should be taken into account in the manufacture of the device.
Construction drawings:
Tank preparation
As a tank, you can choose any container made of stainless steel, plastic. It can be made from a plastic barrel, an old water heater, a gas cylinder.
This takes into account the following features:
- The gas cylinder must first be cleaned, cut lengthwise and treated with a special agent. Then prime and weld the two parts.
- If a steel sheet is taken as the basis, bend it, weld it into a cylinder and weld the bottom. As a form, you can take a log.
- The old boiler also needs to be cut, cleaned of scale and deposits, processed. Finished plastic barrels are inspected for integrity and prepared for pipe installation.
It is not recommended to choose enameled containers as a tank. They quickly become unusable from constant heating.
5 holes must be made in the body: two on the side for installing the coil, one on the top for water extraction, two on the bottom for water intake and drainage.
Spiral for heating water
It is best to make the coil from the same material as the tank. But this is not always possible, so most often they make a brass or copper coil. Before starting work, you need to calculate the length of the product using the formula:
L=V/S=V/πR²=0,0044/3,14х0,0185²=4 м
Take a hollow tube with an outer diameter of 42×2,5 cm.
To calculate the size of the coil, you need to calculate the radius. For example, let’s take a radius of 15 cm. Assume that there is space between the walls and the spiral.
L=2πR=2х3,14х15=94,2 см
Four turns come out. Be sure to leave a supply of tubing for installation.
Take a suitable base and wind the pipe onto it. In doing so, observe the following rules:
- The coils should not touch for better contact.
- Do not wind close to the base – it will be difficult to remove.
Housing thermal insulation
High-quality thermal insulation allows you to increase the efficiency of the device and reduce heat loss. Any material can be used: polyurethane foam, mineral wool. From above, cover the body with a sheet of metal or install the tank in a larger container.
Assembly design
All elements are prepared, proceed to assembly:
- Install the spiral in the container so that it does not touch the walls of the boiler. If the container is metal, pre-weld the bases for the coil.
- Outlet and inlet to the heat exchanger lead outside. Seal them with welding.
- Weld pipes for the intake and delivery of water.
- Install check valve.
- Weld supports or ears for hanging on the bottom of the body.
- If the boiler is planned to be used in the summer season, additionally mount the heating element and thermostat in the lower part.
- Install a magnesium anode in a convenient location.
- Cover the top with a lid.
- Connect the coil to the heating circuit.
- Connect the inlet and outlet water pipes.
- Check the structure for tightness.
To determine how tightly the elements are soldered, a test run is performed. A video on the topic will help you understand the work:
An indirect heating boiler can be placed in the basement of a private house. You will independently control the heating power and the amount of fuel consumed.