General information radiator

To heat buildings, or certain rooms, heating systems are needed. radiator are part of such heating systems. Mostly they are metallic hollow bodies. radiator are also referred to as convectors, radiators, or heating strips. To increase the room temperature, give radiator the thermal energy, which come from the heating medium, to the environment. 1855 was the radiator invented by a Russian businessman. His name was Franz San Galli.

Different versions

Radiators are available in many different versions. The first types were radiators made of gray cast iron. Although these ribbed radiators were very resistant to corrosion, they had a very high dead weight. In addition, they had a smaller surface than the modern panel radiators. In the years of National Socialism then radiators were offered in porcelain. The reason for this was the armaments industry. This should not be deprived of iron materials. Porcelain heaters could not prevail at this time, however. Only in the 1950s rib blocks were made of porcelain again. Mostly it was 4 or 5 blocks. There were two ways to merge the individual blocks. Differences between spindles and flanged. Porcelain ribbed radiators have been widely used in public buildings. However, production was stopped in the 1960s. Another design is sectional heating elements. Several steel sheet elements are welded together here. Tubular tubular steel radiators are a special form. Nevertheless, these are increasingly used in sanitary areas. They are preferred here for aesthetic and practical reasons, here towelscan be dried well. Radiant ceiling panels, wall and underfloor heating systems are other special forms. Ceiling panels, floors and walls serve as a large radiator. These are provided with electrical heating wires or pipes. In food production and clinics radiators are used which are easy to clean. These sanitary heaters also represent a special form.

The most common, current, design

Plate radiators are also made of sheet steel. The most common design is the ribbed design, which has been produced since the 1960s. The steel sheets are cold-formed and roll-welded, resulting in a large surface area. Then the radiators are powder coated or painted. They are available in different versions. Plate heaters can not only differ in size and color, but also the type of connections can be different. They are ready for use immediately after assembly. Over the years, the design of the panel radiators has been constantly optimized. As a result, the heating power could be improved. In this case, for example, the convection surface was increased, so that today’s panel radiators, even at low flow temperature work. In addition, they have a higher material efficiency. With the help of the improved technology, low-temperature radiators are able to heat a home even with water that has a temperature of 55 ° C. Older radiators need up to 90 ° C warm water for the same performance. The type numbers of panel radiators are double-digit. The first number indicates how many plates were used. The second digit shows the number of convection plates used.

The heat conduction

Radiators are not uniformly warm. This means that there are places where the radiator is warmer than elsewhere. Since the heated medium at the inlet valve flows into the radiator, the radiator is there at the warmest. The temperature drops to the outlet valve, because the heat, which is carried over the carrier medium (water / gas / oil), is delivered by convection and radiation to the room. The, at the outlet valve, cooled medium is then returned via a return and gets back to the heat generator. It may happen that air accumulates in the radiator. It is noticeable that the air remains permanently cold while the other areas reach the heating temperature. The air obstructs the circulation, which is why ventilation is necessary. This is done via a special vent valve. To save energy and prevent heat loss, the heating output is adjusted to the outside temperature. A water-leading front ensures maximum radiant power for most radiators. The surface facing the room is heated directly by the heating water. The radiator reaches about the height of the water temperature. A cladding made of tiles, metal or wood leads to a poorer heat conduction and causes a significant reduction in heating power. Therefore, attachments should be avoided for aesthetic reasons. The principle of convection and radiant heating is used in most radiators at the same time, for heat transfer.