Central Heating

CENTRAL HEATING

Definition

A central heating system provides warmth to the whole interior of a building or portion of a building from one point to multiple rooms.

In cold countries the temperature in winter falls to 0°C and even goes to below that value. The rooms of the building are kept warm by a central heating system based on the principle of convection.

Principle

The heat is distributed throughout the building, typically by forced-air through ductwork, water circulating through pipes, or steam fed through pipes.

The most common method of heat generation involves the combustion of fossil fuel in a furnace or boiler.

Construction

The circulating hot water can be used for central heating.

The components of a central heating system using water-circulation is shown in fig. 1.28.

• A gas supply lines, oil tanks and supply lines or distinct heating supply lines.

• A boiler (or a heat exchanger for heating) which heats 9.1)  water in the system.

• Pump to circulate the water in the closed system.

• Radiators which are wall-mounted panels through which the heated water passes in order to release heat into  rooms.

Working

• Water is heated by the boiler.

• Hot water from the boiler rises up and passes through the radiators of different rooms with

• Radiators get heated and radiate heat to the room.

• Hot water also reaches the cold water tank at the top of the building.

• Convection currents are set up and the building is kept warm continuously at a constant temperature.

• The circulating water systems follow a closed loop (i.e the same water is heated and then reheated).

Advantages

1. It is a low cost system.

2. It does not require high electrical power.

3. It is a central heating system.

4. Electricity can easily be routed directly to the space to be heated with little impact on the architectural design.

Disadvantages

1. Mechanical and architectural problem of fuel storage and flue stacks.

2. Pumping efficiency should always be high, which is practically impossible.

3. Different methodologies should be adopted for different shapes and sizes of the buildings.