Min. heat output
The minimum heat output at which the heating boiler can operate in constant mode. Operation at minimum power allows you to reduce the number of on-and-off cycles that adversely affect the durability of heating boilers.
Coolant max. T
The maximum operating temperature of the heat medium in the boiler system when operating in heating mode.
DHW max. T
The maximum temperature of domestic hot water supplied by a dual-circuit boiler. For comparison, we note that water begins to be perceived as warm, starting from 40 °C, and in centralized hot water supply systems, the temperature of hot water is usually about 60 °C (and should not exceed 75 °C). Accordingly, even in the most modest models, this figure is about 45 °C, in the vast majority of modern boilers, it is not lower than 50 °C, and in some models, it can even exceed 90 °C.
Also when heated to a given temperature, the temperature difference ("ΔT") may be different — depending on the initial temperature of the cold water. And the performance of the boiler in the DHW mode directly depends on ΔT; see below for performance details.
"Summer" mode
It is an operating mode designed for the warm season. In this mode, it works only to provide domestic hot water, and the heating is turned off. If the boiler is equipped with an outside temperature sensor, this sensor is also switched off in
summer mode so that the heating does not turn on at night when the outside temperature drops.
Heated floor mode
The boiler has a special
mode for underfloor heating systems.
Underfloor heating differs from conventional heating systems primarily by a
lower coolant temperature — otherwise the floor could be too hot for comfortable use (plus, high temperatures are also undesirable for flooring and furniture installed on it). In addition, boilers with this function are distinguished by increased pump power. In order to ensure efficient circulation of the coolant through branched heating circuits that have rather high resistance.
Efficiency
The efficiency of the boiler.
For electric models (see "Energy source"), this parameter is calculated as the ratio of net power to consumed; in such models, indicators of 98 – 99% are not uncommon. For other boilers, the efficiency is the ratio of the amount of heat directly transferred to the water to the total heat amount released during combustion. In such devices, the efficiency is lower than in electric ones; for them, a parameter of more than 90% is considered good. An exception is gas condensing boilers (see the relevant paragraph), where the efficiency can even be higher than 100%. There is no violation of the laws of physics here. It is a kind of advertising trick: when calculating the efficiency, an inaccurate method is used that does not take into account the energy spent on the formation of water vapour. Nevertheless, formally everything is correct: the boiler gives out more thermal energy to the water than is released during the combustion of fuel since condensation energy is added to the combustion energy.
Max. gas consumption
Maximum gas consumption in the boiler with the corresponding energy source (see above). Achieved when the gas heater is operating at full capacity; with reduced power and consumption, respectively, will be lower.
Note that boilers of the same power may differ in gas consumption due to the difference in efficiency. While the more fuel-efficient models tend to cost more, the price difference pays off in gas savings.
Expansion vessel pressure
It is a pressure in the hermetically sealed part of the expansion vessel (for details on the design, see Expansion vessel capacity). The required pressure in the expansion vessel must be approximately 0.3 bar higher than the initial pressure in the system. The initial pressure, in turn, directly depends on the total height of the heating system or, rather on the difference between the height of the highest and lowest points of the heating system. It can be derived using the approximate formula P=H/10, where P is the initial pressure in the bar, and H is the height difference between the highest and lowest point of the system in metres. Thus, if the height difference is 2 m, the initial pressure in the system is 0.2 bar, and the pressure in the expansion tank must be at least 0.5 bar.
Heat exchanger
The material of the primary heat exchanger, in which thermal energy from hot combustion products is transferred to the heat medium. The efficiency of the boiler, the heating rate and the service life of the unit directly depend on the material of the heat exchanger.
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Copper. Copper is a material with the best heat dissipation specs and high corrosion resistance. It heats up quickly, which allows you to save energy during the operation of the heating boiler, has a low roughness coefficient, and has a long service life. The only drawback of this metal is its high cost. Copper heat exchangers are installed in heavy mid-range and premium grade equipment.
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Aluminium. Aluminium as a heat exchanger material is characterized by excellent thermal conductivity and long service life. Moreover, it is cheaper than
copper. To reduce the cost of production in copper heat exchangers, they try to reduce the wall thickness. You don't need to do this with aluminium.
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Cast iron. Boilers with a cast-iron heat exchanger heat up for a long time and cool down slowly, retaining heat for a long time after heating stops. Cast iron is also notable for its high heat capacity and low susceptibility to corrosion. The service life of a cast iron unit can be 30 or 50 years. The reverse side of the coin is the huge weight and size of hea
...ting equipment, which is why boilers with cast-iron heat exchangers are produced mainly in floor-standing boilers. In addition, cast iron does not tolerate sudden temperature changes — they can cause cracks.
— Steel. Steel heat exchangers in heating boilers are the most widely used. Steel has a combination of high ductility and strength when exposed to high temperatures, is inexpensive, and can be easily processed at production stages. However, steel heat exchangers are susceptible to corrosion. As a result, they are not as durable.
— Stainless steel. Stainless steel heat exchangers are rare in heating boilers, which is explained by the high cost of using this material. But they combine the advantages of both cast iron and steel. Stainless steel exhibits high corrosion resistance, resistance to thermal shocks, low inertia, and long service life.