All about the gas column – the device, the principle of operation and recommendations for the choice

Few things are more important for maintaining warmth and comfort in your house than a dependable gas water heater, also referred to as a gas column. A gas column is vital to supplying a consistent flow of hot water for tasks like laundry, dishwashing, and hot showers. However, what is a gas column exactly, and how does it operate?

To put it simply, a gas column is a kind of water heater that heats water for home use by running on natural gas or propane. It is made up of multiple essential parts, such as the burner assembly, heat exchanger, water inlet and outlet pipes, and temperature control controls. Choosing the ideal gas column for your house requires an understanding of how these parts interact.

A relatively simple principle of operation underlies a gas column. The cold water from the supply line enters the heater through the inlet pipe and passes through a heat exchanger when you turn on a hot water tap. In the meantime, the surrounding water warms as a gas burner inside the heat exchanger ignites. The water is sent to your faucet or appliance through the outlet pipe once it has reached the appropriate temperature through heat absorption.

The size of your household, how often you use hot water, and your budget are all important considerations when selecting the ideal gas column for your house. The gas column’s heating capacity, which controls how quickly and how much hot water it can supply at any given time, is one of the most important factors to take into account.

Knowing your gas column is essential to creating a cozy home. The silent workers behind your hot water system’s comfort and warmth are these dependable units. However, what are they precisely, and how do they work? This article covers everything, from their internal workings to advice on selecting the best one for your needs. Take a look to understand more about your gas column and make sure your house stays warm all year long, whether you’re upgrading or you’re just curious.

The device of modern gas columns

There are currently two types of household water heaters available in the retail network:

1. The most common option is gas speakers with an open combustion chamber (atmospheric). In them, the air for burning gas flows from the room naturally, passing through the opening below the device and the observation window.
2. With a closed combustion chamber (otherwise – turbocharged or guddy). Here, air is forcibly pumped into the combustion zone by means of a fan.

The device of simpler atmospheric speakers, which consists of the following primary components, will be examined first:

• metal case;
• gas burner with a faint;
• ribbed heat exchanger with a casing and a snake made of copper;
• automatic gas valve with a combustion intensity regulator;
• a mechanical water node with a safety valve;
• ignition system;
• diffuser with a pipe at the end to connect the chimney;
• Water and gas pipes that go down and ending with annexing fittings.

Piezoelectric and electric systems powered by batteries, hydrogeners, or home networks are among the various types of pinking systems used in the columns.

Installed in the water heater’s diffuser, which houses the combustion products assembly, is a traction sensor wired to a gas valve. In the combustion zone, which is also connected to this valve, is the flame sensor (ionization). The atmospheric gas column device is depicted in detail in the scheme below:

Let’s now discuss the arrangement of a hot water column that has been turbocharged and has a closed combustion chamber. Although it differs from atmospheric in the following ways, it is similar in design:

1. Instead of a regular burner with manual control, a stepped or modulating, changing flame intensity in automatic mode is installed.
2. The air for combustion is supplied by a fan whose performance is regulated by the controller (electronic unit).
3. The ignition system is fully automatic, operating from the power grid or hydrogenerator.
4. The column device provides for maintaining the heating of water at the established level (for example, up to 60 ° C). This is followed by a separate temperature sensor associated with the controller.

The following figure depicts a turbocharged gas column diagram:

How the water heating column works?

These kinds of water heaters have to respond by adding a burner when the hot water crane opens at any location in the house, making sure the water heats up to the correct temperature. We outline the series of events that take place in atmospheric models in order to provide a detailed explanation of the gas column’s operating principle:

1. At the first stage, the user sets fire to the Sunny in the observation window and directed towards the main burner.
2. After the opening of the crane in the DHW system appears, the water duct appears, and the pressure increases. The device of the water unit (in colloquial – frogs) provides that the membrane is triggered and moves the rod connected to the gas valve.
3. From exposure to the water node membrane, the valve opens the supply of fuel to the main burner, which is immediately set on fire from the faint or directly from the spark electrode. The user can adjust the capacity of the flame manually using a tap out of the front panel.
4. The water entering the heat exchanger of the gas column begins to heat up in the coil made around the copper casing. This principle of operation avoids the formation of condensate on the tubes due to the difference in the temperature of cold water and the flame of the burner.
5. Heated water enters consumers. After the crane closes, the “frog” membrane pulls the rod, the valve blocks the gas supply and the burning device fades, and the heating stops.

Therefore, the majority of low-cost atmospheric gas states that burn faintly continuously do not require a mains connection.

In the event that the burner flames out for any number of reasons, the thermocouple will activate and the valve will shut off the gas supply. When the traction in the chimney vanishes as indicated by the corresponding sensor’s signal, the same thing will occur. Learn more about the unit’s action as it is depicted in the video:

The old building’s flowing water heaters left behind this operational principle. More recent models lack a wick that never goes out, which is why the heat exchanger casing eventually breaks from the front. For instance, when a water duct appears, the Neva gas column diagram from St. Petersburg offers an electric ignition powered by batteries.

Boiling water heaters function by automatically maintaining the water temperature that the user has set. When the duct occurs, electricity is generated by the hydrogenerator integrated into the water supply or by the power grid. The controller regulates additional heating by paying attention to the temperature sensor’s readings. Depending on the temperature of the water at the output, it modifies the fan’s performance as well as the intensity of combustion.

What to take into account when choosing a water heater?

A typical user would find it challenging to select a household gas column on their own because it is not a heating boiler. In terms of the volume of heated water, it makes much more sense. This value, which is expressed in liters per minute when heated to 25 ° C, is listed in the technical passport of any manufacturer’s product.

To provide clarity, we have included a table with data on Russian-brand Neva water heaters, illustrating how the unit’s thermal power affects performance:

Reference: Gas boilers provide heating at a rate of three to five percent, which is more efficient than the columns intended for hotel needs. The efficiency of the same water heater is 84% if the atmospheric heater’s efficiency is roughly 88%. However, in actual use, this difference cannot be felt.

The first thing you should do when selecting a water heater is assess its performance. Next, we recommend the following straightforward actions:

1. If your budget is limited, and in the area of residence, electricity is often disconnected, then a simple energy -dependent atmospheric model is just what you need. The ignition system is from piezoelectric element or on batteries, they serve for quite some time (2-3 months with intensive work).
2. In most apartments, it is impossible to put atmospheric speakers due to the lack of chimney channels, and the removal of combustion products into ventilation shafts is prohibited. No problems, buy a turbocharged water heater with a coaxial chimney going out the street right through the wall. Just determine the place of the pipe exit and coordinate it with the neighbors. Read more about connecting chimneys to gas columns described in this article.
3. In our conditions, when the water networks are worn out, it is better not to put devices with an ignition from the hydrogenerator. The latter can quickly fail due to the poor quality of water and hydraulic boards in pipelines. To protect the generator, you will have a water reducer, and this is additional costs.
4. Try to select modern modifications of devices, where the smell does not burn around the clock. He slowly but correctly consumes gas, destroys the front wall of the heat exchanger and smokes on the front panel.

You still need to select a reputable manufacturer, but there are some companies whose goods have stood the test of time and are reliable:

• Junkers (Junkers), aka Bosch;
• Beretta (beretta);
• Electrolux (electrolyx);
• Neva;
• Vector.

Common malfunctions

The water column should be serviced and repaired by a professional in this field, just like any other gas-heating equipment. However, the owner of a private home or apartment can fix a lot of basic issues on their own. Flowing water heaters typically experience the following issues:

1. The Sellor is not set on fire.
2. The wick burns, but after opening the tap, the main burner does not turn on or settled down, but immediately fades.
3. Insufficient water heating is observed.
4. Water begins to drip from the bottom of the case.

The listed symptoms may have multiple causes, but we will highlight the most apparent ones that the user can take care of on their own.

The common cause of a flashlight not lighting up is often the nutrition elements (batteries) being discharged.

The following could be the cause of the burner’s attenuation:

• lack of traction in the chimney channel;
• malfunction of the traction sensor or violation of contact in its wiring;
• leap watercoline membrane;
• blocking the filter at the entrance (if any).

After a few years of use, the output water cools down, which is typically linked to the development of scale in the heat exchanger that needs to be cleaned. However, water droplets coming from beneath the casing suggest that the heat exchanger, safety valve, or any connection may be leaking. The device overheated when the water was disconnected, which is the cause.

In atmospheric gas columns, overheating is a natural malfunction. This is how it works: the heat exchanger stays hot, boils, and produces steam when the water and burner are abruptly turned off. The weakest compaction is violated when the scenario is repeated repeatedly, eventually causing the steam to emerge. This is why it is advised that you turn off the gas in these devices before blocking the water.

Comfort and a reliable supply of hot water in your house depend on the gas column you choose. It can assist you in making an informed choice if you are aware of how a gas column operates. Gas columns, sometimes referred to as gas water heaters, use a burner powered by propane or natural gas to heat water. After heating, the water is either instantly used or kept in a tank for later use.

Think about things like your household size, the amount of hot water you use, the space you have available, and energy efficiency when choosing a gas column. A tankless gas column could be the best choice for smaller homes with limited space because it can provide hot water on demand without requiring a storage tank. Larger homes, on the other hand, might profit from a storage tank gas column since it can provide more hot water.

Energy economy is yet another important consideration when selecting a gas column. Seek for models that have earned ENERGY STAR certification or high energy efficiency ratings, as these can eventually help cut down on energy use and utility costs. To guarantee long-term dependability and performance, take into account the installation and maintenance needs of various gas column models.

A gas column cannot operate safely or effectively without proper installation and maintenance. To guarantee adherence to regional construction regulations and safety guidelines, it is advisable to have a proficient specialist install your gas column. Frequent upkeep can help your gas column last longer and save expensive repairs. This upkeep includes cleaning the tank and checking the burner and other parts.

In conclusion, size, energy efficiency, installation requirements, and maintenance needs are all important considerations when selecting the ideal gas column for your house. By knowing how gas columns operate and assessing the hot water requirements of your home, you can choose a gas column that maximizes energy efficiency and safety while delivering a consistent hot water supply.

Video on the topic

The principle of operation of the gas water heater

Malfunctions of the gas column (what causes may be)

Selena gas column. Important information. Repair.