Heat exchanger in a heating furnace: options how to do it with your own hands

For your comfort and wellbeing, it is crucial to keep your house warm and inviting during the colder months. The heat exchanger, which transfers heat from the furnace to the air circulating throughout your house, is an essential part of any heating system. Even though pre-made heat exchangers are available, building one yourself can be a satisfying and affordable alternative. We’ll look at a number of ways to build a heat exchanger for your heating furnace in this post, giving you the information and direction you need to complete this do-it-yourself project.

It’s crucial to comprehend the function of a heat exchanger in your heating system before getting into the technical details of building one. A heat exchanger is essentially an apparatus that makes it easier for heat to move from one fluid—hot air from the furnace in this example—to another—the air that is circulated throughout your house. A heat exchanger makes sure your house stays warm without using a lot of energy by effectively transferring heat.

You have a few choices to think about when building a heat exchanger for your heating furnace. A straightforward tube-in-shell design is a common option, in which larger shells enclose the metal tubes holding the hot air. This design facilitates easy ventilation while optimizing surface area for heat transfer. An alternative would be a plate heat exchanger, which is made up of several plates stacked on top of one another to provide airflow channels. Plate heat exchangers are perfect for small spaces because they are efficient and compact.

Building a heat exchanger by hand involves careful planning and attention to detail, regardless of the design you choose. In addition to making sure your design works with your current heating system, you’ll need to choose the right materials, such as heat-resistant metals like copper or stainless steel. When using heating appliances, safety should always come first, so make sure to abide by all applicable rules and regulations.

Building a heat exchanger for your heating furnace is a challenge that will give you a better understanding of how your heating system works and the chance to tailor it to your own needs. You can build a dependable and effective heat exchanger that will keep your house warm for many years with the correct information and perseverance.

Types of heat exchangers

In actuality, every owner of such equipment makes his own unique types of heat exchangers. It is sufficient to alter the fundamental structure slightly. However, all devices share some basic and universal design elements.

Internal

Aid in the fluid’s comparatively quick heating. However, boiling is always a serious risk. These kinds of structures lead to additional issues when it comes to routine maintenance and heat exchanger replacement.

It is necessary to disassemble the oven completely in order to replace such parts. When scale forms, it takes only 1% to significantly lessen heat transfer in baths and other rooms that are similar.

External

Stripped of the previously mentioned shortcomings. They are typically installed inside or in the shape of a pipe. There isn’t enough heat present for a lot of scale to form. The sole drawback to these kinds of furnace structures is how long it takes for water to reach the proper temperature.

Heat exchangers are occasionally installed beneath the stones. The stones themselves are then superfluous. These subtleties should also be considered when arranging the chimney.

Principle of operation

This apparatus heats water indirectly. The liquid’s movement within the device’s enclosed space is the fundamental idea. Convection ensures the process. The effect of high temperatures causes water to warm.

Hot air layers ascend, and low-temperature layers take their place. The process of mixing water while allowing ambient temperature to influence it is called circulation. Additional coolants also function. He provides heat in the latter stages. The furnace can’t do the job of an exchanger; it can only produce heat.

Options

Selecting an appropriate type of heat exchanger involves taking into consideration the furnace’s power and volume.

The device’s ability to select no more than 10% heat is crucial. It is crucial to consider the installation of pipes, including the floor surface.

For a brick furnace

In this instance, you have a few options to choose from:

• Spider design.

With a distinct number of ribs and a symmetrical double-sided structure. Small gadget that evenly heats the stove’s walls.

• The most popular solution when embedding in the furnace is tubular heat exchangers.

Vital. They vary in forms and dimensions, even the most challenging ones. mounted on one outer or two to three sides. It is simple to remove the part for a preventive inspection and repair, should that be required.

For firewood stove

In these circumstances, one of the following materials may be used to create the heat exchanger:

• Sheet steel.
• Pipes bent in the form of a coil or horseshoe.
• Old cast -iron radiator.
• Room.

It is advised to select leaf steel for firewood that is at least 2.5 millimeters thick. Stages that are required include cutting and first "grabbing" parts with welding. Tanks come in two shapes: round and rectangular.

Refusing the galvanized steel is advised.

On a bath stove

The following brick stove heat exchanger models are commonly used in these types of furnaces:

From a steel or copper pipe. typically take the shape of a ringed, flat snake. Simple to produce and very effective option.

Simple, plate-like, heat-resistant leaf steel. It could also be a rectangular tank that holds heated water for an extended period of time.

Steel pipes form the foundation of this intricate design. welded in the form of multiple registers. The product has a boiler-like appearance.

Main advantages

Getting hot water as soon as possible is the primary benefit of making the right decision.

Investing in structures that can sustain this kind of indication over an extended period of time is crucial. Fuel and other ancillary expenses can then be reduced.

DIY heat exchanger construction

The initial phase involves the creation of a project, during which every aspect is meticulously calculated. The size is one of the primary factors. If the bath stove’s dimensions are small, having an excessive amount of heat exchanger inside will be detrimental. If copper is the coil’s primary material, the length shouldn’t exceed three meters. The design can then be installed more easily.

The simplest choice is the coil. Enough regular copper pipe, about two or three meters in length, for him.

The length and number of turns in the pipe determine the heating speed. However, consideration must still be given to the furnace’s size. The design is less because of dimensions that are skewed.

Note: To twist pipes into a spiral, specific templates are made. Any parts that are available in a cylindrical shape may be used. There should be a correlation between the size and the diameter of the template.

In order to create a spiral, the pipe is bent and wound. The most important thing is to follow the precise guidelines. Once the stove’s heat exchanger is put together, pipes can be welded together.

Recommendations for operation

Studying the following general guidelines for safe operation won’t be unnecessary:

• For sealing, only materials that can withstand high temperature are used.
• It is undesirable to pour water into the stove with a heat exchanger when it has already warmed up to a certain temperature.
• The remote tank is selected so that the water is ready as soon as possible. The main thing is that the heat exchange fluid does not boil.
• It is important to ensure that the power of the heat exchanger for the furnace does not negatively affect the effectiveness of the furnace.
• The fastening of pipes on fixed joints is prohibited. Otherwise, an extension occurs, a change in linear sizes. And it will not be possible to construct an effective heat exchanger for a brick furnace.

Natural heat transfer is set up so that hot water rises outdoors and cold water drains downward.

Your heating furnace’s energy efficiency can be greatly increased, and installing a heat exchanger can lower your heating costs. You can efficiently recycle the heat to warm your home by collecting the energy that would otherwise be lost through the chimney. A heat exchanger can be made in a variety of ways, from easy do-it-yourself projects to intricate installations.

Using copper tubing to construct a heat exchanger is one common technique. This entails encircling your furnace’s exhaust pipe with copper tubing so that the heated gases can transfer their heat to the tubing. After that, the tubing is filled with cold water, which absorbs heat and circulates it throughout your house. This do-it-yourself method is easy to follow and only requires simple tools and supplies.

Utilizing an old radiator or automobile radiator as a heat exchanger is an additional choice. You can efficiently capture and distribute heat throughout your home by connecting the radiator to your furnace’s exhaust pipe and running water through its channels. This can be a reasonably priced way to improve your heating system, but it might need some modification and plumbing knowledge.

If you want a more sophisticated solution, installing a prefabricated heat exchanger kit might be of interest. Usually, these kits include all the parts and installation instructions needed for the job. Even though they could cost more up front, they frequently provide better dependability and efficiency, so they end up being a wise investment over time.

Regardless of the approach you take, it’s critical to guarantee a safe and accurate installation of your heat exchanger. In order to stop carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases from building up, proper ventilation and maintenance are necessary. Regular cleanings and inspections will also help your heating system last longer and operate at its best.

In conclusion, adding a heat exchanger to your furnace is a sensible and affordable approach to lower heating expenses and increase energy efficiency. The comfort and cost of your home can be greatly improved by using the heat that would otherwise be wasted, whether you choose to build it yourself or buy a pre-made kit.

In the world of home heating and insulation, understanding how to build a heat exchanger for your furnace can make a significant difference. A heat exchanger is a crucial component that transfers heat from one fluid to another without them mixing. This process boosts efficiency and ensures your furnace operates optimally. Whether you"re looking to save money, increase warmth, or reduce environmental impact, there are various DIY options available. From simple designs using copper tubing to more complex setups involving heat-resistant materials, this article will explore practical and accessible methods for creating your own heat exchanger. By harnessing these techniques, you can enhance the performance of your heating system while also enjoying the satisfaction of a hands-on project.

Video on the topic

Heat exchanger to the chimney, increase the effectiveness of bourgeois. + 30-50% power!!!

Warm floor in a bathhouse from a stove. Heat exchanger.