Water-bearing heating fireplace
A smart heating system
Sensible water heaters with a fireplace atmosphere
This is where maximum fire experience meets hot water generation and heating with wood: a water-bearing fireplace emits gentle radiant heat into the room through its large-format viewing pane and at the same time generates hot water for the heating system.
For primarily heat
There is probably no more beautiful and sensible way than to secure warmth for your home with a fireplace or tiled stove. To support an existing heating system or in the transitional period, it is a pleasure to heat with domestic energy. It is associated with a feeling of security and the conviction of being able to provide the basic need of warmth for one's family at any time. Coordinating which type and construction method is the right one requires detailed consultation.
Simply explained
How does the heat from the wood get into the radiator?
The heat release takes place in the combustion chamber. During the process of combustion, the combustion chamber walls are strongly heated and heating gas temperatures of 600 - 800 °C are reached. Depending on the application, one or both effects of heat release are used to heat heating water. If the hot combustion chamber walls are installed in a boiler shell, they heat the metallic shell of the boiler body and the heating water inside. Even more heat can be extracted from the hot heating gases. After the combustion chamber, these flow through a metallic water heat exchanger. This is the most effective method of transferring the heat from the heating gases to the water. The boiler body and water heat exchanger are designed to form a structural unit. Through both processes of heat transfer, the water heats up to 70 -80 °C, is collected in a buffer tank and heats radiators, floors and wall panel heaters as required. The installation room is heated during combustion via the firebox radiation through the viewing pane. In water-bearing wood-burning inserts, the heating gases are used directly or the residual heat after the water heat exchanger to heat a storage mass. The heat stored in this way is released through the stove casing as pleasant radiant heat at the end of the combustion process.
Water modules
How the water-bearing fireplace works
Water-bearing fireplace inserts are offered with different viewing glass and firebox sizes. The viewing pane provides a fireplace atmosphere and heats the room during combustion. The design of the boiler body and water heat exchanger determine the proportion of heating water for heating support. With a large boiler output, a "sauna effect" in the installation room is prevented during frequent heating. It is the art of the master furnace builder to select the right choice in consultation with the building owner for the respective desired application.
1st Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV)
How does the legislator assess water-bearing fireplaces and wood fire stove systems?
The amended and currently valid 1st Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV) regulates not only the emission limits of single fireplaces in Germany, but also heating with water-bearing fireplaces and wood-burning fireplaces.
The following points should be noted:
- If a water-bearing fireplace or tiled stove is installed as the sole heating system, it is assessed as central heating and no longer as a single fireplace. This results in a repeated measurement obligation via the chimney sweep.
- If a water-bearing fireplace or tiled stove is installed for heating support, it is classified as supplementary heating. In this case, there is neither an initial measurement nor a continuous measurement obligation via the chimney sweep. As a prerequisite for the operating licence of the water-bearing individual fireplace, proof of the type test is sufficient.
- The nominal output of the individual fireplace must be oriented to the heat requirement of the room where it is installed.
Conclusion
In all European countries, except Germany, water-bearing heating systems are welcomed as CO2-reduced heating solutions and in some cases strongly promoted. In Germany, the rule is that water-bearing fireplaces and tiled stoves are integrated as a lower priority. This means that a classic heat generator such as oil, gas, heat pump or electricity is present and is operated together with a water-bearing single fireplace. For combinations with a larger thermal or photovoltaic solar system, separate calculation proofs are required in order to classify this as "main heating". User behaviour is generally not considered by the lawmakers. These regulations only apply to new installations, not to existing water-bearing fireplaces and tiled stoves. As part of the initial inspection, the chimney sweep checks compliance with the regulations. We therefore recommend clarifying the building project with the chimney sweep in advance, as there are different specifications for the interpretation of the 1st Federal Immission Control Act in the respective federal states.
A fireplace is the modern alternative to an open fire when it comes to heating as efficiently and appealingly as possible. A water-bearing fireplace, also called a "Kaminkessel", takes this game even further - the wood fire at home becomes the heating system. High-tech elements ensure that hot water is generated by the energy of the fireplace.
For the user, the procedure is exactly the same: you heat your fireplace and quickly get soothing warmth and a spectacular open fire. But at the same time, you feed the energy that is produced anyway into your hot water circuit and use it as efficiently as possible. Heat up once and benefit twice: Enjoy the atmosphere of the fire and save money. Especially in the transitional period, one or two fires per day are sufficient to supply the heating system with enough hot water without the need for the main heating system.
Heating systems by BRUNNER not only work for themselves, but also excellently as a team. With our unique BRUNNER BHZ heating centre, it is possible to combine all energy generators and consumers in one system. Combining a water-bearing fireplace with a wood boiler, gas boiler or oil heating, for example, is child's play - and as efficient as can be. A special constellation is a water-bearing fireplace together with a heat pump. While the latter is not very effective, especially on very cold days, a water-bearing fireplace can provide the necessary balance. As a team, this helps the in-house heat pump to compensate for periods of weakness so that it can function as effectively as possible.
Heating systems by BRUNNER not only work for themselves, but also excellently as a team. With our unique BRUNNER BHZ heating centre, it is possible to combine all energy generators and consumers in one system. Combining a water-bearing fireplace with a wood boiler, gas boiler or oil heating, for example, is child's play - and as efficient as can be. A special constellation is a water-bearing fireplace together with a heat pump. While the latter is not very effective, especially on very cold days, a water-bearing fireplace can provide the necessary balance. As a team, this helps the in-house heat pump to compensate for periods of weakness so that it can function as effectively as possible.
The big picture is the supreme discipline these days when it comes to planning intelligent concepts for your own four walls. One control for everything and a system that combines practical elements such as log and pellet boilers with a fireplace make life so much easier. That's why we at BRUNNER focus on thinking ahead. Only in this way is it possible to find the best solutions for truly every user. When it comes to water-bearing fireplaces and tiled stoves, we are not only leaders in the market, but also drivers of innovation.
Consult your furnace builder to find the right heating insert for your home.
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