Pellet fireplace: working principle, features, manufacturers

Owners of country houses, solving a question of heating of the dwelling, even more often choose a pellet fireplace. This allows you to create both a unique atmosphere and take care of the heating of the premises, and even save a lot on fuel.

However, despite the prevalence, such fireplaces are not given due attention, believing that they have a low efficiency. In addition, there is an opinion that this heating equipment is difficult to operate and maintain. Is this really so, we will try to understand.

Design features

The pellet fireplace is nothing more than a conventional cast iron or metal furnace, only a neat little door with heat-resistant glass is located in the place of the steel damper that blocks access to the furnace. This solution allows you to enjoy the game of light and shadow, as well as an exciting "dance" of flame.

Another design difference is the fuel delivery system. If in a conventional oven it is necessary to load firewood manually, then here it happens automatically with the help of an electric motor and auger. Pellet fireplace as a fuel uses pellets - small pellets of pressed and dried wood. They are moving along the conveyor belt.

Principle of operation

All that is required for the functioning of the fireplace is to load a special bunker with wood pellets and set the necessary parameters on the electronic control panel. After that, the system switches to the "ignition with heating" mode - the auger starts feeding pellets into the furnace, where they are ignited. This opens all the air channels (chimney, "podduvalo"), which creates the necessary air draft for rapid ignition.

After that, the pellet fireplace switches to the regular operation mode - the air ducts partially overlap so that the heat "does not fly out onto the street". Heating of the room, most often, occurs by convection. Cold air of the room due to the difference in pressure through special slots in the fireplace body penetrates into the cavity between the furnace and the skin. There it heats up, goes back to the room - starts to circulate. After a complete change of cold air to a hot room warms up.

Pellet fireplaces with air duct

In view of the low rate of space heating, models using several different heating methods have been developed by convection. These are specimens with air ducts and a pellet fireplace with a water circuit. In the first case, a special duct system is installed for heating the rooms, which will dock directly to the fireplace.

Air channels can penetrate into other rooms. At the same time, the chimney can disperse all over the house. Then, at the request of fire safety rules, the systems are equipped with exhaust fans to create a normal air draft.

Fireplaces with water heating

Fireplaces with water heating have several design features. Firstly, they have a water jacket, which is located between the body and the furnace. Secondly, a pellet fireplace with a water circuit has a closed combustion chamber, and air is supplied only from the street by means of a special exhaust fan or turbine.

Thirdly, such a design is combined with a water supply system, which must necessarily have a circulation pump. The principle of operation of such fireplaces is simple: a cold liquid under pressure enters the water jacket, where it heats up and enters the heating circuit - batteries, warm floors and other heat exchangers.

Advantages and disadvantages of pellet fireplaces

The main advantage that pellet fireplaces have is the ability for long-term autonomous work. After loading the hopper with the necessary amount of fuel and setting up the system, the system will itself maintain the desired temperature in the dwelling. The automatic system for removing ash residues and feeding pellets to the furnace is rarely a failure due to a simple device.

The second important advantage is the reduction of operating costs. The average cost of wood pellets is only 6 500 rubles per 1 ton. Considering the fuel consumption (less than 12 kg for 30 hours of operation by a 6 kW device), this amount of pellets is enough to heat the home for 4 months.

High cost is the main drawback of a pellet fireplace. User reviews report that the purchase and installation of the device cost them much more than buying, installing and setting up any other heating equipment. In addition, such a fireplace can only work with one type of fuel.

Manufacturers overview

If your goal is to create an original atmosphere in the house and at the same time solve the problem with heating, then you should pay attention to the company from Scandinavia FlumenFire. This producer is one of the few who produces exclusively pellet fireplaces. All models are distinguished by a combination of "home design" and impressive technical characteristics. A bright representative is the fireplace CITRINA.

If you are looking for an inexpensive, but at the same time reliable copy, then you should take a closer look at the models of the domestic company "Vesuvius". This manufacturer is just setting up production, and yet can not please a rich assortment.

Models are marked as PKP, differ in overall dimensions and power (7-8 kW). Pellet fireplace "Vesuvius" will suit you in case you are looking for an inexpensive solution for a summer cottage that you leave for the winter. The cost of copies varies, and in different regions can be from 32 to 45 thousand rubles.