Old gas heating boilers versus modern models

Classic solid fuel boilers Prometheus

A standard solid fuel boiler Prometheus can operate for 8-12 hours on one load. This is due to the huge dimensions of the firebox. The heater can run on coal and wood. For the manufacture of the heat exchanger, high quality alloy steel is used. It is thick enough (4 mm) to allow the heat exchanger to withstand high temperatures with ease. Also read "Boilers Hearth".

The design of the unit allows you to additionally use electric heating elements for heating the coolant. The heating element must be purchased separately. The thermal power of Prometheus solid fuel boilers ranges from 12 to 80 kW.

Features of this line:

a special shape of the heat exchanger to increase the heat exchange area and increase the efficiency;
high-quality insulation of the case;
cast iron grates;
dependence on electricity.

The air supply is regulated by a thermostat. When there is a power outage, circulation in the circuit stops. This leads to overheating of the coolant and an increase in pressure, which can lead to an explosion. To prevent this from happening, the design of the heater provides for the function of dropping coals into the ash pan.

The loading of solid fuel is carried out vertically. The firebox door is located at the upper end of the unit. There is a lever on the side wall with which you can stir up the coals in the firebox. This procedure will clear the ash from the slots in the grate.

Within the framework of this line, an improved analogue of Prometheus 60m-1 was created. The boiler, according to reviews, is better than its predecessors due to some innovations. The unit has a built-in smoke exhauster, which creates forced draft and regulates it. The loading chamber has become even larger, so two levers are provided for tedding coal.

Connection and operation

Antifreeze can be chosen as a coolant, it will be especially useful if the system freezes. The Prometheus solid fuel boiler is filled to the required pressure in a cold state. Air is bled in parallel. To light the boiler, paper and wood are used.

After the flame is good, load the main fuel. Then the flame level is regulated by means of an air supply. To clear the ash from the grate, it is moved using a lever. The ash pan must be cleaned in a timely manner. It is worth seeking specialized help annually to inspect boiler equipment and check its operation.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=EI8WIZFnWXw

Coal automatic solid fuel boilers Prometheus

The automatic solid fuel boiler Prometheus, according to reviews, may well replace a gas heater. There is a minimum of hassle with it, and all thanks to its design and control unit. Immediately, we note that the unit depends on electricity. Its design consists of three main elements:

fuel bunker;
combustion chamber with heat exchanger and smoke removal system;
ash pan.

The heater runs on coal only. Coal can be used even of low quality; in this regard, the unit is unpretentious. The size of the fuel hopper depends on the capacity. It is calculated in such a way that a full load is enough for you for a week. Human participation in the operation of the boiler is required only at the first start. Subsequently, you only need to add coal to the bunker. Even if the unit does not work for some time, the smoldering process does not stop in the furnace anyway, and it is worth adding fuel, and work will resume again.

You can set the required temperature.It is supported by adjusting the operation of the exhauster Everything happens automatically. You can choose a boiler with a capacity from 40 to 1000 kW. It is also possible to assemble several heaters in cascades to create modular boiler rooms. With a nominal power of 40 kW, the unit at the minimum level can deliver 5 kW if the situation requires it. It can work in heating systems where the pressure does not exceed 2.5 atmospheres, while it heats the coolant to 115 degrees. The efficiency largely depends on the quality of the coal, on average it is 75-90%.

Automatic coal-fired boiler Prometheus Automatic

The range of domestic coal-fired boilers "Prometey Avtomat" is represented by one model with a capacity of 40 kW. The manufacturer also produces more powerful devices up to 800 kW, but they are already in fact industrial.

Consider the features of this heater:

"Prometheus Avtomat" is a long burning boiler. It is equipped with a hopper for storing a stock of coal, and a system for its automatic feeding into the combustion chamber. The whole process is controlled by automation and does not require the presence of a person. When the bunker is fully loaded, the solid fuel boiler can operate autonomously for up to 5 days.
Automation of the feeding process makes special demands on the size of the coal. The main fuel for Prometey Avtomat is brown long-flame coal with fractions from 5 to 60 mm. The use of lower quality coal, although possible, is not desirable.
The process is pretty straightforward. Coal is loaded into the hopper and the boiler is melted through a specially designed hole. Next, automation comes into play, which, as necessary, with the help of a stepper motor, supplies new portions of fuel and rotates the grates for uniform combustion. The combustion intensity is regulated by a smoke exhauster. For the operation of the automation and the smoke exhauster, a power supply is required.

The official website presents the following characteristics of the 40 kW model:

Let's hear what the owners say about them:

I installed the Prometheus Automaton in my country cottage. It is very convenient in operation - I threw coal and forgot. True, you need to monitor the size of the coal, a large one will not work. The only drawback is dependence on power supply. With constant power outages, I think such a boiler is not an option.

For those who prioritize autonomy and burning time, this is ideal. True, the prices for the models bite, and in order to buy a Prometheus Automatic boiler, you will have to invest a lot.

Prometheus fluidized bed boiler

In such a heating boiler Prometheus there is no grate. Instead, a special pallet is installed in which there are nozzles. Fuel is burned there in a fluidized bed, hence the name of the line. This method of work allows the use of low quality coal and wood with a high moisture content, while the combustion process will remain stable.

Such a unit has a built-in smoke exhauster, which creates forced draft, and a fan for supplying air to the sump nozzles. A fluidized bed is possible only if there is sufficient air pressure, which creates the effect of turbulence.

The importance of insulating the blind area around the house can hardly be overestimated. This will protect the foundation from freezing.
It is extremely important to correctly calculate the thickness of the insulated Swedish plate. In this matter, it is better to trust the professionals.

Boiler characteristics:

flue gas temperature not higher than 220 degrees;
required minimum return temperature 70 degrees;
Efficiency 86%;
heating pressure no more than 3 atmospheres;
can work on coal, wood and peat;
the maximum water temperature is 95 degrees.

The tubular heat exchanger made of steel stands in a horizontal position. It holds 600 liters of water.It can drive through itself a maximum of 14 liters of coolant per hour. The unit is large enough. The length is 2.15 m, the width is 1.2 m, and the height is 1.65 m.

Old gas heating boilers: types, features, nuances of installation and operation

Gas boilers have reliably taken their place among efficient, economical and non-volatile heating devices. The history of their use as a means for heating household premises, from the development of the structure to the modification of the last generation, goes back about 100 years. The difference between modern devices and old-style devices is visually and technically tangible and manifests itself in terms of power, durability, and external aesthetics.

Differ:

boilers are old, distinguished by a primitive design;
state-of-the-art gas apparatuses equipped with the latest energy-saving automatics;
modified, combining the developments of the old years with new technologies.

Old cauldron

Types of modern gas boilers and their comparative characteristics with old samples

Manufacturers produce about 1000 models of boilers, which differ in physical and technical characteristics, material of manufacture, functions and design. Photos of their options, ranging from shapes and colors to installation methods, serve as an additional confirmation of the variety of these devices.

Gas heating boilers are divided into:

imported and Russian-made;
single and double-circuit;
manual or automatic adjustment;
with natural or forced circulation;
wall and floor type installation.

The design of the boilers allows you to heat rooms of any area, to maintain the boiler heating temperature at the same level (if the heating boiler is of a combined type with additional heating elements). There is no need to follow the burning of the flame - this is done by automation.

At the same time, the old-style boilers could not even boast of such a variety at the peak of popularity, at the time of release from the conveyor belt. They were produced only in a floor version and did not allow precise regulation of the heating temperature of the coolant: it was necessary to manually reduce or increase the combustion power of the flame and make sure that the gas supply did not stop.

Today, the control of heating devices has become more economical and more comfortable, but the models of past years have provided a reliable basis for the production of modern boilers.

Old boiler AGV-80

An example of a retro boiler - AGV-80 and modifications

AGV-80, the photo of which is given above, refers to boilers of the old type of heating. He has one circuit (heating water for domestic needs). The production of the model began in 1939 by the Zhukovsky Machine-Building Plant. The reason for this was the massive gasification in the USSR and the use of gas for heating household premises.

The boiler is a cylinder on three legs, in the upper part of which there is a chimney. The cylindrical tank is made of steel, hermetically sealed, with a volume of 80 liters. There is a fire tube inside the tank, under the mouth of which an atmospheric burner is installed. To reduce the speed of the heated gases leaving the pipe and increase the degree of heating of the tank walls, a turbulator is mounted inside the pipe. The efficiency of the device reaches 80%.

Equipment:

thermometer;
traction fuse.

When the pressure drops or the maximum water temperature is reached, these devices allow you to shut off the gas supply.

The design of this boiler served as a basis for the company's developers to produce improved models AOGV (for CO) and AKGV (with two circuits), the efficiency of which is up to 89%.

In addition to a similar design, the package of new generation gas boilers includes:

coil (for supplying water for household needs);
the flame tube is divided into sections, each of which has a turbulator;
thrust sensor;
air regulator;
automatic start;
automatic unit for regulating boiler operation and temperature.

Boiler device AVG-80

Nuances in service and connection

Now, as before, installing a gas heating boiler is not an easy task. To install such equipment you will need:

coordinate actions with Gostekhnadzor;
draw up a boiler connection project;
prepare the room, connect the chimney, ensure the access of the main gas to the boiler.

A number of rules and regulations have been developed that will have to be followed during installation:

you will need a ventilated room for the installation of the boiler, with an exit to the street;
the area of the room must be at least 100 m²;
mandatory installation of automation, which is responsible for gas leakage.

Gas boilers of the old type were connected to chimneys with a length of at least 5 m, only with natural draft. These requirements were mandatory and contributed to the minimum formation of condensation - the main disadvantage of retro devices.

Now coaxial chimneys and circulation pumps are used, therefore it is allowed to provide forced draft and install the chimney through the wall or into the ventilation shaft, which facilitates installation and makes the chimney connection point neater. The photo shows the correct installation of the boiler.

Wall mounted boiler

The market is now offering mounting accessories and care products that extend the life of the devices and improve operating efficiency.

The compact design of the new heating devices and the light weight, which are especially characteristic of the wall-mounted gas models, allows the device to be installed in a matter of hours, as shown in the example video below, and used even in small-sized rooms.

Greetings from the past or a new breath

Old-style devices are found in homes today, so it is not recommended to dispose of them, throw them away or scrapped them for the following reasons:

they will still come in handy as a temporary heating option before buying a modern boiler;
in case of a lack of funds, they will become an inexpensive alternative to a leaking boiler.

If we consider the disadvantages: as an unattractive appearance or excessive massiveness, then they pale before the durability of the reliability of such gas boilers, because there is nothing to break in them:

there is no fashionable imported automation that malfunctions;
the seams of the metal body are securely welded and do not leak;
the set of components, repairable parts, is minimal.

Retro style speakers

Now it has become fashionable to use old-style gas boilers in rooms designed in modern, industrial, steam-punk or retro-chic styles. Coarse details add to the rigor of these styles, and the instruments continue to work reliably and flawlessly. Photos with examples of such extraordinary interiors fill the pages of glossy tabloids.

kotlyhouse.ru

Combined boilers Prometheus

The combined heating boiler Prometheus was originally developed as a solid fuel heater with the possibility of switching to pellets. Naturally, for these purposes, the designers have provided for the possibility of installing a removable pellet burner. In this case, you can also put a gas or oil burner in the firebox. It turns out that the unit can operate on all types of fuel:

firewood;
coal;
briquettes;
pellets;
diesel fuel;
waste oil;
natural and liquefied gas.

In normal operation, the unit needs constant supervision. It is necessary to throw firewood into the furnace, monitor the process of their combustion. By installing removable burners, the process becomes fully automatic. These boilers are available with a capacity of 25, 32 and 45 kW. Pellet efficiency is 90%.

In addition, the heater has nozzles into which electric heating elements can be inserted. They can completely replace any type of energy source. Of course, this heating method is the most expensive, but in some cases this function can be very helpful.For example, if there are interruptions in the supply of fuel that you use as the main one.

Assortment range

Solid fuel boilers for long burning Prometheus are characterized by a different principle of operation, as well as a difference in power from 12 to 800 kW. They are intended for heating country houses and production facilities. The range includes the following models.

TT boilers with different power from 12 to 60 kW, which are designed for 8-12 hours of burning, have a capacious loading chamber. They are made of heat-resistant steel 4 mm thick. The productivity ranges from 78 to 84%. Coal of different grades is used for work (the exception is anthracite), sometimes logs. If desired, tubular electric heaters can be installed for additional heating of the liquid. You can see the main technical characteristics in the table.

Boiler model	Prometheus - 12	Prometheus - 16	Prometheus - 20	Prometheus - 24	Prometheus - 32	Prometheus - 45	Prometheus - 60	Prometheus - 80
power, kWt	12	16	20	24	32	45	60	80
Heated area, m2	100	150	180	230	300	420	600	800
Duration of burning with one tab, up to an hour.	8-12	8-12	8-12	8-12	8-12	8-12	8-12	8-12
Efficiency, up to%	84	84	84	84	84	84	84	84
Height, mm	905	905	1035	1035	1035	1035	1320	1320
Width, mm	426	426	526	526	526	646	755	750
Depth mm	685	685	715	715	815	815	1080	1200
Coolant volume, l	46	48	56	57	64	73	84	95
Chimney diameter, mm	150	150	150	150	150	180	180	180
Net weight, kg	160	165	200	215	240	320	520	60

Automatic solid fuel boilers on brown coal Prometheus Automatic with a capacity of 40-800 kW are designed to heat rooms with an area of 150-8000 m². Productivity reaches 85%. Due to the large fuel hopper, the boiler can operate on one tab for up to seven days. The temperature, which is specified by the user, remains stable thanks to the automation.

Technical characteristics of the coal-fired boiler Prometheus Automatic - 40.

Characteristic	Value
power, kWt	40
Heated area, m2	400
Fuel	Brown coal
Fuel consumption, kg / h	9
Hopper capacity, kg	360
Efficiency, up to%	75-90
Chimney diameter, mm	120
Average cost, rub,	145 000

Combined pellet boilers Prometheus Combi have a capacity of 25, 32 and 45 kW and operate on any type of fuel. In addition to the combustion chamber for the processing of solid fuel, if desired, you can install a burner (gas, diesel or pellet) or a tubular electric heater in them. The heating area can be up to 250 m². When using wood pellets as the main fuel, productivity up to 90% and a high level of automation are achieved.

Pellet boiler Prometheus-Combi 25 kW

Technical characteristics of the coal-fired boiler Prometheus Combi.

Boiler model	Prometheus Kombi - 25	Prometheus Kombi - 32	Prometheus Kombi - 45
power, kWt	25	32	45
Heated area, m2	250	320	450
Fuel	Pellets (firewood, coal)
Pellet consumption, kg / h	7,2	7,2	11,6
Furnace capacity, l	80	60	95
Efficiency (on pellets), up to%	90
Chimney diameter, mm	140	145	180
Average cost, rub.	48 000	49 080	71 676

The gas generating unit from the Prometheus company of the Eco series has a power of 30 kW and uses firewood as fuel. The design implies the presence of two chambers. One burns fuel, which gives off pyrolysis gases. The second processes gases, which release even more heat energy. The function of the heating unit can be adjusted automatically. The combustion chamber is made of refractory concrete. TT boiler of the ECO series has an efficiency of 93%.

Learn more about pyrolysis boilers and their manufacturers here

Technical characteristics of the pyrolysis boiler Prometheus Eco - 30.

Characteristic	Value
power, kWt	30
Heated area, m2	300
Fuel	Firewood (brown coal)
Furnace capacity, l	170
Useful coefficient, up to%	93
Chimney diameter, mm	150
Cost, rub.	198 000

Pyrolysis boilers Prometheus

We have already written about the principle of operation of pyrolysis boilers. Prometheus heaters are essentially no different. Let's note the main features:

work on low humidity wood;
the presence of two chambers (primary and secondary combustion);
high efficiency up to 93%.

The question of how to insulate the basement of the house from the outside is asked by many. It is best to use extruded polystyrene foam.
What could be easier than insulating the basement with foam with your own hands? Even a novice craftsman can handle it.

This is a volatile device designed for heating small living quarters. Its thermal power is 30 kW. It is produced in two versions: Eco Optima with manual control and Eco Comfort with automatic control.

Prometheus 45 - a large and practical cauldron

House with an area of 230 m2, the spouse bought the Prometheus 45 boiler, installed 2 years ago. The height of the pipe is just over 15 m. The boiler is huge, the ignition flap is terribly uncomfortable, it begins to warp all over while driving. But this was fixed, they asked the welder to weld small plates and the problem was solved.

The only thing I still can't figure out is how to properly clean it from resin. Previously, it burned out with a blowtorch and while the hot resin was scraping it off, but nothing really happens here, the cleaning process is difficult.

It is not difficult to operate the boiler, I easily figured it out, although the instructions are written in a language that is not entirely understandable. Another integral advantage of the Prometheus 45 boiler can be noted its economy, compared to the previous one, the benefit is obtained 2 times. I will recommend it, not a bad option for home and summer cottages.

Boiler "Prometheus" 12M5 excellent characteristics, but the design is a little lame

We chose a boiler for a cottage for a long time. Since there was a problem with the gas connection, a bunker unit (long burning) on solid fuel was needed. Moreover, we are not at home for a long time, so we paid special attention to safety. The PROMETEUS 12M5 was the most suitable for the price and equipment with automatic safety equipment. It is originally equipped with an explosion valve and a valve for relieving excess pressure in the network, and has a reliable combustion regulator. Also attracted by the automatic traction control. From experience of use, I can say that I was not mistaken in my choice. The boiler is quite economical (especially compared to the simple unit that we had before).

One download is enough for more than half a day. The regulators also work perfectly, the temperature in the house is kept constant, without sudden changes. I used to think that only electric or gas boilers are capable of this. True, I didn't really like the look, but for the boiler it doesn't matter.