The Heating System Concept | Building Heating System

The comfort heating system in a building brings itself to the concept of complete heating operating unit. In order to work properly, a heating system must utilize in different of serving pieces and function. This includes such as control function, energy source, a load device, and something that will indicate or record the level of heat energy produced. The system is operational if all of these parts work in synergy and properly. It shows how a complex system can be managed in to simple yet functional comfort heating system.

Source energy of a comfort warming system is essentially contributing to convert energy from one source into another that is completely different and of a different form. In such condition, the primary energy source is changed into heat energy. In this circumstance, fossil fuels are typical primary energy sources. The second sources are electricity, which are easily available.

Process of transferring a fossil fuel into heat energy is readily achieved by a combustion chemical reaction. This action takes place when a specified material merged with oxygen, results in the production of heat energy. Air is a source of oxygen with coal, natural gas, fuel oil, and liquid petroleum being some of the common fossil fuels.

In this method heat is produced by simply passing a static current through a resistance element. The resulting heat, and to some extent light energy, is directed away from the element by radiation. Electric heat sources then may be transferred and used to energize an entire building, as portable sources (store in battery), or as supplementary heat units. Electric heat is one form of clean energy because it does not result residual output like burning gases. Another advantage from such process is easy to control.

The transmission path of a comfort heat system is quite sophisticated when compared with other systems. For example, transfer of heat can be transferred through anything that is liquid, gas, or solid. If a solid piece of metal is heated at one end, heat will be transported to the other end by conduction. Convection can be transferred heated from material in the form of liquids and gases. This occurs through circulating currents that are developed within the material. Transmission may also occur through radiation. This takes place when rays or waves are given off from a heated surface and travel through space.

Typical transmission paths for a comfort heat system are small- diameter pipes for steam or hot water, metal ducts or large-diameter pipes for airflow, or radiation paths through the air. The transmission path is directly dependent on the size and design of the heat system.

The control function of a comfort warming system is primarily responsible for altering the flow of heat anywhere between the primary energy source and the load device. Circulating fans are often used to change the warm air flow through a system. By switching a fan ON/OFF has a pronounced effect on the intensity of airflow. The gas jets of a forced-air furnace are also switched on or off corresponding to the set-point adjustment and actual temperature of a thermostat. In comfort heat, control may be reached manually or automatically, depending on the design of the system.

The load of a comfort heating system represents the primary work function or area that is to be maintained at a specific temperature. Since the heat nature is to flow away from a body of higher temperature and toward a body or substance of a lower temperature, the load of a heating system is always directly supported on the energy source. The heat demand of the system load may be variable, cyclic, or steady, depending on the building structure.

The indicator of a comfort warming system is mainly responsible for measurement operations. In some small building systems and in portable unit heaters, the indicator may be dropped completely. In larger systems there may be several indicators located at key test points. Indicators, such as thermometers, are usually considered as a working part of the thermostat which control temperature. System control is normally triggered by changes in temperature sensed by the thermostat. Indicators may also be permanently attached to the system for continuous display of information or they may be installed at key test points for maintenance tests.