Communications Stoves and heating systems

Protection against frost and cold - choosing the best thermal curtain for the front door

Administrative buildings and living quarters, regardless of the region, accessories and geometrical dimensions, are equipped with engineering networks, which include water supply and sewerage networks, power supply and heating. Heating systems provide the required indoor microclimate, which is expressed in maintaining the temperature regime and air humidity, as well as maintaining other indicators at the specified values. ABOUT heating radiators, as an element of the heating system, all users know, but not everyone knows what an air curtain is, especially with what tasks such an installation can cope with. A thermal curtain on an entrance door - what it is, and how it works, types and features of installation, maintenance and repair, as well as the secrets of smart curtain selection and an overview of popular models - all this is in a detailed review by the homemaster.techinfus.com/en/ editorial office.

Model "Frico PA2210 CE03" is equipped with a control panel that allows remote control of the operating modes of the thermal curtain

The content of the article [Hide]

1 Heat curtain - what is it
2 The principle of operation of the thermal curtain and the main technical characteristics
3 Varieties of thermal curtains for the home by location and type of installation
4 Types of devices by the presence and type of heat exchanger
5 How to choose a thermal curtain, what to look for
6 How to install
7 Connection features
8 Heating curtains maintenance rules
9 Nuances of repairing heat curtains
10 Popular manufacturers of air curtains
11 At what price can you buy a thermal curtain for an entrance door
12 Front door thermal curtains customer reviews
13 Video: "The principle of operation of the thermal curtain and their differences"

Heat curtain - what is it

A thermal curtain is an element of the engineering support system, which serves to cut off the outside air from the internal volume of the building by creating directional air flow... The generated air flows prevent cold or warm air (depending on demand), dust or gusts of wind, as well as insects and car exhaust gases from entering the interior space. The operation diagram of the thermal curtain is shown in the following figure.

Schematic representation of the air curtain operating principle

The principle of operation of the thermal curtain and the main technical characteristics

The air curtain, according to the principle of its operation, resembles a heat fan, in which air flows passing through the heating elements are heated and distributed in a given direction. A distinctive feature of the fan is the narrowly directed movement of strong air currents moving along the plane of the doors on which it is installed, thus creating an invisible barrier to outside air. The main technical characteristics, on the basis of which such devices are selected, are the following indicators:

power - measured in kW, regardless of the type of curtain (electric or water);
air capacity - measured in m³ in hour;
installation height and location - determines the possibility of installation in a particular place, as well as the location of the curtain (vertical, horizontal);
dimensions;
weight.

The technical characteristics of such devices are interrelated: "power - installation height - overall dimensions"

Technical characteristics serve as the main selection criteria for such devices, which determine the place and type of installation, the type of energy source and heating element.

Varieties of thermal curtains for the home by location and type of installation

Household appliances, depending on the design, may differ in location relative to the doorway, they are of the following types:

horizontal - are installed directly above the opening and differ in practicality of use;
vertical - they are mounted on the side of the opening, are less practical in operation, due to their design, which determines the direction of air flows.

Models with vertical placement are used in cases where it is not technically possible to install horizontal counterparts.

Placement options relative to the doorway

Important! When selecting a vertical thermal curtain, it must be remembered that its length must be at least ¾ of the opening height at which it is installed, otherwise the device will not be able to provide the required air barrier.

The selection of a heat curtain is also carried out according to the type of installation, which determines the type and availability of an energy source: electrical, water and without a heat exchanger.

Types of devices by the presence and type of heat exchanger

How to choose a heat curtain and what to look for are the questions that arise before a potential buyer when it is decided to install such equipment. Among the selection criteria, an important indicator is the type of thermal energy source through which the air flows are heated.

Zilon electric models are easy to install and convenient to operate

Zilon electric models are easy to install and convenient to use

Electric heat exchanger models

An electric air-thermal curtain is a device in which air is heated when it passes through an electric heating element (heating element, spiral, stich-elements). This type of installation has a number of advantages in comparison with other analogues:

ease of installation and maintenance;
the absence of a complex design of the heat exchanger determines the low weight and variety of shapes of the device body;
to turn it on, it is enough to have only a connection point to electrical networks, without laying other engineering networks (heating, DHW, etc.).

Household thermal curtain on the front door, equipped with electric heating elements, is connected to a 220-volt electrical network

The disadvantages of air curtains equipped with an electric heat exchanger are:

an increase in the installed capacity of the consumer object as a whole and, accordingly, the cost of paying bills for consumed electrical energy;
the need to lay additional electrical groups designed specifically for connecting the heat curtain.

Models with water heat exchanger

Water heat curtain on front door - this is another type of device of this type, a distinctive feature of which is a heat exchanger made in the form of a water heater. This type of installation is used, as a rule, in public, administrative and industrial buildings, which is due to the design of the heat exchanger and the need to connect to the heating circuit of the building (structure).

Water heat curtain "Ballu W2"

This type of curtain is connected to the central heating system, and the heat carrier circulating through the air heater transfers its thermal energy to the air that also passes through it. The advantages of units of this type are the following indicators:

efficiency in terms of consumption of electrical energy, because it is only used for work fan;
the possibility of using on openings with large overall dimensions;
significant power.

The disadvantages include:

the complexity of the installation work;
high price;
the need for automation systems that ensure operation in various modes of use, preventing freezing coolant.

Electric thermal curtain for vertical installation

Models without heat exchanger

Manufacturing enterprises produce air curtains in various configurations, corresponding to the declared consumer specification, standard configuration, or without a heat exchanger. These can be conventional models that do not have electric heating elements or air heaters. In this case, the air curtain works like a simple fan with a narrowly directed air flow distribution.

An expert's point of view

Andrey Starpovsky

Head of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Group, GRAST LLC

“In addition to the types of heat curtains discussed above, the industry produces models with a gas heat exchanger, but since in domestic conditions such equipment is not used, then its consideration is a topic for a separate article. "

Thermal curtain "Teplomash KEV-125 P5051W"

How to choose a thermal curtain, what to look for

When choosing a thermal curtain, it is necessary to pay attention to its technical characteristics - power, dimensions and performance, as well as:

type and design of the heat exchanger - electric, water or without;
location and direction of air flows - vertically "bottom-up" or "top-down" and horizontally - in one-way or two-way direction;
modes of use - can be constant or variable action;
air intake place - internal air of the room where the heat curtain or outside air is installed;
availability of an automation, control and protection system;
type of jet protection.

Domestic electric curtain control buttons

Household models of air curtains are equipped with two (three) switches to turn on the heating elements and the fan. In addition, such systems can be equipped with multi-stage regulators (power and heating rate), as well as built-in control units that operate remotely.

Jet protection is the protection of air flows, it can be:

gate type - complete repulsion of the outside air is carried out;
mixing type - in the process of operation, the external air is partially passed through and mixed with the indoor air, followed by heating.

Using the remote control unit, you can set the temperature and air flow

How to install

Installation of a thermal curtain is a responsible event, on which the observance of the temperature regime inside the room depends, and the maintenance of an optimal microclimate. In this regard, it is better to entrust this work to professionals, both at the stage of choosing a model, and the very implementation of the installation process. If the installation is performed independently, then it is necessary to consult with specialists at the place of purchase of the selected model.

In addition, the advice of our editorial staff will be useful, which can be formulated as follows:

The thermal curtain should be located as close as possible to the plane of the opening at which it is installed.
The length of the system body must completely cover the opening. If the length of one curtain is not enough, it is necessary to install several of them, while they should be located close to each other.

Only specialists can perform high-quality installation of any complexity

The curtain is installed only from inside the room.
If the room has supply and exhaust ventilation systems and air conditioning they should be reconfigured in such a way as to minimize the impact on each other.
The curtain is fastened to building structures using the fastening elements supplied with the system (brackets, brackets, etc.).
Brackets and other fastening elements are attached to building structures using anchor bolts or expansion dowels, clamps and other fastening devices, depending on the material of these structures (concrete, brick, sandwich, cable).

The presence of a backlight in the case of the device expands its functionality - model Ellipse 12P

The presence of a backlight in the body of the device expands its functionality - the model "Ellipse 12P"

Connection features

The connection of the air curtain is no less important than its installation, especially for models equipped with a water heat exchanger. Water heat curtains are included in the heating system or hot water supply of the building, and this is precisely why the difficulties with their connection are associated.

When connecting water models, you must:

shut off the supply and return of the heating system or the supply on hot water networks;
when connecting the thermal curtain, do not confuse the "input" and "output" indicated on the model case, otherwise the system will not work in normal mode;
in case of insufficient pressure in the supply system (especially for DHW networks), it is necessary to install an additional boost circulation pump;
when connecting to heating networks, it will not be superfluous to install coarse filter at the entrance to the system;
if it is possible to lower the temperature in the room below 0˚С (entrance doors of large vestibules), it is necessary to perform insulation of pipelines.

Connection diagram of a heat curtain with water heat exchangers in the building heating system

When using electrical models, it must be remembered that:

power supply must be carried out on a separate line connected from a dedicated circuit breaker;
the air curtain body must be grounded or, in extreme cases, nullified, in accordance with the Rules for the Installation of Electrical Installations (PUE);
if possible, it is necessary to perform a backup power supply of the connected device, which will make it possible to secure its use in the future.

Electric thermal curtain "Tropic - A6"

Heating curtains maintenance rules

Maintenance of engineering equipment of this kind must comply with the requirements regulated by the manufacturer and the rules for the operation of heating and hot water supply systems.

General activities include the following works:

Monthly maintenance:

visual inspection;
check of work in all modes of use;
cleaning the case from dust and dirt.

Once a quarter:

complete inspection of the device;
tightening the contact connections of the electrical network and the joints of pipelines.

Once every six months - cleaning the grilles used for air intake and supply.
Once a year - cleaning of all structural elements using detergents.

Thermal air curtains Frico models "PA4200" and "PA4225 WL"

Nuances of repairing heat curtains

Repair of air curtains is best performed in specialized organizations licensed by the manufacturer of this equipment. In this case, one can hope that the replaced elements will be of the original design, and the repair will be of high quality, with the provision of a warranty period of use.

The main types of malfunctions inherent in air curtains are:

malfunctions of the thermostat, control unit or other structural element;
damage to the power cable or plug connection;
coolant leakage at the joints of pipelines;
malfunction of the remote control.

If the reason is caused by a short circuit in the power supply system, then you must turn off the device and contact the organization that maintains electrical networks. If there are leaks and it is impossible to eliminate them yourself, you should contact the management company (housing office, etc.) and call a plumber to perform repair work.

Ballu thermal curtain model "BHC-H20T24-PS"

Popular manufacturers of air curtains

Among the variety of models presented on the engineering equipment market, the most popular among domestic users are thermal curtains of brands "Teplomash", "BALLU", "TROPIC" and "FRICO"... "Teplomash" is a plant, part of the "RUSHIT" company (Russia), engaged in the production and supply of air curtains, fan heaters and accessories for them. The plant's product line includes thermal curtains of the series: "Optima" and "Brilliant", "Comfort" and "ceiling", "IP54" and "IP21", as well as "interior". All series are available with or without electric and water heat exchangers. Models in series, differing in technical characteristics, used materials and case design.

Thermal curtain Teplomash model KEV-5 P1152E (series 100 Optima)

Heat curtain Teplomash model "KEV-5 P1152E" (series "100 Optima")

"BALLU" - the brand belongs to the industrial concern "BALLU Industrial Group" (Taiwan), which produces climatic equipment and engineering equipment. The product line of the enterprise includes a series of air curtains:

"S1" and "S2", "S2-M" and "T2 M", "PS-B (T)" and "PS (MT)", "PS (HT)" and "Stella" - with an electric heat exchanger;
"PS (W)" and "PS-B (W)", "Stella" - with a water heat exchanger;
"PS A" - without heat exchanger.

"TROPIC" - the company "Tropik-Line" (Russia) is engaged in the production of heating equipment for various purposes and accessories to it. In the group of products related to thermal curtains, there are series:

“K” and “A”, “M” and “T100E Nova”, “TE” and “XE”, as well as “D” - with an electric heat exchanger;
"T" and "X" - with a water heat exchanger;
"TA" and "X" - without heat exchanger.

Thermal water curtain TROPIK model "T109W10" (T series)

"FRICO" - the company "Friberg & Co" (Sweden) is the European leader in the production of heat engineering and energy-saving equipment. The range of air curtains includes the following series:

"RA" and "SFS", "RDS" and "AR", as well as "Portier" - with an electric heat exchanger;
"PA C" and "PAW", "ARW" and "ADCorinteW", as well as "AGIW" - with a water heat exchanger;
"PA2200C" and "PAA", "ADA" and "PSA" - without heat exchanger.

At what price can you buy a thermal curtain for an entrance door

Heating equipment can be purchased in specialized organizations, as well as in retail chains selling electrical, energy-saving and thermal engineering equipment.

In large trade organizations, the most famous brands are represented by separate stands

In addition, you can contact the dealers of the company that produces the model you like, or find a suitable version of such equipment on the Internet. The price of thermal curtains installed on the front door can vary greatly in different trade organizations, so you need to be extremely careful when choosing a seller. The following table shows the cost of thermal curtains of various designs, as of the beginning of the 2nd quarter of 2018, when sold through the Termomir company, which is a dealer of many manufacturers of heating equipment.

Brand name	Series	Model	Technical characteristics (kW, mm, m³ / h)	Cost (as of April 2018) rubles
"Teplomash"	Optima	KEV-3P1154E	Power - 1.5 and 3; Overall dimensions - 800 × 160 × 160; Air consumption - 500	6150
	Diamond	KEV-10P1061E	Power - 5 and 10; Overall dimensions - 1550 × 195 × 185; Air consumption - 1000	15900
	Comfort	KEV-20P2111W	Power - 7 and 9; Overall dimensions - 1040 × 225 × 225; Air consumption −1000	17541
	Ceiling	KEV-29P2181W	Power - 10 and 13.5; Overall dimensions - 1620 × 420 × 205; Air consumption - 1250-1500	28440
BALLU	S1	BHC-CE-3	Power - 1.5 and 3; Overall dimensions - 505 × 190 × 135; Air consumption - 300	4290
	T2 M	BHC-H10-T12	Power - 6 and 12; Overall dimensions - 1105 × 280 × 300; Air consumption - 2500	19590
	PS (W)	BHC-M10W12-PS	Power - 11.3; Overall dimensions - 1090 × 240 × 260; Air consumption - 1000, 1200 and 1400	25190
	PS-B (W)	BHC-B10W10-PS	Power - 8; Overall dimensions - 1125 × 215 × 240; Air consumption - 1100	19490
TROPIC	TO	TO-3	Power - 1.5 and 3; Overall dimensions - 452 × 145 × 114; Air consumption - 180	3700
	A	A-9	Power - 4.5 and 9; Overall dimensions - 1320 × 110 × 170; Air consumption - 800	10183
	T	T109W10	Power - 9; Overall dimensions - 1000 × 200 × 213; Air consumption - 1150	17790
	X	X315W10	Power - 15; Overall dimensions - 1000 × 258 × 229; Air consumption - 2100	23490
FRICO	RA	PA 1006E03	Power - 3; Overall dimensions - 650 × 164 × 153; Air consumption - 230	14183
	SFS	SFS23E08	Power - 8.1; Overall dimensions - 2200 × 580 × 295; Air consumption - 2300	629538
	PA C	PA2210СW	Power - 6.9; Overall dimensions - 1050 × 355 × 210; Air consumption - 1200	66027
	PA W	PA2520W	Power - 11.5; Overall dimensions - 2050 × 355 × 210; Air consumption - 2600	130126

The presence of a large number of models allows you to choose a thermal curtain in accordance with the selection criteria and personal preferences of the consumer, and the availability of feedback from experienced users helps not to make a mistake.

Front door thermal curtains customer reviews

Due to the fact that the Internet has firmly entered the life of a modern person, you can always use it if you have any questions. This can be an online consultation or reading user reviews about the model you like of any technique. Below are the reviews from buyers of thermal curtains, the models of which are considered in this article.

Feedback on the BALLU BHS-3.000SB model:
Read more on otzovik: http://otzovik.com/review_3017308.html

Feedback on the TROPIK M3 model:
Read more on otzovik:https://otzovik.com/review_4146989.html

Another review about the TROPIK M3 model:
Read more on otzovik:https://otzovik.com/review_4778648.html

Video: "The principle of operation of the thermal curtain and their differences"

RATE THIS ARTICLE