Heaters assist for the life indoors. They increase the temperature of the air in the indoor environment to make it favorable for the inhabitants. A heater is simply a device that converts some form of energy into heat. The process requires some substance or fuel as the energy source that works by burning or heat induction. Either way, the temperature of the air is increased to make it favorable.
Heaters are included in MEP systems to maintain the indoor environment. These can be eased through MEP estimating services. They come in various different types. While the final outcome is heat in every one of them, they differ in their energy source. These sources have different capacities and working mechanisms to provide the required heat. But all of them result in the generation of heat.
Different Sources
Energy exists in various forms and substances. All of these forms and substances have their potential and uses and are hence used for various purposes. In the same manner, for any one specific use, they are changed into the required form of energy. In this case, the required form is heat. Therefore, different energy sources are utilized to generate heat. These sources are:
Electricity
This simple works on the induction principle. The electricity is passed through metal rods. These rods get heated as electricity continues to pass. The resistance in the current causes friction with the metal’s atoms. This way, the heat is created in those rods. This process continues as long as electricity passes.
Wood
Burning wood is the oldest way to have heat. Wood is an organic material that contains carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, and flammable materials. All of these burn and provide heat. Most of the elements turn into oxides and ash remains as the non-gaseous residuals. While heat is produced in the process.
Coal
Although the remainder of burnt wood is coal, it is also extracted from the earth. Coal is more densely packed than wood and this allows it better burning. That is why it can be burned to have heat. It delivers even more energy in terms of heat than wood. Like wood, it also leaves residuals that are then dumped.
Natural Gas
Hydrocarbon gases burn with a much result than wood, as they do not have sulfur, nitrogen, and other constituents. These gases include methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, and others. While methane constitutes the major concentration. They only made oxides of hydrogen as water and of carbon as carbon dioxide. Next, no non-gaseous waste is made and heat is produced.
Heating Oil
Like gases, liquid hydrocarbons do burn and provide heat. These are much easier to handle and burn better than their gaseous counterparts. Even they only make oxides of hydrogen and carbon. Kerosene is mainly used to make fire and achieve heat. The materials too are used such as fuel oil, liquid propane, gas oil, etc.
Biofuels
In addition to fossil fuels and electricity, some other fuels are used for heaters. These are made from recycled material to reduce damage to the earth. These can be biofuels made from algae, wood chips, recycled methane fuel, and agricultural waste. These have similar characteristics to wood or coal. They burn to provide heat and leave residual. But the fact that they are recycled from waste helps the environment.
Conclusion
The heater is an important part of indoor life. It converts different forms of the energy into heat. To do so certain substances are utilized as sources. The article covers certain highly used substances to operate heaters. All of these come with their specific characteristics.
