How to choose a diesel heating boiler for a private home: expert advice

The choice of a heat generator for heating and hot water supply of a country house depends on many factors, primarily on the availability of a gas main. The use of a liquid fuel heating system is most often due to the lack of access to a centralized gas supply system.

Modern heating boilers using diesel fuel as an energy source have high efficiency and allow for complete autonomy of the heating system of a private home. In addition, some models of diesel boilers can operate on fuel oil, waste engine oil and other liquid combustible mixtures, including liquefied gas.

Design and principle of operation of a diesel boiler

The design of units using liquid fuels as an energy carrier requires the following basic elements:

• Housings with a built-in combustion chamber;
• Burners in which the formation of a combustible mixture occurs;
• One or two heat exchangers;
• Fuel pump;
• Filtration systems;
• Thermal sensors;
• Electronic control and settings unit.

The material for the manufacture of heat exchangers can be steel or cast iron. Some premium diesel boilers are equipped with heat exchangers made of high-alloy heat-resistant steel.

Principle of operation

The fuel entering the burner is mixed with air, thus forming a fuel mixture, which is sprayed through the nozzle into the combustion chamber. The completeness of fuel combustion depends on the correct adjustment of the burner itself and the quality of the nozzle. The fuel mixture entering the combustion chamber is ignited by a spark generated by an automatic control system (ACS), and the heat generated during the combustion process is transferred to the coolant through the walls of the heat exchanger.

The temperature of the coolant is controlled by a system of temperature sensors installed in the combustion chamber. When the set temperature regime is reached, the automatic control system turns off the burner, and when the coolant cools, the combustible mixture is automatically ignited. Exhaust gases are discharged through the chimney.

The burners of diesel heating boilers can be fan-driven or forced-air. In fan burners, excess pressure is created using a special built-in fan. The performance of such modules is quite high, but the operation of the installations is accompanied by an increased noise level.

In forced-air burners, a turbine is installed instead of a fan. The use of turbocharging can significantly increase the productivity of the installation and achieve complete combustion of the combustible mixture. Removal of exhaust gases from the combustion chamber can be done either naturally, due to the draft generated in the chimney, or forcefully, using a fan.

Another design feature of a diesel fuel boiler for heating a private home is the possibility of conversion to work with other types of fuel, in particular natural gas, for this you just need to replace the diesel burner with a gas one.

Compared to electric

Compared to an electric boiler, a diesel boiler consumes a negligible amount of electricity. The equipment must be connected to the network only to maintain the operation of the burners and the automation unit.

Therefore, heating with diesel fuel is the best option for buildings where there are problems with electrical power.

However, this may cause problems with fuel quality. It is important to fill the boiler only with the best diesel fuel, otherwise over time the burner will begin to smoke, the heat exchangers will become dirty, and the efficiency of the device will decrease as a result.

To solve these problems, you will have to diagnose the equipment and then replace severely worn parts.

Advantages and disadvantages of diesel boilers

Like any other equipment, diesel boilers have their strengths and weaknesses. The advantages of such units include:

• The device is fully automated and can operate autonomously without operator intervention. The duration of continuous operation is determined solely by the capacity of the fuel tank.
• If the automation is working properly, boiling of the coolant is almost impossible, since the power of the installation can be instantly reduced to a minimum by turning off the fuel supply.
• When stored, liquid fuel takes up much less space than a stock of coal, firewood or pellets.
• Possibility of using waste oil and other liquid combustible waste as an energy carrier.
• Unlike gas boilers for heating a private home, the installation of diesel heating equipment does not require coordination with the relevant services and can be done on its own.

Along with these undeniable advantages, significant disadvantages should also be noted:

• Since operation of a diesel boiler without an automatic control system is impossible, it is necessary to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the installation. Despite the fact that energy consumption is minimal, this still creates certain difficulties.
• The cost of standard diesel fuel for heating systems is noticeably higher than the cost of firewood and coal.
• To avoid fuel thickening at low temperatures, pipelines require high-quality thermal insulation.
• When storing fuel in an underground tank, in the event of a leak, soil and groundwater may be poisoned.
• The need to create a boiler room, since the operation of a diesel unit is associated with increased noise levels and the possibility of unpleasant odors.
• Regular delivery of fuel and the organization of special storage are required.

Despite the above disadvantages, boilers running on diesel fuel are most widely used in country houses and private homes due to the possibility of autonomous operation, high efficiency and ease of installation.

Useful data

Stable operation of diesel heating devices is guaranteed if certain conditions are met:

• It is better to entrust the first launch to specialists;
• maintenance must be carried out at least twice a year, the service includes adjustment, cleaning, inspection;
• DIY repairs are prohibited;
• requires the use of high-quality fuel;
• children should not have access to the equipment;
• no foreign objects, debris or liquid should enter the fuel tank;
• there must always be fuel in the tank;
• if it is necessary to replenish diesel reserves, the unit should be turned off and the valve closed;
• heating equipment should be periodically checked for possible leaks;
• If the diesel heater will not be used for a long period, the power supply must be turned off.

Industrial diesel boiler Tanks
are used to store fuel. The material must be able to withstand temperature changes and exposure to chemicals well. If their volume does not exceed 750 liters, they can be stored in the boiler room. In this case, a partition must be installed separating it from the heater. If the container exceeds the volume of 750 liters, then it must be stored underground.

Fuel consumption of diesel heating boilers

Since the cost of diesel fuel is quite high, fuel consumption is one of the most important characteristics of the installation. Overconsumption of energy leads to a significant increase in material costs for heating a home. Increased fuel consumption may occur due to the following reasons:

• Incorrect burner adjustment
  . Complete combustion of fuel is possible only with an optimal ratio of fuel and oxygen in the combustible mixture, otherwise diesel fuel consumption increases significantly.
• Thickening of fuel
  . With a significant decrease in temperature and insufficient thermal insulation of the supply pipelines, the viscosity of diesel fuel increases, which inevitably leads to an increase in fuel consumption.
• Nozzle or injector failure
  . Under the influence of high temperatures, the injector nozzle gradually burns out, which leads to improper atomization of the combustible mixture and, as a result, to increased fuel consumption.
• Climatic conditions
  . In severe frosts, more diesel fuel is required to maintain a given temperature.

There are a number of ways to reduce diesel fuel consumption while ensuring the necessary temperature balance in the house, these include:

• Careful burner adjustment. The use of specially developed software allows you to reduce the fuel consumption of a diesel heating boiler for a private home by 10 - 15%.
• The use of room temperature sensors and automation that monitors changes in external temperatures reduces fuel consumption by 15%.
• Thermal insulation of external storage facilities and supply lines.
• Correct choice of power characteristics of the unit.

When these conditions are met, diesel fuel consumption is reduced by 25–30%.

Determination of average fuel consumption

At the household level, we can assume with a reasonable degree of accuracy that with a power of 10 kW, a diesel boiler consumes 1 liter of fuel per hour, provided that the heat is spent exclusively on heating the house. When using a double-circuit boiler, diesel fuel consumption increases by an average of 30%.

Considering that heating 10 m2 of living space requires approximately 1 kW of thermal power, for efficient operation of the heating system in a house with an area of ​​100 m2, a heat generator with a capacity of 13 - 15 kW will be required. Such an installation consumes 1.3 - 1.5 liters of diesel fuel per hour, therefore, from 30 to 32 liters will be consumed per day. Provided it operates in nominal mode throughout the heating season, fuel consumption will be from 4.5 to 5 tons.

Fuel storage

Diesel heating requires the organization of a tank to store fuel and supply it to the equipment. The location for its placement is determined for reasons of fire safety. Convenient access must also be provided to refill the tank.

Note: According to established standards, a fuel container of no more than 0.8 m3 can be placed in the boiler room. This volume will not be enough, so a fuel storage facility is required. According to the standards, the volume of such a container should not exceed 20 thousand liters.

To organize a place for fuel storage, you can dig a pit, the bottom of which is covered with a cement-sand cushion. This is a layer of about 20 cm. This distance should remain between the walls of the container and the walls of the pit. The pit is filled with a cement-sand mixture. Compaction must be done every 20 cm, water must be added.

Fuel storage and diesel boiler

You should not save on capacity for heating equipment. If you make it yourself, cracks may occur, which will result in fuel leakage, which means high costs. Therefore, it is recommended to use certified containers.

You can use not one diesel tank, but several, connecting them with a special harness. Nowadays, tanks made of polyethylene lined with steel sheet are very popular. You can also use a reinforced fiberglass container.

If the diesel boiler is located below the tank level, then a gravity fuel supply system can be used. If the level is the same or the container is slightly higher than the burner of a diesel stove, the burner pump is able to independently suck in diesel. If the difference in levels is more than 5 meters, additional help is needed.

Fuel storage heating systems using a diesel boiler

If there is a fairly large distance between the container and the boiler, the fuel line runs outside, it should be buried 1.5 meters into the ground. This is necessary to prevent freezing.

Criteria for choosing a heating boiler using diesel fuel

When choosing a diesel heat generator, special attention should be paid to the following aspects:

Thermal power of a diesel boiler. In general, it is generally accepted that to effectively heat an area of ​​10 m2 in the middle zone, 1 kW/h of thermal energy is required; in cold regions this figure can be 1.3 – 1.4 kW/h.

Possibility of temperature control. There are three main types of liquid fuel installations:

With a single-stage burner, constantly operating at maximum mode;

With a two-stage burner, providing the ability to operate in 50 and 100% modes:

With an adjustable burner that allows settings over a wide range, which significantly reduces energy consumption.

Fuel consumption. It is this indicator that determines the economic feasibility of using a diesel unit; in addition, based on these data, it is possible to prepare in advance the necessary fuel supply for the entire heating season.

In addition, one should take into account the possibility of creating a hot water supply circuit and converting the installation to use natural gas, in the case of a centralized pipeline supply.

Features of diesel boiler maintenance

Even with a correctly configured burner, during operation, soot and ash settle on the inner surface of the combustion chamber and the surface of the heat exchanger. Even a small amount of these deposits significantly reduces the intensity of heat transfer, so a layer of soot 2 mm thick reduces the efficiency of the installation by 10 - 12%. To prevent this, it is necessary to regularly clean the combustion chamber, heat exchanger and chimney pipe.

In addition, special attention should be paid to adjusting the burner, since the completeness of fuel combustion and, as a consequence, the amount of incomplete combustion products deposited on the walls depends on the correct ratio of fuel and oxygen in the combustible mixture.

To ensure maximum performance, it is also important to promptly flush or replace the nozzle that atomizes the air-fuel mixture. The use of high-quality fuel can significantly reduce soot and ash deposits on the walls of the heat exchanger and combustion chamber.

Timely cleaning of the device and proper operation will extend the life of the diesel boiler and ensure efficient operation of the heating system.

Single-circuit

A single-circuit diesel boiler is focused on performing one function - heating the room. The liquid in the coolant is heated, after which it is supplied to the system circuit. A circulation pump can be used for this. If the system is properly organized, a water heater can be installed into it to provide the home with hot water.

Single-circuit diesel boiler

Top 5 best diesel boilers

At the end of 2022, the following models of diesel heating units for private homes were in greatest demand:

ACV mini

The device is compact and economical. Connection to a boiler allows for efficient supply of hot water, and ease of maintenance and reliability have made the installation widely popular. The model is equipped with a thermostat, thermomanometer and a two-mode winter-summer regulator, which allows to reduce fuel consumption. The combustion chamber door is removable, which greatly simplifies the maintenance of the installation, and high-quality thermal insulation with mineral wool reduces heat loss.

Specifications:

De Dietrich GT 123

The unit is characterized by high productivity and high coolant temperature. The diesel boiler is equipped with a three-way exhaust gas exhaust system, a turbulator and asymmetric channels located horizontally, which makes it possible to increase the efficiency of combustion products removal.

Specifications:

Buderus Ljgano G125-40 SE

The installation is extremely demanding on the quality of diesel fuel; the fuel used must comply with European standards, in particular DIN 51-630. A branded boiler can be provided as an additional package.

The device is distinguished by high durability and reliability in operation, as well as simplicity and ease of control and configuration. Connection to various exhaust gas removal systems is provided. In addition, the noise level during operation is significantly reduced.

Specifications:

Kiturami Turbo HIFIN – 17

The installation is a double-circuit liquid fuel heating boiler that provides efficient heating of a room of 190 m2 and installation of a DHW circuit. The unit is equipped with separate heat exchangers.

Specifications:

Navien LST 21K

An economical heating installation designed to heat a living space up to 210 m2 and provide hot water. The device is characterized by high performance and reliability, however, the electronic control system is very sensitive to voltage drops; during installation, it is recommended to connect to the network through a stabilizing device.

Specifications:

In addition to the official ratings data, compiled on the basis of data provided by the sales departments of various sales offices, when choosing a boiler for organizing diesel heating in the house, it would not be amiss to read the reviews of the owners of such equipment.

Reviews of diesel heating boilers for private homes

1. To heat the country house, we decided to purchase a diesel heat generator, since there is no gas supply in the village and is not expected in the near future. The price of a diesel boiler at the time of purchase was approximately 35 thousand rubles, which is quite commensurate with our budget. I installed the boiler myself and there were no significant difficulties. Now, for two years now, the house has been warm and cozy, we are very happy with the purchase.

2. Since our village does not have a centralized gas supply, we had to look for alternative options. Electric boilers were no longer needed, since power outages are not uncommon in our country. Of the remaining options, we settled on the Navien LFA 21K double-circuit diesel boiler. As time has shown, the choice was absolutely correct; for 4 years now there have been no problems with heat or hot water.

3. It’s very good that when installing a diesel boiler in a house, it is not necessary to install a special chimney! We installed the unit in a separate extension next to the house, and ran a sandwich pipe through the wall to the street. The turbine copes well with removing gases and we do not notice any unpleasant odors. In terms of performance, the unit provides enough heat, and in addition, there are no interruptions in hot water.

4. The year before last we installed an ACVNmini diesel boiler. In general, there are no significant complaints, except for the noise. This year I will make sound insulation from plasterboard with a mineral wool lining and then it will be absolutely good.

The use of units running on liquid fuel as a heat generator is quite justified in the absence of a centralized gas supply. In addition, unlike solid fuel boilers, the duration of operation of a diesel boiler in autonomous mode is limited solely by the capacity of the fuel tank.