Thermal curtain on the front door: the key to creating a comfortable microclimate

To create a favorable microclimate in the room, it is necessary to maintain a comfortable temperature and prevent walking drafts. This is especially true in crowded places where doors are often opened. A heat curtain on the front door will help to preserve the internal heat, get rid of drafts and eliminate the possibility of cold polluted air entering the room.

What is a heat curtain and what is it for

In the winter season, dense cold air that spreads across the floor is rapidly directed into the room through front door and squeezes out warm, light air. If you add a wind component to this usual air exchange, then strong drafts will walk in the room. In this case, when the door often opens or is constantly kept open, not a single heating device is able to cope with heating the room. Here it is necessary to create a powerful stream of warm dense air, the pressure of which would prevent the pressure of cold air masses that come from the street.

The thermal curtain perfectly copes with the task. It is a kind of cold air cutter on the front doors. Its principle of operation is similar to that of a thermal fan. It is able to reliably protect the premises from the penetration of drafts and cold from the street, and its inhabitants from diseases.

In the case of correct calculation of all parameters of the heat flow, it will not only prevent the penetration of cold masses and will not allow the heated masses to escape, but also helps the heating system, due to the fact that most of it returns to the room.

The air curtain can be used not only during the winter season. Her work is also justified in the summer season. The directed air mass prevents the cool internal air from entering the street, and the street heated by the summer heat - from entering the room.

Regardless of the season, the curtain performs another important function. It protects the indoor microclimate of the room from the penetration of various suspensions harmful to human health along with the outdoor air. The curtain is able to keep rain, snow, dust and hordes of small insects.

Useful advice! The air curtain allows you to zone the premises, creating a different microclimate.

Correctly selected equipment can save about 30% of electricity, which is spent on heating and air conditioning a room. In addition, the device itself does not take up a lot of usable space and does not clutter up the interior of the room.

Thermal curtain on the front door: design and principle of operation

In appearance, the heat curtain resembles the indoor unit of an air conditioner with a pronounced elongated body. Air intake from the room is carried out through the grill located in its upper part. At the bottom of the body there is a nozzle through which an air stream comes out under pressure. The control buttons can be located on the case itself or be mounted in a remote unit, which should be located near the device. Some models of curtains have an infrared remote control for control.

A heat exchanger is located inside the housing, due to which the air is heated, and a turbine-type blower that supplies it under pressure to the outside. A heating element, a spiral or a water heating circuit, which is typical for stationary models, can act as a heat exchanger.

Many air curtains have a built-in filter designed to clean the air mass from contamination. Almost all models, regardless of manufacturer, have built-in protection against overheating, breakdowns to the case and short circuits. They can also be equipped with thermostatic control of fan speed and heat exchanger heating level.

Varieties of air-thermal curtains

There are many types of air curtains, reviews of which can be found on specialized sites. They all differ in the way they are installed and how they work.

Depending on the installation option, the curtains can be:

• horizontal;
• vertical;
• universal.

The horizontal device is installed directly above a doorway, window or gate, and is secured with brackets or threaded rods. The vertical thermal curtain is mounted on one or both sides of the door. The height of the device should be three-quarters of the height of the doorway. Horizontal models are bulky and not suitable for small spaces. Universal curtains can be mounted both vertically and horizontally. It is this mobile design that is most in demand, since it is a full-fledged additional heating element. It is often used for offices and apartments.

Important!Horizontal units are not intended to be installed vertically.

According to the type of installation, there are suspended and recessed models. The first option is attached directly to the wall. The second is built into the wall or ceiling along the height of the opening. Such models consist of a module and a decorative grille.

Useful advice! A heat curtain built into a suspended ceiling will look very aesthetically pleasing.

Air Curtain Heat Exchanger Options

Depending on the presence and type of heat exchanger, curtains are distinguished:

• water;
• electrical;
• without heat exchanger.

The most popular and demanded are electric air curtains, which operate from a 220 V network. These devices have high efficiency rates and are easy to install. Many models are equipped with the ability to smoothly regulate the heating temperature of the air flow. The main disadvantage of electric curtains is a significant energy consumption associated with ensuring the operation of the fan and heating the heat exchanger. In addition, the devices have a certain inertia when starting up, i.e. it takes a certain time for the curtain to reach the operating mode.

For hot water curtains on the front door with serial designation RW, hot water acts as a heat carrier. The devices are connected to the heating system or centralized hot water supply through the nozzles located in the curtain body. The main advantage of this type of device is the minimum operating costs. Here, electricity is spent only on the operation of the fan and the control system. However, the device is characterized by a lot of difficulties in the installation process. Here you should additionally install pipes with shut-off valves and control valves.

When installing a water heating curtain, a branch from the general circuit should be foreseen in advance, which is not always possible with an already installed heating system. It is also necessary to install a filtering device for a tubular heat exchanger to prevent overgrowth. When choosing a curtain, it is necessary to take into account the power of the installation, which must correspond to the capabilities of the heating system so that the operation of the device does not affect the heating level of the radiators.

Air curtains without a heat exchanger of the RV series are not used for air heating. They are used to protect the premises from street dust, insects and various contaminants. They also prevent conditioned air from escaping to the outside. They are often used for zoning premises in production workshops, to exclude warm air from entering storage or freezers.

Electric thermal curtains over the door

A heating element, a spiral or a ceramic heat exchanger can be used here as a heat exchanger. Devices with a spiral are the cheapest and at the same time low-power. You can buy a thermal curtain over the door for 4000 rubles. Due to the fact that the heat exchanger is of an open type, it very quickly heats up the air flow, reaching the operating mode. However, such a heating element burns oxygen. Spiral curtains are characterized by a minimum service life.

Useful advice!Devices with a spiral are advisable to use for rooms with a high rate of air exchange.

Curtains with heating elements are more effective. It is a metal tube, in the middle of which there is a heating element, wire or graphite, and sand. These devices do not burn oxygen indoors, they work for a long time and without interruption. They stand out for their affordable cost. The average cost of a heat curtain is 20 thousand rubles.

The most modern are air curtains with a ceramic heat exchanger, which quickly warms up the air to the set temperature and switches to an economical mode of energy consumption. This device not only fulfills the assigned task, cutting off the outside cold air, it can significantly save energy. The disadvantage is the high cost of the thermal curtain in comparison with analogues.

Classification of curtains by purpose

Electric air curtains have serial designations RM, RT and RS, which indicate the purpose of the device. Low-power mini-curtains of the RS series are used for small openings of 1500x80 cm. Their productivity is no more than 500 m³ / hour. The curtains are usually installed at transport ticket offices, street kiosks, or above customer service windows.

The most popular are the medium power curtains of the RM series, which are used for standard openings with a height of 2.5-3 m. They are capable of pumping up to 2000 m³ of air per hour. Models usually have convenient external units and remote control panels. These mid-range devices are often used for the front door or transition from a cool hallway to a living space.

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Devices with a high productivity of more than 2500 m³ / h of the RT series are designed for openings with a height of 3.5-7 m. Such air curtains are installed on the gates of a workshop, a car repair shop, a warehouse or industrial premises, at the entrance to a supermarket or entertainment center.

Useful advice!For a wide doorway, several medium power heat curtains can be installed in a row.

How to choose a thermal curtain

For the correct choice of a heat curtain, it is not enough to determine the place of its installation and the principle of operation of the heat exchanger. You should pay close attention to the characteristics of the device:

• dimensions of the curtain;
• device performance, which indicates the amount of pumped air per unit of time;
• air flow rate;
• type of heat exchanger;
• heat exchanger block power;
• device protection level;
• type of control;
• availability of additional options;
• appearance of the device.

Before purchasing a thermal curtain on the door, you need to familiarize yourself with the possible options, study the technical characteristics of the models, view the photos, decide on the pricing policy and read consumer reviews on specialized sites.

Linear device parameters

The main parameter of the device is its length, which must completely overlap the doorway in order to create the necessary air duct along its entire width. There should be no gaps that facilitate the free penetration of cold and dusty air masses. The length of the devices is in the range of 600-2000 mm. For a door opening of a standard size, a curtain with a length of 800 mm is purchased.

Useful advice! For the best effect, you should purchase a curtain that creates an air flow with a width slightly exceeding the door opening.

If the width of the opening exceeds the length of the selected curtain model, it is better to install two units close to each other. When choosing a long model, an important nuance should be taken into account. The length of the curtain turbine usually does not exceed 800 mm, which is associated with an increase in vibration phenomena with its increase, and in order to minimize them, additional costs are required, which will increase the production cost.

In this regard, manufacturers go to some trick. An electric drive is located in the center of the device, to the right and left of which turbines of the required length are installed. However, this design has a significant drawback. In the central part of the device, an area of ​​reduced pressure is created through which cold air can freely penetrate from the outside.

Another important parameter is the length of the air stream, which must reach the floor at the rated power of the curtain. Here we are not talking about the height of the doorway, but about the installation distance to the floor. If the air flow does not touch the floor, a gap will appear, which will allow free movement of drafts.

Air curtain performance and heat output

The efficient operation of the device depends on the air flow density. The internal pressure in it must exceed the external pressure at any point in the opening. The flow rate should also be optimal and not create discomfort for people. Its minimum value for the effective operation of the device must be at least 2.5 m / s. It depends on the fan diameter and its rotation speed.

The technical data sheet for each device indicates its performance. A correctly selected model should provide air supply, which only 1/3 of the air is scattered downward, and the rest of its volume returns to the room. If the device is selected with excessive capacity, then a significant part of the air will be carried out of the room to the outside, which indicates the inappropriate use of the curtain and unjustified consumption of consumed electricity. If the curtain provides insufficient air flow, cold air masses will quietly penetrate into the room, making the unit ineffective.

For a doorway with a standard size of 800x2000 mm, it is necessary to choose a curtain with a capacity of 700-900 m³ / hour. However, manufacturers produce models with more modest parameters. When choosing a curtain, one should take into account the location of the entrance, temperature differences, wind direction and speed. All these characteristics are taken into account when calculating the heat curtain. Therefore, for each specific model, manufacturers indicate in the passport all the necessary parameters and recommendations for the installation site of the device.

The heat output of the curtain is not a determining factor when choosing a curtain. After all, the main purpose of the installation is not to heat the room and maintain the optimum temperature in it. The curtain should only compensate for some of the heat losses through the door. The device only helps the heating system to function better, but should not replace it in any way. However, in practice, it is justified to install a 2 kW warm curtain as additional heating. Most models provide a temperature rise of up to 20 ° C. In some cases, this value reaches 30 ° C.

Protection system and device management

Each air curtain model has two control levels. With the help of the first, the given device performance is created and maintained. The second is responsible for the operation of the heat exchange unit. A specially developed protection system prevents the heater from turning on when the turbine is not running, which will protect the device from overheating.

In the most budgetary models, the heating element heating level is already set and the device performance is set, which cannot be changed. However, for self-regulation of the indoor climate, it is better to choose curtains with the ability to manually control the device. There are also complex options, where a stepwise curtain control is built in, where several turbine power levels and heat exchanger heating gradations are provided.

Models with electronic control are very popular today, which allow smooth and accurate adjustment of the device. Usually the control unit is located on the device body. You can also buy a heat curtain with a control panel or an external unit that is located on the wall.The panel contains a number of buttons, with the help of which the effective operation of the curtain is set: on / off, performance, heating mode, temperature, etc.

Each modern model is equipped with an increased degree of protection against overheating, voltage surges, short circuits, phase breakdown to the case and other protection options. There are also models that are equipped with a thermostat and timer. In newer versions, the air supply angle is regulated, which increases the efficiency of the curtain.

Installation of a thermal curtain

Despite the fact that the degree of complexity of the device installation is much easier than for a household air conditioner, manufacturers insist to entrust the installation of the curtain to a professional. However, you can do the work yourself.

Before proceeding with the installation of the heat curtain, it is necessary to provide a power line of the required power, a device connection point, protective and safety elements (RCD and automatic machine). Next, you should make an accurate marking, after which the mounting parts are fixed on the wall plane for further hanging the thermal curtain over the door. The kit usually includes a mounting plate or brackets and hardware.

If the selected model of the curtain has adjustable jalousie, they must be tilted from the vertical at an angle of 30 degrees. towards the entrance. The air nozzle design of many models already has this airflow slope. It may also be necessary to install the signal cable and fix the remote control panel to the wall. All these steps are described in detail in the installation instructions for the device, which should be read before installing the curtain.

Installation of a horizontal or vertical water heat curtain is a more complex undertaking that requires certain heat engineering calculations and the installation of additional pumping or collector equipment. To carry out the installation, you should involve specialists in this matter.

Repair of thermal curtains

Only a qualified specialist can assess the scale of the curtain breakdown and the possibility of its repair. He can easily change to a new, out of order part, and perform the subsequent setup of the device.

The most common reason for curtain breakdown is overheating of the device, which occurs due to non-observance of the instructions. The curtain turns on at full power, as a result, the fan, heating element, relay breaks down, the switch breaks down and the electrical contacts suffer. Most often, curtains with a device length of more than 80 cm, which are equipped with a very complex configuration, fail.

A service technician can fix a minor problem on site. However, if more complex repairs are required, the equipment is dismantled for a while. You can also try to fix the problem yourself, having studied the instructions in detail before this.

All work must be performed in compliance with safety regulations. If the device does not turn on, first you need to make sure there is electricity. Then check the contacts and fuses. Defective elements can be changed by yourself, following the instructions.

Important!All work with the device is performed when it is completely disconnected from the network.

If the switch of the device is in the "Heating" position, but the function is not performed, the switch may be out of order, or in the electrical circuit there is poor contact. In the first case, the element is changed to a new one.In the second option, you should check the correctness of the connection, and restore contact.

If the air curtain switches on and off periodically, check that it is correctly installed and clean the inside of it from accumulated dust.

Important! The device will function properly when all recommendations for installation, maintenance and periodic cleaning are followed.

Scheduled maintenance of air curtains

In order to ensure the efficient and long-term operation of the air curtain, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations specified in the operating instructions for the device, which needs timely professional maintenance.

Every month it is necessary to carry out an external inspection of the device, check the fasteners, guards and the structure of the unit. A current and voltage check is performed on each phase. It is necessary to test the operation of the heat curtain in all its modes and the control panel. The cabinet is cleaned, the front panel of the control box, inlet louvers and air filters are cleaned.

Once a quarter, a qualified technician tightens the screw connections of the wires on the terminal boxes, strips the contacts, checks the operation of the fuses and lugs. In case of revealing faulty parts, it replaces them with new ones. The curtains are also diagnosed to identify and eliminate extraneous noise. The fan blades are being examined.

Every six months, seasonal adjustment of the operating modes of the device should be performed, which consists in de-preserving or preserving the heat curtain. At this time, the heat exchanger and other units are also pneumatically cleaned.

The heat exchanger should be cleaned annually with a special chemical composition. The degree of wear of the fan motor bearings is also established.

Well-known manufacturers of electric heat curtains over the door. Device price

Today the following companies are the most popular manufacturers of air curtains:

• Friko;
• Pyrox;
• Olefini;
• Termoscreens;
• Ballu;
• Teplomash;
• Tropic.

More than 70% of the entire product range belongs to the Swedish company Friko and the Norwegian company Pyrox. The products of these brands are the benchmark for other manufacturers. The companies produce a wide range of high quality products, which range from compact models for window openings to large-sized industrial air curtains. The reliability of the devices is ensured by the use of high-quality heating elements, developed using a special technology, as a heat exchanger, which prolongs the service life of the entire installation.

In industrial electric heat curtains with a length of more than 1500 mm, a single large-diameter turbine is installed, which guarantees a uniform and intensive air flow. Both companies produce devices with distinctive energy-saving characteristics and quiet performance. However, the products of European brands are very expensive. You can buy a small-sized 3 kW thermal curtain for an average of 50 thousand rubles. Products for standard-sized doorways start at RUB 100,000. The price of the overall Friko air curtain reaches 800 thousand rubles.

Less expensive products are offered by the English brand Termoscreens. Despite the fact that the products differ in less power from 1.5 kW, the air curtains are not inferior in reliability to Scandinavian manufacturers. The role of a heat exchanger in thermal curtains is played by an electric spiral. The air flow is generated by small diameter turbines.The average price of air-thermal curtains of small sizes is 7-10 thousand rubles. Products for wide openings will cost an average of 25-45 thousand rubles. The price of models of the built-in type reaches 100 thousand rubles.

The semi-industrial type vertical electric air curtains are offered by the Greek trade mark Olefini. The products are distinguished by high performance, but they are quite noisy. Therefore, they are often installed in production workshops. The curtains have a low cost, which averages 50-75 thousand rubles.

Ballou air curtains

The Chinese manufacturer Ballu has several factories in Russia. This allows the company to produce budget products tailored to the needs of the Russian consumer. The company is constantly improving products, expanding the product range and reducing the cost of products. Ballou air curtains are distinguished by high energy saving rates, which saves resources without reducing the effective operation of the device.

The manufacturer produces several series of devices. The S1 series includes the Ballu BHC CE 3 budget electric heat curtain. The device's capacity is 300 m³ / hour. Installed above the entrance to a shopping center, cafe or office to a height of no more than 2.5 m. The heating element can operate at full or half power and without heating in the summer. The cost of the device is 4,300 rubles.

Another budget model of the new generation is the Ballu BHC CE 3T thermal curtain. In comparison with the previous product, this device has a thermostat, and its capacity reaches 400 m³ / hour. The price of the curtain is 6,000 rubles.

The S2 series differs from the S1 in that the units are equipped with a needle heating "stick element", a thermostat and a noise reduction system. The series begins with a small-sized air curtain BHC 3.000 SB with a capacity of 300 m³ / hour. It can operate at full power of 3 kW and in economy mode at a power of 1.5 kW. The price of the device is 4,000 rubles.

A more advanced small-sized thermal curtain Ballu BHC L06 S03 with a capacity of 350 m³ / hour is equipped with an electronic wired remote control BRC-E with wide functionality. The price of the product is 4 500 thousand rubles.

The Ballu BHC L08 S05 thermal curtain with a capacity of 450 m³ / hour is installed on a standard doorway. Works at full power of 5 kW, and in economy mode of 2.5 kW. The cost of the device is 6 400 rubles. Another thermal curtain BHC 5.000 SB with a capacity of 400 m³ / h is also designed for doors 800 mm wide. Its cost is 5,990 rubles.

The price of a large-sized thermal curtain Ballu BHC L10 S06 with a capacity of 1050 m³ / hour and a power of 6 kW is 10,000 rubles.

The T series includes modernized devices with a heating element as a heater. The curtains are equipped with a thermostat and have a low noise and vibration level. The length of the air stream reaches 3 m. One of the most popular models of this series is the Ballu BHC L08 T 03 thermal curtain with a capacity of 600 m³ / hour and a power of 3 kW. The price of the device is 5,700 rubles.

Thermal curtains Tropic

One of the most popular domestic manufacturers of thermal curtains is the Tropic company. It produces a wide range of semi-industrial, household devices, curtains for doorways and gates of various dimensions, which differ in size, performance, type of heat carrier, type of heating element and place of installation. The company's products are characterized by high reliability and low production cost.

All air curtains of this brand are united in a series.The smallest and cheapest air curtains of the "K" series are considered, which are used for doorways up to 2 m high. Their performance is within 150-350 m³ / hour. Due to its mini-dimensions, the device can be used not only as a heat curtain, but also as a fan heater or heater with a warm floor function. You can buy an electric thermal curtain for 3200 rubles.

The "A" series includes lightweight, compact, low-noise and inexpensive devices that are located horizontally above the doorway up to 2.2 m high. reducing vibration and noise. The most popular and budget model from this series is the Tropic A3 air curtain with a capacity of 270 m³ / hour. The installation price is only 3,700 rubles.

The "M" series contains small sized curtains that have an aesthetic appearance and advanced technical characteristics. They can be installed vertically and horizontally for doorways up to 2.3 m high. The role of the heat exchanger here is played by the "stitch element", thanks to which reliable, quiet and efficient operation of the device is ensured. The curtains have high performance, convenient adjustment and increased functionality. The set includes a remote control with a built-in thermostat.

The smallest model in this series is the Tropic M 3 air curtain with a capacity of 450 m³ / hour. The price of the device is 5,900 rubles. For doorways of a standard size, the Tropic M 6 thermal curtain with a capacity of 900 m³ / hour is suitable.

The "T" series includes medium-sized curtains with a capacity of 3-12 kW. Installed above the entrance doors of shops, warehouses, cafes, a vestibule to a height of not more than 2.5 m. The ribbed heating element acts as a heat exchanger. The device is monitored by a built-in thermostat. The price of a thermal curtain with a minimum capacity of 1100 m³ / hour for this series is 10 600 rubles. The maximum productivity of the "T" series device is 4200 m³ / hour. You can buy a silent thermal curtain over the door for 30,000 rubles.

Air curtains Teplomash

No less popular manufacturer of air curtains is the Russian company Teplomash. It produces a wide assortment of quality equipment with an electric or water source of heat, which is clearly presented in the catalog. The price of air curtains Teplomash depends on the size, performance, installation location of the device and heat source. All models are combined in a series with a numerical designation. The higher this number, the more powerful the product. Recommendations for the installation and operation of the device are described in detail in the instructions. "Thermal curtain Teplomash" is individual for each model.

Low-power and medium-power KEV air curtains are assembled in series 100, 200 and 300. The productivity of the devices is in the range of 300-2800 m3 / hour. They are installed in retail premises and office lobbies. The price of a small-sized 2 kW thermal curtain with a capacity of 300 m³ / hour is 2,500 rubles. The maximum performance device will cost 35,000 rubles. For comparison, the price of a water thermal curtain Teplomash with a capacity of 2800 m³ / hour will be at least 41,000 rubles.

Industrial devices are more powerful and perform well. These include models from the series 400 to 1000. They are installed in workshops and warehouses. The price of a thermal curtain for an entrance door up to 4.5 m high will average 30 thousand rubles. The cost of a powerful model with maximum performance will be at least 110 thousand rubles.

For rooms with high design requirements, choose air curtains from the 600 series.The devices are installed in office, administrative premises, cafes, restaurants, hotels with demanding interior design. You can buy a Teplomash thermal curtain from this series for an average of 55,000 rubles.

Only a heat curtain correctly selected and installed in accordance with all the rules will be able to work effectively and fulfill its purpose. Scheduled maintenance will help extend the life of the device.