Retrofit UFH

[nwnw]

On 19/04/2024 at 15:33, SteamyTea said:

No, they are just fan assisted radiators that are small.

 

You can just plumb them in to the existing system.

 

https://www.plumbworld.co.uk/smiths-space-saver-ss55-hydronic-plinth-heater-with-brushed-steel-grille-1304-1261300

 

 

This got me thinking...does a product exist that simply adds fans to the top of standard radiators to perform this function.

Indeed, quite a few seem to exist, although they all seem to be cheapish and a bit of a hash-job.  E.g. https://radiatorfan.co.uk/radiator-fans/

 

 

I did find a very interesting report on experiments that were carried out on radiator fans...

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X23007384?ssrnid=4513816&dgcid=SSRN_redirect_SD

They found that the 337W of a std convector radiator at 40degC was increased to 616W at normal fan speed and 1173W at higher fan speed.  Good empirical proof that they work as you would expect.

It states that the effect is greater at lower flow temperatures, so lends itself well to ASHP heating and I wonder if these are a good way around fitting bigger rads.

It would also be easily removed if it was found that the MCS heat demand estimates were overdone.

 

Anyone have any experience of these?

[Adsibob]

7 minutes ago, nwnw said:

Anyone have any experience of these?

No, but i imagine this will dry out the atmosphere in your house. Unless you have a damp house, I wouldn’t do this.

[SteamyTea]

6 hours ago, nwnw said:

Anyone have any experience of these

I have no experience but I think a couple of people on here have tried them.

 

6 hours ago, Adsibob said:

No, but i imagine this will dry out the atmosphere in your house

I don't see why it would be any different to increasing the radiator size, or the flow temperature.

The absolute humidity (the grams H₂O/kg_air) would stay the same, so the relative Humidity would just follow the normal Temperature/RH curve.