Electrical Heating is one of the most traditional and the most common method of heating. The simplest electrical heating system consists of a simple resistor or load connected across a voltage source. As electric current flows through the resistor, it heats up and this heat energy can then be harnessed.
Nowadays, automatic heaters are used which have a temperature sensitive resistive element connected in them. As the element heats up, it expands and when the temperature reaches dangerous limit, the expanded element comes in contact with a button which switches off the system. When the element has cooled down to original length, the system is turned on again and in this way, automatic heating is done.
There are various types of electrical heaters, all of which are used to generate heat energy from electrical energy. The conventional heaters use conduction to heat up the surrounding air. The air which is heated rises up as it is lighter than cold air, and cold air occupies its place. This cold air is then further heated and the cycle goes on repeating itself until the system is turned off.
The hot air is emitted through vents and is used to heat up the surrounding air. They do not make a lot of sound and there is minimal chance of sparking. Therefore they can be used for quite long periods without interruption. In some heaters, there is an electric fan which helps in speeding up the air flow. By doing so, the heat can be transferred more quickly and this makes the operation very fast. However, due to the presence of the fan, there is a considerable amount of noise produced. They also increase the risk of sparking. Thus these are used when very fast heating is required for a short period.
There is a very interesting type of heating system called Storage Heating. This is extremely cost efficient and is used during night so that electricity costs are minimized, as electricity charges are quite cheaper at night. The heat produced by them is stored in clay bricks, and is released manually whenever the heat is required.
In an electric underfloor heating system, the current starts to flow through a conductive element when the system is turned on. This heated element then heats up the floor until the temperature reaches the preset limit decided by the floor thermostat. The heated floor in turn heats up the surrounding air which circulates and heats up the rest of the air in the room.
Gradually, the heated air will heat up the ceiling as well. By using such a method, the entire room, from floor to the ceiling, is heated up which makes it the most useful form of heating.
Electrical heating systems have their limitations as well. The electricity used is generated using fossil fuels, with only a third of the energy produced at the station reaching the homes. These are also quite costly when it comes to prolonged heating. To cut down the electricity costs, a heat pump can be used which can boost the temperature of surface heat, ambient air or exhaust air to make it a source of heat.
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