Combi Boiler Basics

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17 Jan 2010
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Bedfordshire
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Hi,

I am just trying to understand how a combi boiler actually works inside.

Am i correct in thinking that the water that circulates within the heat exchanger and is used to heat DHW for the taps is the same water that is used for the central heating and pumped to the radiators? (similar to a conventional boiler with a hot water cylinder?).

If this is the case.....how is the central heating maintained when somebody is using the shower etc....My thinking is that if the heat exchanger is passing all of its heat to the shower, how is the water going to the rads maintained? Does the boiler flame intensity to compensate?

Thanks people
 
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The heating won't work when hot water is drawn. You won't normally notice this though.
 
Central heating system is sealed and the combi boiler heats this.
Cold mains passes through a plate heat exchanger and when hot water is
called for the combi diverts the central heating water to the through
this plate heat exchanger. Hot water for the tap and central heating water
never meet.
If you download virtually any combi boiler manual there is a layout
diagram and you should be able to work out the operation from that.
 
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The addition to the answer is that the rads have a long thermal time constant and you dont notice that they have cooled a bit during the 15-20 minutes that a shower is taken.

Tony
 

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