Collector central heating. Collector-beam system: the pros and cons. Pipes for apartment buildings
The system of room heating uses water, steam and air, which are called heat carriers, because they transfer heat from the boiler to the radiators. There are heating systems - collector and tee. The prevailing water heating systems, where the coolant is water, which brings the heat to the heating appliances. But if people are rarely in a heated building, then an antifreeze liquid can be used instead of water, which will prevent freezing. Using a special liquid does not provide for the installation of a water treatment system and extends the life of pipelines and equipment.
Collector, this metal comb with terminals for connecting pipes and instruments. The collector heating system is. Through one comb, hot water is supplied, and to the other, pipes that collect the cooled water (return) are connected.
This heating system works as follows. Water from the heating source enters the supply manifold ( distribution manifold filing), and from there pipes convey heat to each radiator and floor heating. Cooled water from the radiators through the return collector (collector return) comes back to the boiler.
In the collector heating system there is closed expansion tank and circulation pump , which moves the coolant. The minimum volume expansion tank equals not less than 10%of the total volume of all heating appliances. The pump is installed on any of the pipelines going to the collectors.
Collectors installed in special cabinets, which are mounted in the niches of walls or in a separate room. The collector cabinets should be located approximately at the same distance from each heater. Pipes can be fed to the radiators from above, from the side and from below. The most widespread bottom piping to radiators. This option gives the best way to hide pipes in the floor. For each hydraulic circuit running from the collector, a shut-off valve is installed, which makes it possible to disconnect any radiator without disturbing the operation of the heating system. For each radiator, a crane is installed to release the accumulated air - maevsky crane , or on the manifold - air vent valves. Heat meters and drain cocks can also be installed on the collector.
Each hydraulic circuit placed after the collectors is independent system. This made it possible to create warm floors. These are floors in the construction of which pipes are laid in parallel or in the form of spirals that heat the surface of the floor. Pipes are laid on the heat-insulating gasket, connected to the collector and after testing the tightness of the pipelines they are poured with concrete. The height of the screed should not exceed 7 cm. The laying pitch and the diameter of the pipes are determined by calculation. The length of one heating spiral should not exceed 90 m. metal plastic pipes , which easily accept any curvature.
When working under floor heating, the temperature is lowered by the height of the room, and when installing radiators - on the contrary, the higher, the warmer.
Advantages and disadvantages of the collector system
In connection with the appearance of a variety of plastic and polyethylene pipes collector system heating ousted the T-system, thanks to the following advantages:
- When installing and operating the collector heating system you can do without specialists high qualification.
- The coefficient of efficiency (efficiency) is increased due to the fact that the coolant is faster and with smaller losses brings heat to the radiators. This is achieved through work circulating pump and poor thermal conductivity of plastic pipes. These pipes with the least losses deliver heat to the radiators, which thanks to a special design effectively heat the room.
- Increase in efficiencythe heating system makes it possible to reduce pipe diameters and boiler output, and also saves fuel.
- Since plastic pipes from heaters to collectors do not have connectors (joints), their it is possible to wall in the floors and walls of the house. This gives an aesthetic appearance to the room.
- Give a chance to heat a house without traditional radiators, using warm floor.
- High maintainability. Since it is possible to disconnect any section of the pipeline from water supply, without affecting the performance of the whole heating system.
- Simplicity of designing, since there is no need to apply complex mathematical calculations.
- Possibility of temperature adjustment on each heater. What creates certain comfort
The disadvantages of the collector heating system are:
- Air exhaust system. The air remains in the system after filling with a coolant, which enters the heating devices horizontally and quickly under the influence of the pump. The air from microscopic bubbles unites and accumulates at the highest points of the radiators.
- High price, because of the presence of a pump, manifolds, shut-off valves and a large number of pipes for moving the coolant.
- Can not work without circulation pump.
- Required special room for the collector cabinet.
- Labor-saving installation and material consumption.
From the above, it can be seen that the collector heating system is considered reliable and comfortable for a low-rise cottage. But the cost of this system much higher than the tee.
Purpose of the collector system
Recently, the collector heating system has also been used in the construction of multi-storey apartment buildings with the use of wall-mounted boilers.
But to establish a collector heating system in the apartment of old multi-storey buildings can not be,because there is already running a tee heating system. For the operation of the collector system, it is necessary to close the hydraulic circuit, which is necessary to create circulation of the coolant in the system. If a closed hydraulic circuit is created in one apartment, then other apartments will be cut off from the heating system.
The collector heating system also It can not be used in areas with unsustainable power supply, since when the circulation pump stops, the water freezes and the pipes fail. But the situation can somewhat correct the use of
Heat in the house is a guarantee of comfort. Installed in the heating system of a private house, the heating collector significantly improves its maintainability, allowing replacement and dismantling of any component without shutting down the entire heating circuit.
Collector heating can be used both in country cottages, and in apartments of multi-storey residential buildings. Collector wiring is installed in houses where warm floors are used to heat some rooms, while others are heated by traditional means of heating - radiators or convectors.
For the distribution unit a special cabinet or box is mounted. It provides easy access to equipment during operation.
Disadvantages and advantages
The collection system of heating has slightly higher cost in comparison with one-pipe or two-pipe schemes due to the need to purchase and install additional equipment and increase the total length of pipelines in the house. However, in general, the laboriousness of mounting increases insignificantly and is compensated by the convenience of operation.
The simplicity of the design allows you to install the distribution center with your own hands. Installed in the house or apartment collectors allow you to separately adjust the heating parameters in each room or ring circuit. A comb with shut-off valves on the fittings significantly reduces the damage from leakage and simplifies repairs.
This scheme compares favorably with most heating systems, although they are cheaper, but they require the entire riser or the whole pipeline section to be shut down, disrupting the microclimate of the premises, and sometimes the entire house. The use of collectors allows you to create a separate ring circuit for each floor of a house or group of heating appliances.
Design features
Structurally, the collector for heating is a metal pipe enlarged in comparison with the circulation pipelines of the diameter. It has a group of through holes, to each of which are welded threaded fittings, each of which serves a separate heating device or circuit.
As a rule, the device has one inlet fitting in the end of the pipe and a certain number of output, including the second end of the pipe. For the convenience of placing the assembly in the enclosure and the layout of the piping connection, the collector can be assembled from two or more combs.
The design of a typical heating collector provides for the presence of two identical elements, fastened by means of connecting brackets. One comb is designed to distribute the flow of heat transfer medium to the heating devices, and the other serves to divert it to the common pipeline.
For the rational use of space, the combs entering the heating manifolds can be installed at an angle to each other and connected by sets of fittings, or pipes made of polypropylene or metal-plastic.
Distribution manifold provides for connection to threaded nipples of various pipe fittings whose thread diameter coincides with the analogous parameter of the comb fitting. The assembly diagram can include the connection of cleaning filters, ball valves and control valves, flow meters and check valves.
Collector group
Together, the combs with the components of the pipeline fittings installed on them are called the collector group. The collector group can be delivered to the customer as a complete and ready to install assembly assembly. It is easy to install it to the owner of a private house within a short period of time using only a universal construction and assembly tool.
Production of a collector by one's own hands
If you have the necessary skills and a sufficient set of equipment, the collection group for heating can be assembled independently. It is convenient to make it from a tube of square section. For this, two pieces of necessary length are cut off, then a round metal pipe is cut, marking is done and corresponding holes cut out in the main pipes. The structure is then assembled, and the joints are welded by welding. After assembly, the seams are cleaned and the product is painted.
An example of a homemade node.
The unit made in the home workshop must be tested for strength and tightness at elevated pressure before the connection. After the testing, you can start the mounted circuit in the work. But a large number of detachable joints significantly increases the risk of leaks, so it is better to give preference to industrial serial samples.
Installation of heating collectors
The distributive collector of water heating systems can be installed manually or with the involvement of professional plumbers, specializing in the installation and maintenance of heating systems. It is only necessary to pay attention to the rigidity of mounting the collector manifold to the base.
The assembly of the unit can be done on a wall, in a special cabinet or metal box, which is a structure of bent sheet metal. In it, special punches are made for holes to pass the pipelines of the system. It can be closed or open type, if there are no special aesthetic requirements to the room where the collector wiring is installed.
Perhaps, the collector heating system is the most effective method heating of any house, regardless of the number of floors and rooms. Such a scheme is often called radial, as it, unlike other heating systems, has a rather complicated (at first glance) wiring consisting of several separate threads (rays), although it can be mounted independently if one knows the principle of the contour functioning.
What it is, what advantages it offers - we discuss this and other issues in detail and understand this article.
But first, let us clarify the definitions. For the heating of residential buildings, various schemes are used, so it is difficult for a layman in this field to understand the essence of the matter, if to operate only with specials / terms.
What is a collector? This word denotes various technical products. In the case of a heating system, this is a device that regulates the volume of the coolant flowing into this or that thread of the circuit.
The disadvantage of other heating schemes is the uneven heating of radiators along the entire length of the route, unjustified heat losses and a number of others. But the main disadvantage is the lack of the possibility of changing the degree of heating of the batteries (and in some cases, their complete shutdown) without interfering with the operation of the boiler equipment, that is, changing the mode of operation of the batteries.
It should be noted immediately that using collectors is not something special. The use of such heat engineering devices can be complex, regardless of which circuit the attached circuit is mounted on.
The device of a collector of heating
It is easy to understand, if you consider the simplest modification of the product.
As can be seen from the figure, only 2 heating circuits can be connected to such a collector.
More complex options. For example, for 3 separate "thread".
The disadvantage of these valves is the impossibility of regulating the supply of coolant to each circuit. Therefore, for a residential building, in which there are a number of different types of premises in which it is necessary to maintain a different temperature, it is advisable to use more sophisticated reservoir modifications. The figures show some variants of this engineering solution.
In the photo below - a collector with built-in flowmeters.
Principle of operation of the reservoir
The coolant is supplied to it, which is fed through the pipe system from the boiler. The device has several nozzles, which are the inputs and outputs for the connected circuits. This ensures their independent supply (decoupling) of thermal energy, which allows it to be metered (regulated) by a single thread.
Heating schemes (options)
What type of heating devices to connect, their type and number, the location of the collectors - this is determined even at the design stage of the entire heating system. There is no single recommendation here. With regard to the structure in 2 floors, you can put either 1 "multichannel" collector, or 2 - 3 less functional. The specific scheme is chosen based on the number of rooms and consumers of thermal energy.
In a simplified form, for greater clarity, it can be presented as follows:
The order of the arrangement and are already separate questions. The collection circuit allows to equip the system of various types and any configuration. For example, with heating of the subsidiary structure (greenhouses), with heated floors.
The advantage of the collector systems is the possibility to regulate the degree of heating of each room individually. This allows not only to reduce the overall cost of heating, but also make living in the house more comfortable. For example, to maintain the temperature in living quarters at a level of 24 ºС, and in the utility rooms - somewhat less. As for the rooms on the ground floor, which are used as pantries, it can be reduced to +5 ºС to avoid freezing of the walls.
The disadvantage of the collector heating system is the high cost of installation. After all, if you lay several separate threads, then the consumption of pipes and materials (insulation, sealant, etc.) increases.
Uniform thermal distribution is one of the defining tasks in the design of a heating system. To solve it you can apply a number of methods. However, the collector for heating the house with his own hands remains the most productive: schemes, varieties and correct installation will help to realize this in practice.
Features of collector heating
The main difference between the collector and the traditional method of heat transfer distribution is the separation of flows along several independent channels. At the same time, different kinds of heat collectors are used, differing in their configuration and size.
The design of the distribution manifold (this is sometimes referred to as the welded collector for heating) is quite simple. In a pipe of square or round cross-section, several nozzles are installed, which are connected to separate heating circuits. The collector itself is connected to the central pipeline.
In the future, with the help of shut-off valves, it is possible to regulate the level of heat carrier flow into separate heat supply circuits. Thus it is possible to make a distributive collector of heating by own hands, or to get already ready design.
The operational features of heat supply by means of a distribution manifold are as follows:
- Uniform hydraulic and temperature distribution. Even the simplest circular collector of heating for two or four circuits can effectively stabilize the system;
- Regulation of heat supply. This is done with the help of special components - flowmeters, mixing units and temperature controllers. But before installing them, the correct calculation of the collector for heating is necessary;
- System maintainability. For maintenance or preventive maintenance work, it is not necessary to disconnect all heat supply in the house. It is sufficient to pre-install a heating collector with flowmeters and close the flow with the help of a stop valve hot water in a certain contour.
But heating with the help of collectors has a number of drawbacks. First of all, this is an increased consumption of pipes. The growth of the hydraulic resistance is compensated by the installation of the circulation pump. It is mounted on each distribution manifold in the system. Also a steel collector for heating can be used only for closed systems.
Collector distribution of the coolant is relevant for houses with a large area. This way compensates for the gradual cooling of hot water, typical for classic two-pipe and single-tube circuits.
Types of collectors for heating
Before you do, you need to determine its functional load. This design can be installed in several places of heat supply. From this will depend on its configuration, overall dimensions and level of automation.
Before collecting the heating collector, its calculation is performed, the installation location is determined. In fact, the system requires two designs. The comb from the supply pipe distributes the hot heat carrier along the heating circuits. Reverse polypropylene collectors for heating are the point of collection of cooled water for its further transportation to the boiler heat exchanger.
A homemade heating collector may be needed in two cases - for a water-heated floor system or for organizing a traditional heat supply with radiators. They differ in their dimensions and in their complete set:
- Boom strokes for the boiler room. To do this, welded collectors for heating, made from pipes of large diameter up to 100 mm are used. In the supply manifold, circulating pumps and control valves are mounted. To complete the return ring heating collector, cut-off ball valves are used;
- Combs for underfloor heating. In addition to the above-described components, a mixing assembly is used. It allows you to save coolant flow. In addition, the use of a heating collector with flowmeters is recommended.
The material of the comb production may differ from the pipelines. The correct connection of the heating collector in this case is done with the help of special adapters.
Calculation of the heating collector
Before independent manufacture distributive comb it is necessary to perform calculations of its main parameters. These include the length, the cross-section of the connected branch pipe and the number of heat supply circuits. In this case, the calculation of the distribution manifold can be done independently, or by using specialized programs.
The main condition is to observe the hydraulic balance in the structure. In the distribution manifold of the heating by hand, the throughput of the connected branch pipe must be equal to the sum of the same characteristics of the heating circuits. In practice, this can be achieved by summing up the cross sections of the nozzles. The result should be equal to the cross section of the main pipe, which is connected to the supply line. In this way, you can reduce the possibility of unbalancing the system.
To optimize the space often make the collectors of the heating system with their own hands in a single housing. This makes it possible to reduce labor intensity of work, and also contributes to better functioning of heat supply. However, in this case minimum distance between the serving and reverse pipe should be six diameters.
For further calculations of the collector for heating, rules of 3 diameters can be used. It consists of the following:
- The distance between the input output groups of the comb must be 6 diameters;
- The cross-section of a steel or polypropylene collector for heating is equal to 3 diameters of a branch pipe connected to the system;
- The remoteness of the heating circuits is 3 diameters;
It is also important to select the correct circulating pump. First of all it concerns its productivity. Before installing the heating collector, the specific water flow in the system is calculated and the pump selected according to the results obtained. For complex schemes with several collectors, this procedure should be done for each circuit separately and the entire system as a whole.
To produce a homemade heating collector, pipes with a square, rectangular or circular cross-section can be used. This will not affect the performance of the structure, and will not increase the hydraulic resistance. It is compensated by the operation of the circulation pump.
Completion of heating collectors
After performing the calculation, it is necessary to select the appropriate equipment for the distributor manifold. In order to properly assemble the heating collector, you must take care of the required elements in advance.
In the minimum set for a steel heating collector, it is sufficient to install a stop valve. But in this case there will be difficulties with adjusting the capacity of the hotel heating circuits.
Therefore, cranes with a rod are installed in the supply manifold for the boiler house, by means of which the flow of the coolant can be smoothly regulated. In addition, flowmeters are installed on the return manifold.
When calculating the distribution manifold, the heating for the water floor takes into account another configuration scheme. It should consist of the following elements:
- Regulating valve. They are mounted on the branch pipes of the mains. With it, you can partially or completely leave the flow of hot water. When manufacturing the collector of the heat supply system with our own hands, it is recommended to use automatic models similar to thermostats;
- Flowmeters. These components are installed on the return comb. Their functions are similar to control valves. The difference in the operation of the heat collector with flow meters is to limit the flow of coolant into the return pipe;
- Mixing unit. Required component for the water-heated floor. It mixes the streams of hot and cooled water, thereby optimizing the temperature regime of the heat supply.
Despite the differences, all types of collectors for heating have one common property - they ensure stable operation of the system. You can make a similar design yourself, or by purchasing a ready-made factory model. The latter option is acceptable in the case when the heat collector ring is required for the underfloor heating system. When organizing heating with the help of combs, it is best to make them yourself. Thus, it is possible to adapt the design to specific heat supply parameters.
During the assembly of the heating collector, it is possible to use servo drives that are connected to the electronic control unit. With their help, the system will operate in automatic mode.
Self-made collector
For the manufacture of the distribution manifold, a scheme is drawn up, in which all materials used are taken into account. The rules for calculating the dimensions of the structure were mentioned above. But apart from them it should be taken into account that the material for the production of the heat distribution manifold must be able to withstand all kinds of load - temperature and pressure.
As a starting material, it is best to use a square tube. This applies to steel collectors for heat supply. It is easier to process - reduces the laboriousness of the process of installing nozzles. The form will not affect the operation of the heating system.
It is important only to correctly calculate the collector for a particular heating taking into account all factors. For the traditional scheme, it is best to make steel structures, since they have a long service life and are less prone to breakage than polymer analogues. In the water-heated floor successfully used as polypropylene collectors for heat supply, and steel.
The procedure for manufacturing the distribution manifold.
- Cutting blanks. First of all, you need to make the main body and nipples for it.
- Assembling the structure. To make a steel homemade collector in the heating system will need a welding machine. The connection of the nozzles in the polypropylene analog is carried out by means of temperature welding.
- Checking the structure. For this, it is necessary to fill it with water and create the maximum permissible pressure that can be in the heating. Leaks are not allowed.
Often refuse to do a welded collector for heat supply on their own. This is due to the lack of an appropriate tool. An alternative method of manufacturing is the purchase of individual components. It is best to choose items from one manufacturer. Thus, it is possible to ensure reliable operation of the structure.
When manufacturing a polypropylene comb, it is advisable to use large diameter pipes. They should have a reinforcing layer. Otherwise, a temperature deformation is possible.
Installation of the collector in the heating system
Before installing the heating collector, it is checked once again for its tightness and reliability. Installation is carried out according to a pre-designed scheme. The conditions for connecting the structure to the heating system depend on the material of the comb manufacture.
It is important not only to correctly make the design, but also to perform a competent connection of the heating collector. The mounting technology depends on the type of equipment used. In addition to observing the level during installation, the following nuances should be considered:
- Electrical and gas boilers. They will be connected to the upper or lower nozzles;
- Circulation pump. It is installed only from the end of the structure;
- Heating circuits. Connect at the top or bottom of the collector;
- Bucky indirect heating and solid fuel boilers are installed only in the side.
For the system of a warm water floor, it is necessary to provide a protective box in which the collector will be located. Without it, the probability of damage to individual components increases.
It should be remembered that even with minor disturbances in the process of making the collector, the chance of improper operation of the heating system increases. Therefore, after installation of the comb, it is recommended to conduct a series of test runs of heating, in order to timely reveal the obvious and hidden defects of the system.
The video shows an example of a self-made heating collector:
No matter how hard the engineers are, offering all the new ways of heating, but the traditional water is not going to give up its leading position. This is an efficient and practical way of heating the housing is quite satisfied most of the developers. They are interested, rather, not a cardinal change in the method of heating, but variants of modernization of the traditional water system. Among them is the collector for heating, which replaces one and two-pipe structures. The device increases the efficiency, usability and maintainability of the system.
Collector: device and principle of operation
The unit is an element in the form of a comb, from which the terminals for connecting the heating devices depart. The number of pins can be different. If necessary, the element can be expanded with additional taps. On the collector can be installed drain and air discharge valves, as well as heat meters. The terminals can be equipped with adjusting or shut-off valves, which makes it possible to regulate or cut off the heat carrier flow. The device is installed in the heating system in the form of a collector unit, which includes a return and supply comb, equipped with exhaust valves and associated valves.
The collector heating system functions quite simply. The heat carrier, heated by the boiler to the desired temperature, enters the supply manifold. Here it is distributed between the heaters. To each of them a pipeline is laid, along which the coolant is directed. In the radiator, which has given part of its heat, the liquid partially cools, and through another pipe it enters the return comb and from there to the boiler. This distribution contributes to a uniform heating of the radiators, since a separate feeding pipe is suitable for each of them.
The heat carrier, heated in the boiler, goes to the supply manifold, where it is distributed through pipes suitable for each radiator. The cooled liquid through the return manifold is sent back to the boiler
Note! The distributive comb of the heating system installed on each floor of the heated building allows to obtain floor heating circuits with autonomous control. If there is a need, you can turn off the heating of the entire floor or only a few devices, which significantly simplifies the maintenance and repair of the system. It does not affect the functioning of the entire structure. The use of the collector increases the efficiency of the equipment, since it is possible to install devices regulating the temperature and pressure of the coolant, as well as flowmeters.
The nuances of the organization of such a system
For a low-rise cottage or a private house, the collector heating system is considered to be the most reliable and effective. Its arrangement will cost more than installing two or one-pipe systems. And this can be considered the only significant drawback of the device.
When planning collector wiring, it should be noted that it can not function without a circulation pump. In addition, its installation is laborious and complex. It is better to entrust it to professionals, if there is no experience of construction work. A large number of pipes will be required to install the system, since individual layout from the collector to each heating device must be made.
What distributive combs are there?
Manufacturers offer a variety of collector models. Among them you can find devices with the maximum set of elements. The feeding part is equipped with flowmeters that regulate the heat carrier flow in each loop, for a more even distribution. On the return heat sensors are installed to monitor the temperature of each heater. The system automatically controls the heating of each radiator. The cost of such distributive heating comb is quite high.
Collector block with the maximum set of functional elements. The feeding part is equipped with flowmeters that regulate the supply and the head of the coolant. On the return collector there are thermal sensors
You can choose more simple options. For example, a brass element with an inch passage. The device has plugs on the return collector, which allows you to install additional devices if necessary. There are molded parts and the simplest ones - with collet clamps for metal-plastic pipes. This is the cheapest and problematic option. The device often "suffers" from the possible leakage of the coolant in the valve connection area, which is associated with the rapid wear of the sealant, which can not always be changed.
Folk craftsmen often make their own distributive combs. Perhaps the best of all options can be considered a pipe made of stainless steel of the desired diameter, to which the outputs are welded. But, despite all its simplicity, it is quite expensive. And not only because of the cost of the pipe. You will need to install a lot of additional elements to get the full equipment. Therefore, many use the most budgetary option - a collector for heating, assembled from polypropylene tees, the correct size of the valves, etc.
The most accessible and low-cost collector. Self-assembled from polypropylene tees, valves of the right size, pipes and other necessary parts
Where is it better to install equipment?
The ideal option is to select the location for the installation of the collector during the design of the heating system. If there are several floors in the building, there is space for each collector block in each building. Most often, a niche in the wall is placed under it, located at a small height from the floor. It must be kept in a room that is protected from excessive moisture. This can be a pantry, corridor, etc.
The device can be fixed directly to the wall, if it is installed in the utility room, or placed in a special collector cabinet. The cabinet is a metal box with a door and a stamping tube, designed to hold pipes in the side walls. Inside the equipment, special fasteners can be provided for the collector unit. You can find a waybill or built-in version of the cabinet.
