Radiation heating of an apartment building. Diy radiation wiring of the home heating system. General about heating systems

Radiant heating system for a private house

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The market offers an endless array of heating technologies for those who decide to heat their homes. But the main elements of all systems are the boiler, pipes and heating devices that heat the premises.

There are many options for pipe connections. Some people prefer a radial (fan) heating system.

Features of beam routing

All heating systems are made with one purpose - to heat the room, that is, to restore the heat that is lacking in the house due to the temperature difference inside and outside (outside).

There are only two options for combining all heating devices:

  1. Tee connection.
  2. Radial distribution of the heating system (collector connection). In this case, a separate pair of pipes is supplied to each device with the help of a manifold for direct and reverse supply of the heat carrier.

The first version of the pipeline system is budgetary. However, due to the special connection of pipes and connection to one riser, if it is necessary to install a battery or a separate section, the system will have to be turned off entirely and the liquid must be drained.

Of course, you can buy and shut-off valves, but installation will cost much more.

Typically, classic perimeter piping is open. Fan heating systems are mainly located in the walls or in the floor, because many pipes lying on the structure do not look very attractive in the interior.

A concealed installation looks good in any room. After all, only heating batteries remain in sight.

The collector-beam heating system is not cheap compared to the perimeter device of the system. However, the advantage of this installation is that the warm liquid will spread to all points at once and evenly warm up the room.

Collector heating system at home

Pros and cons of a collector heating system

You need to familiarize yourself with all the advantages and disadvantages of this heating system in advance.

Disadvantages of fanned piping:

  1. There is only one compelling argument against - the ray system has many elements in its design. Including pipes. In addition, it uses many connecting elements.
  2. The large number of parts in this system can result in significant repair costs. A classic heating system costs less and is cheaper to repair.

It is required to approach very responsibly to the connection of all heating devices of the fan circuit, because errors can cause frequent breakdowns of the system as a whole.

Against the background of the advantages of the radiant heating system, the disadvantages lose their weight. Indeed, in the shortest possible time, a well-assembled system will certainly pay for its installation. In addition, it has many useful features.

Advantages:

  1. The fan system allows you to establish heating separately in each room. Thus, heat in rooms will be distributed more efficiently, and energy will be saved.
  2. When installing a radiant heating system, you have access to pipe connections, you can identify and eliminate problems in time.
  3. It is quite difficult to hide pipes of a classic heating system. With fan-shaped routing, the pipes are hidden in the walls or in the field. If the installation is of high quality and correct, then the elements will not be visible to the eye.

A correctly drawn up diagram of a radiant heating system makes it possible to rationally distribute heat over all areas of the house.

How to make a fan wiring

The collector is the most important element of the system under consideration. When it is planned to organize a fan heating system in a two-story house, the collector must be installed on all floors. The collectors are hidden in a special cabinet. In the future, they will be easy to maintain or adjust as needed.

The number of connections is kept to a minimum, which has a good effect on the hydraulic stability of the entire heating system.

The boiler is the heart of the entire system. To efficiency always strived for the maximum indicator, it is required to take into account the power of the boiler equipment, the consumption of heat energy by heating devices and the heat losses of the system. This applies to all boilers, no matter what type of fuel they operate on.

Some of the heat can be lost with a long pipeline system, which must also be remembered.

Circulation pump selection

Radiant piping is usually used in horizontal systems with a bottom feed of the thermal carrier. It requires a pump that stimulates the circulation of warm liquid in all branches.

Circulation pump equalizes the temperature readings at the inlet and outlet of the heating circuit. Thus, the quality of heating is improved. The system becomes more compact and less material intensive.

The pump is selected based on performance as well as head height.

For the correct choice of a circulation device, due to these characteristics, it is necessary to know the diameter of the pipes, their length and distance from the pump itself. It is necessary to calculate these indicators already at the stage of drafting the project.

How to install the pump

To achieve maximum efficiency and high-quality heating, the following must be considered:

  1. Glandless pumps are mounted with the shaft horizontal.
  2. The equipment is usually installed on the return flow of the pipeline system, since the temperatures are lower there. Newer devices can also be installed on the supply circuit, they are not afraid of high temperatures.
  3. Should be as close to the expansion tank as possible.
  4. The pump with a thermostat must be away from hot objects.
  5. The heating circuit must be equipped with an air release device. In the absence of it, the circulation pump is purchased with air vent.
  6. To remove solids before installation, experts advise flushing the system.
  7. Before starting the pump, it is worth filling the system with coolant.

To avoid noise, it is worth choosing circulation equipment based on the performance of the heating system.

Many are interested in the question of whether it is possible to do without a pump, sensors and air vents. The answer is yes. However, the organization of some conditions will be required, because the circulation of the coolant will be natural.

A small summer cottage or other small object may be optimal for a system with natural fluid circulation. However, whatever the option of the heating system was chosen, everything should be thought out at the stage of drawing up the project.

Distribution header selection

It is also called a comb. It is necessary to supply liquid to a warm floor, batteries, convectors, etc. With it, an outflow is carried out along the return circuit, the liquid from which is then sent to the boiler or again mixed in the circuit for temperature regulation. The collector can handle a maximum of twelve branches.

As a rule, the manifolds have reserve shut-off-regulating and temperature-regulating elements. With the help of them, it is possible to adjust the rational flow rate of the heat carrier along all heating circuits. The presence of air vents can guarantee high-quality and stable functioning of the system.

Installation features

The laying of hidden pipes implies the mandatory organization of thermal insulation. Heating elements can heat up to +90 ° C, which can have a bad effect on both the screed and wood elements. Insulating material is simply needed to hold back the speed heat transferso that the heat can be distributed by the system. The market offers special polyethylene casings for concealed piping.

To mount, you need certain skills. The quality of the prepared pipe (its end with a calibrator) is very important for a tight connection with a fitting. Usually, reliable crimp fittings are used, the connections of branches with fittings on heating radiators and collectors are not collapsible.

Preparing for installation

Before starting all the installation work, it is worthwhile to choose all the required elements correctly and think over the locations of the devices, including the following:

  1. Decide on the place of installation of heating batteries.
  2. Select the type of radiators in connection with the pressure and the type of heat carrier. Calculate the required number of sections or the area of \u200b\u200bpanel heaters so that there is enough heat to warm up all rooms.
  3. Draw a diagram of heating radiators and pipe laying. Do not forget about other heating elements (boiler, pump and collectors).
  4. Write down all the necessary elements on paper, and purchase. In order to be sure of the calculations, you can consult with a specialist.

Installation of a radiant heating system

Initially, radiators are installed in each room. Their location at the same level is checked with a level. The power of the devices is calculated based on the heat loss. On the heating batteries, plugs, thermostatic head connection points, taps are installed (transition fittings for metal-plastic are connected to them).

A box for collectors is placed. As a rule, simple and cheap valves are selected, equipped with ball valves with 16 mm outlets and ¾ connections. American women are mounted on the collector.

It is possible to connect the collector device to the boiler (to the tees of the pipeline from the boiler) hidden under the floor or along the walls. Then the collector is connected by a 16 mm supply and return to all heating devices.

Radiation system and warm floor

Fan wiring has the same principle as a water-heated floor. Theoretically, the warm floor can be connected to the batteries through one comb. This option is suitable in cases when you want to make warm floors in certain rooms, and install batteries in others.

When planning fan wiring together with underfloor heating, remember that the system will work, however, the underfloor heating is a low-temperature system, and the radiators require high temperatures.

When there is nothing to be done for temperature regulation, then there are two options: either it will be stuffy with underfloor heating in the room, or it will be cold with the batteries. Remember this.

It must be said about another plus of the collector heating system - a comfortable warm floor. This is because when fan wiring is installed, the distributors are placed near the risers or the center of the room. With all the pipes from the distributor to the batteries, most often they pass through the corridors, entering the premises through the door openings.

The pipelines are insulated with one layer of material. However, most craftsmen know that thermal insulation of 6-9 mm allows up to 30% of heat to pass through.

Therefore, in the places where the radiant heating system passes, the floors are not cool, but warm. The benefit is twofold: a reliable heating system without joints and optimally warm underfloor heating.

In a wooden house

To lay the pipeline in a wooden base, holes must be made in the wooden floor beams. With all the holes, you need to make a little more than the diameter of the pipes in order to eliminate the pressure of the beam on the structure.

It is required to securely fix the pipes in wooden floors, but not thereby create pressure.

The joints should be above the floor covering, they should not be in the thickness of the floor.

Frequently asked Questions

  • Question: What is the best pipe diameter?
    Answer: as practice shows, 16 pipe diameter is enough to install the fan system. Bigger sizes are rarely used.
  • Question: is it possible to use a radial heating system for a private house with two floors?
    Answer: of course. The wiring can be organized in a three- and four-story building. It is only important to put a separate collector on each floor.
  • Question: is fan wiring possible in the apartment?
    Answer: it's real. It will most likely not be possible to do this directly from the combined heat and power plant. But if you have your own heating system or if you connect to a combined heat and power plant through a heat exchanger, then everything will work.

If we consider the radiant heating system of a house in more detail, we can highlight even more of its advantages than was indicated above. Analyzing them, you can close your eyes to the shortcomings. Of course, an efficient, high-performance system simply cannot be cheap, but its long lifespan and easy maintenance are trustworthy.

As a variety of methods for laying heating pipes for two-pipe horizontal systems in modern apartment buildings and private houses, the radial wiring of the heating system has a number of undeniable advantages. Each circuit of the system with such a pipe layout is separately connected to the heating manifold, which makes it possible to set an individual operating mode for it that meets the criterion of a person's comfort in a specific area of \u200b\u200bthe room.

Heating pipes laid in the thickness of a concrete screed or under a wooden floor on logs must be reliable, excluding (or minimizing) the likelihood of leaks, deterioration of throughput and other malfunctions.

Wiring diagrams of modern horizontal heating systems

Modern multi-apartment residential buildings and private cottages of any number of storeys are increasingly equipped with horizontal heating systems. A necessary element of such a scheme is one or several (in an apartment building - in each entrance) vertical two-pipe risers with branches / inputs to separate rooms / apartments on each floor. Further laying of pipelines is carried out in a "horizontal" way.

Arranging such systems, builders invariably face the problem of the difficulty of laying heating pipes to radiators. The pipelines of the vertical systems, laid down the walls from top to bottom, did not particularly disturb the residents. Horizontal pipes, laid openly along the walls, become a factor that hinders the normal operation of premises, and do not fit well into their interiors. Therefore, various methods of horizontal hidden laying are used.

Branched dead-end wiring with pipes in a screed

The minimum pipe lengths and hydraulic resistances of the scheme are leveled by mutual crossing of pipelines, leading to an increase in the thickness of the screed (each centimeter of it costs from 40 rubles / m2).

Perimetral heating system

  • Dead-end scheme with pipelines in a screed or under a plinth.

The absence of crossing pipes in the scheme is leveled by the need to make holes in the walls (in the above scheme, you need to drill five holes).

  • Layout of pipelines according to the scheme with passing water movement (Tikhelman's scheme).

Here, the first radiator of the heating circuit has the shortest "flow" length and the longest "return" length, the last radiator - vice versa. The hydraulic resistance experienced by the coolant when flowing around the circuit devices is constant, which makes it possible to balance any number of radiators in the branch.

Collector-beam wiring of the heating system

The prevalence of this scheme is constantly growing. Pipes here are laid in the floor screed in pairs ("supply" plus "return"), approaching each radiator from the collectors (respectively, "supply" and "return"). The advantage of the scheme is its ease of installation (no crossing of pipes and wall holes). The disadvantage is increased costs due to the high consumption of pipes and additional costs for collectors.

An additional advantage of the beam pattern is the use of small diameter pipes. The apartment (floor of a private house) will require the use of pipes d \u003d 25 and d \u003d 32 mm for the perimetric wiring diagram. Accordingly, the thickness of the screed, the diameter of the tees that connect the radiators will increase. The cost of such an element is commensurate with the price of a pipe.

The use of beam routing, which increases the length of the pipes, has the ultimate benefit of reducing their diameter.

General requirements for the installation of beam wiring

With collector-beam wiring, a common method of laying pipes in the floor in a screed, the thickness of which is 50-80 mm. Plywood is laid on top, covered with a finishing floor covering (parquet, linoleum). This thickness of the screed is quite sufficient for the free "monolithing" of the in-house (in-house) radial distribution of the heating system. It is possible to lay pipes outside along the walls under decorative skirting boards, which will inevitably increase the length of the pipelines. Known options for laying pipes for beam wiring in the space of the hemmed (suspended) ceiling, in the grooves.

Used metal-plastic or cross-linked polyethylene pipes (PEX-pipes), laid in a corrugated pipe or in thermal insulation. PEX pipes have an undeniable advantage here. According to SNiP, only permanent joints can be “monolithic” into concrete. PEX pipes are connected by means of tension fittings, which are permanent connections. Reinforced-plastic pipes use compression fittings with union nuts. "Monolithing" them means violating SNiP. Each detachable pipe connection must be accessible for maintenance (tightening).

Even without fittings, not every metal-plastic pipe is uniquely suitable for laying in a floor screed. Manufacturers' products suffer from a serious defect: layers of aluminum and polyethylene are delaminated under the influence of repeatedly changing temperature of the coolant. After all, metal and plastic have different coefficients of volumetric expansion. Therefore, the adhesive connecting them must be:

  • internally strong (cohesive);
  • adhesive to aluminum and polyethylene;
  • flexible;
  • elastic;
  • heat resistant.

These requirements are not met by all adhesives, even of well-known European manufacturers of metal-plastic pipes, which delaminate over time, the inner layer of polyethylene in such a pipe "collapses", reducing its cross-section. The normal operation of the system is disrupted, and it is almost impossible to find the place of the malfunction - usually they “sin” on malfunctions of thermostats, pumps and other products with moving parts.

In light of the above, we recommend that readers pay attention to VALTEC metal-plastic pipes, which use the American glue of the DSM concern, which ensures the strength of the metal / plastic connection, adhesion and the complete absence of delamination.

Manifold cabinets and blocks

In an apartment with horizontal radial heating (on the floors of private houses), distribution manifolds (supply and return) are arranged, collecting all supply and return pipelines at their exits. They are placed in metal cabinets of a special design, often built into the partitions of sanitary facilities and opening inside them. Installation of distribution collectors in specially arranged wall niches is also possible. Quite often the collector unit is combined with a heat energy metering unit in one collector cabinet.

Collectors can be complete, representing sections of thick pipes with branch pipes, or assembled on tees. The material for these devices can be:

  • plastic;
  • nickel-plated brass;
  • copper;
  • stainless steel.

Many well-known manufacturers of heating equipment (VALTEC, etc.) produce ready-made manifolds that combine supply and return manifolds, manual adjustment valves (on the supply manifold), thermostatic valves (on the return manifold), automatic air vents, drain valves and mounting brackets.

The task of individual adjustment of the thermal regime of each single-radiator branch of the collector-beam heating system is solved by tuning valves with built-in flow meters. Branches are obtained of different lengths, and the coolant tends to flow in the shortest path with minimum hydraulic resistance. It flows around short branches more intensively, warming up the radiators installed there more strongly.

Adjustment valves on the supply manifold change the flow of water (antifreeze), narrowing their nominal passages in short circuits, and expanding in long ones. Adjustment is a painstaking process, and the adjustment valve is not intended to quickly shut off or open the coolant flow through the circuits. This function is performed by thermostatic valves.

Thermal valves on the manifold - "return" - are valves that smoothly shut off the flow manually or automatically. The radiant heating system is easily hydraulically balanced.

Combined heating piping layout

Often, not only one heating device is installed in the room, but several. It is irrational to bring a separate two-pipe loop-branch to each radiator with collector-beam wiring. It is better to lay a separate branch to each room, which will bypass several heating devices inside the room, implementing a dead-end or passing scheme.

Calculate such a system as a ray system. Branches supplying several radiators with a coolant are subjected to a separate calculation as dead-end or passing ones. In modern systems, radiators are equipped with thermal valves (thermostats), adjustable by users to different temperatures, based on the current requirements for the comfort of being in the room. It becomes difficult to maintain a stable indoor temperature.

It turns out that you can get rid of instability, while simultaneously reducing the cost of connecting radiators, connecting them according to the so-called. "Pass-through scheme".

The thermal valve is installed only on the first radiator in the circuit, regulating the flow rate of the coolant for all sequentially connected heating devices. They are perceived as one radiator. Balancing difficulties will arise with multi-section devices (10 or more sections).

Automatic collector-beam system

The supply of coolant to radiators included in the radial distribution can be made automatically controlled. In this case, instead of the plastic cover for manual control (position 4 in the Fig. "Complete manifold block"), a small-sized electromechanical servo drive is installed on the return manifold thermal valves (position 2 in the Fig. "Complete manifold block"), connected with a cable to an analog thermostat or controller. Radiators are connected to heating pipes without fittings at all (you can install ball valves).

This arrangement has an increased capital cost while providing an increased level of comfort. The air temperature desired by the user can be set from the control panel of the room thermostat, the signals of which are processed by the servo drives on the thermo-valves of the "return" collector. The system can be controlled by a so-called chronothermostat, which allows the user to set a temperature control program for a week with differentiation by days of the week and time of day.

Conclusion

A heating system with collector-beam piping provides the user with the possibility of hydraulic balancing and individual adjustment of the operating modes of heating devices. A slight increase in the length of the pipes with beam wiring is deliberately compensated by a decrease in their diameter and ease of installation.


Arrangement of the heating system is the most expensive item in the budget for overhaul or construction. The operational characteristics, the owners' energy costs in the winter depend on the correct installation and the characteristics of all elements of this object.

The radiant heating system is gradually replacing the aging tee wiring. This is due to a number of its advantages. How to equip such a wiring yourself, as well as what are its main features, the master must find out before starting the installation.

general characteristics

Autonomous heating in a private house can be done using various wiring. The beam system is also called the collector system. Each radiator in the building is fed to a distribution manifold. A separate pipe is supplied to the heater. Each of them returns its own pipe to the collector. Radiators with such a connection are a separate element. They are independent of other heating devices in the network and are supplied to the manifold in parallel.


The collector is a dimensional device. He is responsible for supplying the coolant to each individual circuit. If it is necessary to repair one battery, the heating system continues to work in the same mode. Only one radiator is cut off.

Individual heating according to a tee scheme involves fewer pipes. However, the installation costs pay off during the operation of the system. The positive economic effect from the use of beam wiring in a large house or cottage with two or more floors is especially pronounced.

Advantages and disadvantages

Certain features are characteristic of the radial distribution of the heating system. The pros and cons of such an organization must be considered before installation. The disadvantages include a larger number of pipes and fittings. This significantly increases the cost of repairs. The tee circuit is much cheaper to install. Also, a large number of connections, if connected incorrectly, can lead to frequent system breakdowns.

However, all these disadvantages pale against the background of the advantages of the radial heating system. In this case, the system quickly pays for its installation costs. The ability to regulate heating in each room significantly reduces energy costs. When organizing such a system, many joints and folds are obtained. The master has easy access to them. Therefore, when carrying out repairs, this factor greatly facilitates the work.

The radiant tubes can be hidden under the floor, in the wall or just behind the curtains. A properly planned scheme allows you to remove unattractive communications from the field of vision. The tee circuit does not provide such an opportunity for home owners.

System elements

The radial distribution of the heating system consists of several required elements. The main one is the boiler. When calculating its power, the area of \u200b\u200bthe premises, as well as the heat loss of the building, are taken into account.

The circuit includes a circulation pump. There are systems with natural circulation of the coolant. However, they are less effective. Today, almost all radiant heating schemes include a pump. It makes the heated liquid move along the circuits at a certain speed. This way it is possible to maintain an optimal heating mode of the room.

The manifold is a distribution unit. He is responsible for optimal nutrition of all circuits. This element can be composed of various control and shut-off equipment. The presented devices are installed in a special cabinet. This allows you to protect the equipment and hide it from prying eyes.

Circulation type

The radiant heating system of a private house can use the principle of natural or forced circulation. In the first case, the coolant is distributed through pipes and radiators by gravity. This requires the installation of large diameter pipes. It is a simple but less efficient system. It is only suitable for a small one-story house that is not supplied with electricity.


In modern construction, beam systems are used in combination with a pump. It provides forced circulation of the coolant. The pump is installed on the supply or return circuit. It works with a certain power. Such a device is necessary for the heating system of a large or two-story cottage.

Due to the mass of advantages, as well as the acceptable cost of circulation pumps, today this installation option is used almost everywhere.

Design

The calculation of the radiant heating system is carried out at the design stage. To do this, you need to draw a detailed diagram with dimensions on paper. All elements are indicated on it. If necessary, the drawing can be ordered from a special organization.

First, you need to assess the existing features of the room. Rooms should not be finished. It is best to hide the pipes in the floor under the screed. The plan also indicates radiators, their location (on the wall under the window). The number of sections and their internal volume depend on the convector material, as well as the thickness of its walls. In accordance with the parameters specified by the manufacturer, the need for the volume of the coolant for each battery is calculated.

Radial autonomous heating in a private house is characterized by some additional heat loss. The heated liquid is supplied to the batteries through pipes, the length of which will be greater than in the tee circuit. This feature must be taken into account when calculating.

The plan indicates the places for laying pipes. Manometers, thermometers, shut-off and control valves are added to the equipment. Before installation, you should carefully consider all the elements of the main and additional equipment. The sequence of their installation is also indicated in the diagram.

Collector selection

The radiant heating system includes a collector (comb). This element looks like a pipe. It has connections for the inlet and outlet of the coolant. For the beam scheme, two types of collectors should be installed.

The first of these will be the inlet comb. A pump is connected to it, as well as a coolant distribution valve. It can be three or two way. The valve contains a thermometer. It is installed in the collector housing. The device transmits information to the valve. It opens or closes the damper, mixing hot liquid into the circuit.

The outlet collector collects the cooled heat carrier, which is returned to the boiler. The heater heats it up again. Additionally, a balancing flow controller can be installed on this branch pipe. The collector group ensures the stability of the system. She is responsible for optimizing and balancing the heating of the coolant in the system.

Pipe selection

Individual heating, which is mounted according to the radial scheme, requires the correct selection of pipes. Communications must be flexible enough to avoid multiple connections. XLPE pipes are best suited for this purpose. Such items are sold in bays.


Polyethylene pipes that are suitable for a radiant heating system must have an airtight layer. Air enters the system with conventional varieties. It leads to the development of corrosion of metal elements, a quick failure of equipment.

¾ ”pipes are used to connect the collector to the boiler. Radiators can be connected to the comb with ½ ”communications. This is possible provided that a circulation pump is used in the system. Otherwise, the pipe diameter may be larger.

Installation features

The radiant heating system can be installed by the owners of a private house. For this, it is necessary to allocate a separate room for the arrangement of the boiler room.

After installing the heater, a comb is mounted immediately after it. The equipment must be in a protective box. The collector must be easily accessible. A pressure gauge and a thermometer are installed at the coolant outlet. Allow to stabilize the pressure in the system, the Mayevsky valve and other safety devices.

Shut-off valves allow, if necessary, to carry out preventive maintenance or repair of equipment. After installation, the equipment is checked. If everything is normal, the pipes are poured into the screed.

User reviews

The radiant heating system, user reviews of which are presented in large numbers, is considered today one of the best principles for organizing communications, in their opinion. It allows you to reduce the cost of paying for energy in the cold season. The effectiveness of such a scheme will be high if the construction of the house was carried out in accordance with all building codes.


If the owners used high-quality materials for insulation, there are no large heat losses in their house, the collector circuit allows you to optimize energy costs. Otherwise, such a system will not be effective. The tangible effect of the use of such a scheme is determined in large or two-story houses.

Having considered what a radiant heating system is, as well as the features of its organization, each owner of a private house will be able to equip such a scheme on his own.

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Features of the collector wiring device

The principle of operation of the system is based on the separation of coolant flows. This is possible thanks to the installation of a manifold. Independent pipe circuits ("rays", "branches", "loops") go from it to the heating devices. The collector itself is a piece of pipe with branch pipes, one of which is inlet. When installing thermostatic equipment, you can achieve different temperature conditions in different rooms of the house. For this, valves with electric drives are installed. They regulate the flow rate of the coolant. If the pressure in the system exceeds the permissible, then the air can be vented through special air valves.


The pipes leading from the collector to the heating devices are usually laid in the floor screed. Options - disguise under skirting boards, behind a suspended ceiling structure. Almost no elements remain in sight, which has a positive effect on the appearance of the rooms. The system uses pipes of the same diameter, they form "loops" from the collectors to the radiators. If necessary, a separate circuit can be turned off and repaired without stopping the operation of the entire heating system.

Where is the best place to use the radial distribution of the heating system

This type of layout is ideal for multi-storey houses. Also, the beam system is installed in houses of a large area with many rooms. It is quite difficult to install, it is necessary to equip collectors on each floor, and the structural elements have to be mounted in a cement screed. The difficulties and high cost of the installation pay off:

  • the collector system has good heat transfer;
  • no unnecessary losses of heat energy;
  • all equipment works more efficiently than when installing a tee distribution.

What elements does the collector system consist of?

Boiler. The central element, as in any other heating system, is the boiler. From it, the heated coolant is fed through pipes to the radiators. When choosing a heat generator, it is important to correctly calculate the required power, taking into account the heat loss of a particular house.


Pump. It is installed for forced circulation of water in the system. When choosing a pump, you need to focus on the size of the pipes, materials and features of the operation of heating devices. An important parameter when choosing a pump is the speed of pumping the coolant, in second place is the power of the device.

Collector. For its external resemblance to the comb, the structural element is also called a comb. This is a distribution system that is installed to transfer the coolant to all heating devices. The collector can be fitted with shut-off and control devices that will allow you to control the flow rate of the coolant in each "loop". By equipping the comb with automatic ventilation systems and thermostats, you can achieve maximum heating performance with minimum energy consumption.

Manifold cabinets. These are the structures in which the combs are installed. There are a variety of models - from the simplest hinged boxes to “invisible” cabinets that are built into the walls and “masked” with finishing materials so that they become almost invisible in the interior. The manifold cabinets contain the most important elements of the beam system - the comb itself, shut-off valves, pipelines.

What to focus on when choosing a collector (comb)

The combs may differ depending on the material from which they are made, the number of contours, the type of additional elements. Devices are made from the following materials:

  • steel;
  • copper;
  • brass;
  • polymers.

There can be 2-12 contours depending on the model. The peculiarity of the comb is that additional contours can be added if necessary.

By design, collectors are:

  • simple, consisting only of basic elements, without any additional regulatory equipment;
  • improved, in which the manufacturer installs automation, sensors and other additional elements.

Simple designs are conventional tubing with branches and connection holes. The improved ones can include temperature and pressure sensors, thermostats, electronic valves, mixers.

When choosing a collector, you should decide on the material and design of the devices, and also take into account the following nuances:

  • comb throughput;
  • number of contours;
  • the maximum allowable pressure at which the manifold is capable of operating;
  • power consumption for the operation of the device;
  • reputation of the manufacturer in the heating equipment market.

Radial distribution of the heating system with natural and forced circulation

In collector heating, forced circulation is mainly used, but there are cases when it makes sense not to spend money on installing additional equipment and equip a gravity system.


and the installation of natural circulation heating uses large diameter pipes and an expansion tank. It must be installed at the highest point in the building. The absence of pumps, automation and other expensive elements allows you to significantly save on heating equipment. This is a good option for country cottages. Such a system is less efficient than with forced circulation, but much cheaper. It can be installed in houses that are not connected to the mains.

The equipment for forced circulation of the coolant costs a significant amount. Until a decade ago, many homeowners simply could not afford it. But every year, structural elements are becoming more accessible and therefore more popular. To equip the system, it is required to install not only a circulation pump, but also automation, shut-off, control valves, consisting of sensors, taps, thermal heads, air vents. It is easier to design heating: less importance is attached to the geometry of the premises, the system works perfectly regardless of the length of the "beams" and the hydraulic resistance of the pipeline.

Is it worth doing a manifold heating wiring

Let's start with the disadvantages. They must be taken into account when deciding on the choice of the type of distribution of heating pipes. The collector system is considered expensive due to the consumption of materials. In addition, you need to find a place to equip cabinets, which is sometimes difficult. If the costs and the need to allocate space for collectors are not scary, then the homeowner receives the following benefits:

  • Stable operation of the heating system. The equipment is not exposed to water hammer, which increases the life of the radiators.
  • Simplified design. The system uses pipes of the same diameter, which eliminates unnecessary calculations.
  • Convenient renovation. If damage appears in any area, this circuit is simply turned off and the problems are rectified. The rest of the "rays" work in the same mode, the house maintains an acceptable temperature.
  • Concealed installation. The pipes are placed in the floors, walls or ceilings, and the comb and the automation in the manifold cabinet. Heating elements do not spoil the interior.

Whether to opt for a beam wiring or prefer the good old tee is up to you. Weigh the advantages and disadvantages, calculate the costs of installing different types of systems and start designing. Warmth to your home!

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Collector (beam) heating system of a private house

Distribution manifold for underfloor heating, complete.

Design and working principle

One of the main elements of the collector heating system is the collector (comb, collector block), which distributes the coolant coming from the boiler over several circuits. The number of circuits corresponds to the number of taps on the collector, as there are taps on the collector, there are so many radiators in the house.

The collector allows you to evenly distribute the coolant to each heating device, so that all radiators are heated to the same temperature. Uniform heating is ensured by the fact that each radiator has its own supply and return lines.

The design of the collector consists of several branches and one inlet / outlet through which the heat carrier enters / returns from / to the heat source. The distribution manifold is often equipped with a circulation pump, automatic air vent, flow meters and thermostats.

Manifold Cabinet Applications

When installing a radial heating system in a private house, it is recommended to place the collector itself, the circulation pump, shut-off and control valves in the manifold cabinet, which hides the equipment and numerous pipes and makes the room more aesthetic. In addition, it allows you to protect equipment from external mechanical stress. The pipes are led out through the lower, open part of the cabinet. The manifold cabinet is installed in the same place as the separate manifold, i.e. mounted on the wall, if possible, in the center of the house.

Control cabinet with comb, Wilo circulation pump, thermostats and electrical ...

Note! Often, when installing a collector heating system, it is not a factory collector that is used, but a self-made one, made by hand. As a rule, polypropylene tees are used for its manufacture, which are connected to each other using short lengths of polypropylene pipe of a suitable diameter. The result is a collector that performs exactly the same role as the factory one. The only disadvantage of a home-made collector, which is not critical for radiator heating, is additional hydraulic resistance, which is formed due to an uneven inner surface (unequal inner section of the tee and pipe sections).

For the above reason, home-made collectors are not recommended for installation of the external circuit of a ground source heat pump, because For geothermal systems, the most important point is the hydraulic characteristics of the system, the slightest decrease in which can lead to a decrease in the power of the heat pump.

In a collector-beam heating system, the most common material for the pipeline laid from the distribution manifold to heating devices is 16 mm metal-plastic. Reinforced-plastic pipes bend, they are easy to lay under the floor.

If, after pressure testing the system, the reinforced-plastic pipes will be poured with a concrete screed, they must be wrapped in thermal insulation, right down to the collector itself. This will avoid damaging them during thermal expansion. expanding pipes will "rub" against the insulation, not against the edge of the screed.

Important! The pipeline should not be laid through doorways, otherwise, during the installation of the threshold of the interior door, the pipe may be accidentally damaged when drilling. If the pipeline is laid through a load-bearing wall in a new house (which will shrink in the future), then the hole in the wall must be equipped with a sleeve that will protect the pipeline from damage.

Diagram of the collector heating system of a private house.

Advantages of a collector heating system

Fast, uniform heating of all radiators. Each heating device has its own supply pipeline, thus, a coolant with the same temperature comes to all radiators.

Aesthetics. In most cases, the wiring of the collector-beam heating system is mounted under the floor, so only the radiators themselves and short sections of the supply and return pipelines protruding from under the floor are visible in the room.

Convenience when troubleshooting. If one of the radiators leaks, the supply or return line was accidentally damaged, or there were problems with the fittings, then to carry out repair work, it is enough to shut off the coolant supply to the problem area on the distribution manifold. At the same time, only one radiator stops working, all other elements of the system continue to function.

Possibility of adjusting / switching off the temperature in individual rooms. If no one permanently resides in some rooms of the house, and for example, guests come once a month, then during the absence of guests, a minimum temperature of 10-15 ° C can be set in such rooms so as not to freeze the system. Thus, there is no need to heat the "extra" coolant.

Distribution manifold with Wilo circulation pump.

disadvantages

High price. The prime cost of the collector heating system includes a large number of pipes (each radiator has its own supply and return), as well as the collector itself and the collector cabinet.

High heating costs during operation. Due to the large number of pipes, the volume of the coolant in the collector-beam heating system is greater than in the two-pipe system, which does not allow saving on heating costs. The more coolant, the more fuel will be required to heat it.

Video

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Radial heating wiring diagram in a private house

The radiant heating system is also called collector. This is due to the fact that the distribution of the coolant is carried out by special combs (collectors), which are directly or through a mixing unit connected to the boiler. There are many expensive elements in this circuit, so such a pleasure is not cheap. But sometimes, if you have a large house with several floors, installing radiant heating is the only option, so sometimes you don't have to choose.

What is a radiant heating system

In a conventional heating system, the coolant flows from the boiler into the supply line and passes through all the heat exchangers in turn. The radiant heating system differs in that the water from the boiler first enters the distribution manifold, and then to each heating device. This comb is called a manifold. The same happens with the return flow, which first comes to the collector, and then to the boiler (see How to install a solid fuel boiler, piping).

The peculiarity is that from the collector to each battery there is a separate ring (two pipes - supply and return), which can be adjusted or turned off independently of the others. In this case, all manipulations are carried out through the collector box.

Radiant heating is ideal for large houses or apartments. In such a system, water at the same temperature comes to all heat exchangers - a slight difference may be due to the different length of the rings. In addition, you can combine different types of heating (conventional batteries and underfloor heating).

What pipes can be used for routing the circuit

In the radial heating system of a private house and apartment, it is customary to use only polymer pipes:

  • metal-plastic;
  • polypropylene;
  • polyethylene.

Most installers prefer XLPE (XLPE). Such pipes are most often red in color, they are not reinforced with foil, and in order to reduce the degree of thermal expansion of polyethylene, this material is crosslinked.

Crosslinking is a chemical process that increases the number of bonds between polyethylene molecules. Thanks to this, the material becomes stronger, while remaining flexible.

PEX pipes have 100% shape memory, which means that they always tend to return to their original position if you bent them. Therefore, special attention must be paid to the fasteners. The pipes are sold in coils, which is very convenient, since a whole piece of the line can be laid from the collector to the heat exchanger. This is important, because the editing is always done in a hidden way. Where necessary, the pipes are connected with press fittings. The connection reliability is very high.

Installation rules for radiant heating

As a rule, pipes are laid in the floor screed. To reduce heat loss and leave some space for thermal expansion, shirts made of expanded polyethylene are put on the lines - this is such a heater. During the installation, you need to try to ensure that communications go in groups. So you will know exactly where the pipes are, so as not to punch them in further work, for example, if you need to drill holes for attaching a ladder or installing a toilet.

There are no particular difficulties in pipe-laying. You simply guide the ring to the radiator installation site. For such heating systems, you need to buy batteries with a bottom connection. Literally 10 cm of pipe will come out of the screed. Everything looks very neat.

What should be in the collector box

You can place the collector box in any convenient place. Pipes from each battery and from the boiler are drawn into it. Two combs are installed in the collector box - one for the supply, the second for the return. If necessary, there can be several pairs of dies. For example, the first one distributes the coolant to the batteries, and the second one to the heated floors.

The collector comb has holes for piping, and there are holes for installing equipment:

  • flow meters;
  • servos;
  • air vents: their task is simple - to remove air locks.

A flow meter is a device that can adjust the hydraulic resistance of each branch of the circuit. It is installed on the feed comb. Flowmeters may not be used if all rings are the same length, but this is extremely rare. Without balancing, the heating system will not work as it should. Some branches may be left without a coolant.

A servo drive is an electrical device that shuts off the coolant supply to the ring (or vice versa), depending on the readings of the temperature sensors installed in each room. Temperature sensor and servo are wired. Also, a special unit can be installed in the collector box, which receives a radio signal from the thermostat and transmits it via wires to the servo.

All solid fuel gas generating boilers operate on the principle of afterburning pyrolysis gases.

The standard connection diagram of the Galan boiler is no different from the piping of the heating elements.

There are no moving parts in the servo. A polymer capsule is installed there, which contains a working substance. Copper wire is wound around the capsule. When current is applied to the winding, it heats the working substance. As a result, thermal expansion occurs, the capsule expands and blocks the flow.

In the radial circuit of the heating system for underfloor heating, in addition to all of the above, a mixing unit is installed in front of the collector. It reduces the flow temperature by mixing the return flow into it. As you know, in low-temperature systems, water should not be hotter than 40 degrees.

Advantages and disadvantages of the beam scheme

Let's start with the disadvantages of the radial heating circuit. It is only one and consists in the high price of equipment. A good manifold, like all other components, is expensive. Wiring will require more pipes than in simple systems, in addition, they still need to be insulated.

The use of solar systems will allow converting solar energy into thermal energy.

If you live in a high-rise building, then sealing panel seams will significantly reduce heat loss.

But by spending, you get the following benefits:

  • pipes are laid with a hidden method and they are not visible;
  • there are practically no connections;
  • the ability to adjust the hydraulic resistance of each ring separately.

In addition, it becomes possible to introduce new technologies. For example, regulate the temperature in each room from your smartphone or computer.

conclusions

As you already understood, ray wiring is not cheap. Such schemes are mainly used in large cottages. For a private house, and even more so for an apartment, you can find options that are much cheaper. Thus, if you are not forced by circumstances, then the collector wiring can be easily replaced with a conventional two-pipe.

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Perimetral or radial distribution of the heating system: what to choose?

As a variety of methods for laying heating pipes for two-pipe horizontal systems in modern apartment buildings and private houses, the radial wiring of the heating system has a number of undeniable advantages. Each circuit of the system with such a pipe layout is separately connected to the heating manifold, which makes it possible to set an individual operating mode for it that meets the criterion of a person's comfort in a specific area of \u200b\u200bthe room.

Heating pipes laid in the thickness of a concrete screed or under a wooden floor on logs must be reliable, excluding (or minimizing) the likelihood of leaks, deterioration of throughput and other malfunctions.

Wiring diagrams of modern horizontal heating systems

Modern multi-apartment residential buildings and private cottages of any number of storeys are increasingly equipped with horizontal heating systems. A necessary element of such a scheme is one or several (in an apartment building - in each entrance) vertical two-pipe risers with branches / inputs to separate rooms / apartments on each floor. Further laying of pipelines is carried out in a "horizontal" way.

Arranging such systems, builders invariably face the problem of the difficulty of laying heating pipes to radiators. The pipelines of the vertical systems, laid down the walls from top to bottom, did not particularly disturb the residents. Horizontal pipes, laid openly along the walls, become a factor that hinders the normal operation of premises, and do not fit well into their interiors. Therefore, various methods of horizontal hidden laying are used.

Branched dead-end wiring with pipes in a screed

Layout of pipelines with a branched dead-end scheme.

The minimum pipe lengths and hydraulic resistances of the scheme are leveled by mutual crossing of pipelines, leading to an increase in the thickness of the screed (each centimeter of it costs from 40 rubles / m2).

Perimetral heating system

  • Dead-end scheme with pipelines in a screed or under a plinth.

Scheme of piping for a two-pipe dead-end system.

The absence of crossing pipes in the scheme is leveled by the need to make holes in the walls (in the above scheme, you need to drill five holes).

  • Layout of pipelines according to the scheme with passing water movement (Tikhelman's scheme).

Layout of pipelines according to the Tichelman scheme.

Here, the first radiator of the heating circuit has the shortest "flow" length and the longest "return" length, the last radiator - vice versa. The hydraulic resistance experienced by the coolant when flowing around the circuit devices is constant, which makes it possible to balance any number of radiators in the branch.

Collector-beam wiring of the heating system

Piping layout for a collector-beam system.

The prevalence of this scheme is constantly growing. Pipes here are laid in the floor screed in pairs ("supply" plus "return"), approaching each radiator from the collectors (respectively, "supply" and "return"). The advantage of the scheme is its ease of installation (no crossing of pipes and wall holes). The disadvantage is increased costs due to the high consumption of pipes and additional costs for collectors.

An additional advantage of the beam pattern is the use of small diameter pipes. The apartment (floor of a private house) will require the use of pipes d \u003d 25 and d \u003d 32 mm for the perimetric wiring diagram. Accordingly, the thickness of the screed, the diameter of the tees that connect the radiators will increase. The cost of such an element is commensurate with the price of a pipe.

The use of beam routing, which increases the length of the pipes, has the ultimate benefit of reducing their diameter.

General requirements for the installation of beam wiring

With collector-beam wiring, a common method of laying pipes in the floor in a screed, the thickness of which is 50-80 mm. Plywood is laid on top, covered with a finishing floor covering (parquet, linoleum). This thickness of the screed is quite sufficient for the free "monolithing" of the in-house (in-house) radial distribution of the heating system. It is possible to lay pipes outside along the walls under decorative skirting boards, which will inevitably increase the length of the pipelines. Known options for laying pipes for beam wiring in the space of the hemmed (suspended) ceiling, in the grooves.

Connecting radiators with a collector-beam scheme.

Used metal-plastic or cross-linked polyethylene pipes (PEX-pipes), laid in a corrugated pipe or in thermal insulation. PEX pipes have an undeniable advantage here. According to SNiP, only permanent joints can be “monolithic” into concrete. PEX pipes are connected by means of tension fittings, which are permanent connections. Reinforced-plastic pipes use compression fittings with union nuts. "Monolithing" them means violating SNiP. Each detachable pipe connection must be accessible for maintenance (tightening).

Even without fittings, not every metal-plastic pipe is uniquely suitable for laying in a floor screed. Manufacturers' products suffer from a serious defect: layers of aluminum and polyethylene are delaminated under the influence of repeatedly changing temperature of the coolant. After all, metal and plastic have different coefficients of volumetric expansion. Therefore, the adhesive connecting them must be:

  • internally strong (cohesive);
  • adhesive to aluminum and polyethylene;
  • flexible;
  • elastic;
  • heat resistant.

These requirements are not met by all adhesives, even of well-known European manufacturers of metal-plastic pipes, which delaminate over time, the inner layer of polyethylene in such a pipe "collapses", reducing its cross-section. The normal operation of the system is disrupted, and it is almost impossible to find the place of the malfunction - usually they “sin” on malfunctions of thermostats, pumps and other products with moving parts.

In light of the above, we recommend that readers pay attention to VALTEC metal-plastic pipes, which use the American glue of the DSM concern, which ensures the strength of the metal / plastic connection, adhesion and the complete absence of delamination.

Manifold cabinets and blocks

In an apartment with horizontal radial heating (on the floors of private houses), distribution manifolds (supply and return) are arranged, collecting all supply and return pipelines at their exits. They are placed in metal cabinets of a special design, often built into the partitions of sanitary facilities and opening inside them. Installation of distribution collectors in specially arranged wall niches is also possible. Quite often the collector unit is combined with a heat energy metering unit in one collector cabinet.

Collector cabinet with heat metering unit.

Collectors can be complete, representing sections of thick pipes with branch pipes, or assembled on tees. The material for these devices can be:

  • plastic;
  • nickel-plated brass;
  • copper;
  • stainless steel.

Many well-known manufacturers of heating equipment (VALTEC, etc.) produce ready-made manifolds that combine supply and return manifolds, manual adjustment valves (on the supply manifold), thermostatic valves (on the return manifold), automatic air vents, drain valves and mounting brackets.

Complete manifold block.

The task of individual adjustment of the thermal regime of each single-radiator branch of the collector-beam heating system is solved by tuning valves with built-in flow meters. Branches are obtained of different lengths, and the coolant tends to flow in the shortest path with minimum hydraulic resistance. It flows around short branches more intensively, warming up the radiators installed there more strongly.

Adjustment valves on the supply manifold change the flow of water (antifreeze), narrowing their nominal passages in short circuits, and expanding in long ones. Adjustment is a painstaking process, and the adjustment valve is not intended to quickly shut off or open the coolant flow through the circuits. This function is performed by thermostatic valves.

Thermal valves on the manifold - "return" - are valves that smoothly shut off the flow manually or automatically. The radiant heating system is easily hydraulically balanced.

Combined heating piping layout

Often, not only one heating device is installed in the room, but several. It is irrational to bring a separate two-pipe loop-branch to each radiator with collector-beam wiring. It is better to lay a separate branch to each room, which will bypass several heating devices inside the room, implementing a dead-end or passing scheme.

Combined heating system wiring diagram.

Calculate such a system as a ray system. Branches supplying several radiators with a coolant are subjected to a separate calculation as dead-end or passing ones. In modern systems, radiators are equipped with thermal valves (thermostats), adjustable by users to different temperatures, based on the current requirements for the comfort of being in the room. It becomes difficult to maintain a stable indoor temperature.

It turns out that you can get rid of instability, while simultaneously reducing the cost of connecting radiators, connecting them according to the so-called. "Pass-through scheme".

"Through" connection diagram of radiators.

The thermal valve is installed only on the first radiator in the circuit, regulating the flow rate of the coolant for all sequentially connected heating devices. They are perceived as one radiator. Balancing difficulties will arise with multi-section devices (10 or more sections).

Automatic collector-beam system

The supply of coolant to radiators included in the radial distribution can be made automatically controlled. In this case, instead of the plastic manual control cover (position 4 in the Fig. Complete manifold block), a small-sized electromechanical servo drive is installed on the return manifold thermal valves (position 2 in the Fig. "Complete manifold block"), connected by a cable to an analog thermostat or controller. Radiators are connected to heating pipes without any fittings at all (ball valves can be installed).

Thermal valve servo drive dimensions.

This arrangement has an increased capital cost while providing an increased level of comfort. The air temperature desired by the user can be set from the control panel of the room thermostat, the signals of which are processed by the servo drives on the thermo-valves of the "return" collector. The system can be controlled by a so-called chronothermostat, which allows the user to set a temperature control program for a week with differentiation by days of the week and time of day.

Conclusion

A heating system with collector-beam piping provides the user with the possibility of hydraulic balancing and individual adjustment of the operating modes of heating devices. A slight increase in the length of the pipes with beam wiring is deliberately compensated by a decrease in their diameter and ease of installation.

Features of the radiant heating system

Heating of a private house »Heating installation» Heating systems schemes

The beam routing is a two-pipe system

Any heating system is a complex of heating equipment and pipes. And in this they are all alike. The only difference is the strapping and wiring diagram. Let's consider a radiant heating system as the most efficient one today.

General about heating systems

There are two main types of system - one-pipe and two-pipe. The first is a pipe to which heating devices (radiators) are connected in sequential order. A good and simple scheme with one drawback - the last radiator in a row is always cold.

In a two-pipe system, this cannot be, because a separate branch is suitable from the coolant supply pipe to each radiator, providing the circuit with hot water. This allows the heat to be evenly distributed throughout the entire space of the house.

There are also two subspecies here:

  1. Scheme with parallel connection of heating devices.
  2. Beam (collector) circuit.

We will talk about the latter. This system requires a lot of materials. Moreover, not only pipes, but also shut-off valves, since each radiator will have to supply two lines at once - the supply of the coolant and the return. And each line must be equipped with valves - both at the inlet and outlet.

Why such difficulties? This simplifies future repairs. If you need it, you can turn off one battery without touching all the heating.

Of course, the initial investment is quite large here, but such a system works much better, especially when it comes to the natural circulation of the coolant.

Design features

The most important element of such a circuit is the manifold, or comb. It is a connection of pipes at one point, from which all pipelines are routed through highways to heating devices. The simplest version of this design is a pipe, from the side of which branch pipes extend. Their number is equal to the number of lines or radiators. Such a pipe is very similar to a comb, which is why it is called a comb.

On the opposite side or from below, another branch pipe is installed, which is intended for the branch through which the coolant flows. By the way, the main pipe of the collector and the hot water supply pipe must be of the same diameter. Outgoing pipes should be smaller in diameter. A prerequisite is the installation of valves or ball valves on each line.

This is what a typical collector looks like

This was the top supply manifold. There is exactly the same lower one, to which the return lines from each radiator fit. Very often, if forced circulation of the coolant is used in the system, the upper and lower distributors are combined into one unit:

  • First, it simplifies the design by minimizing the size of the assembly.
  • Secondly, it will take little space to install such a comb.
  • Thirdly, it becomes possible to effectively regulate the temperature inside the system and each heating device separately.

If the house is large enough, then you will need to split the entire heating circuit into several sections. Remember not to install collectors in series - only in parallel.

More recently, combs were made by hand from metal pipes of the required diameter. Now manufacturers of heating equipment offer a wide range of ready-made manifolds that can provide an efficient distribution of circuits depending on the number of heating devices. And here it is important to choose the right comb not only by the number of branches, but also by their diameter and boiler power. Therefore, some knowledge is simply necessary.

Plus, modern distributors are made from different materials. For example, made of brass, stainless or tool steel, polymer textures and others. Of course, each material has its own price, respectively, and the cost of products will be different. Therefore, each consumer is looking for what he needs. However, any kind is worthy of attention, because the quality of modern products is at the highest level.

Thanks to the advent of new materials and equipment, it has become possible to modernize traditional water heating systems. One of these innovations, which are gaining more and more popularity, we will discuss in this article. This is the so-called collector or radial heating system, which has appeared relatively recently. Consider what it is and how to mount it in a private house.

Collector system device

Radiant wiring is essentially a hybrid between a traditional two-pipe system and a water-heated floor system. Just as in a two-pipe system, the coolant enters the distribution header and radiators through two pipelines - supply and return. The collector itself and the method of laying pipes were taken from the warm floors - in the floor screed or between wooden logs.

The structure of the system is as follows: the main line runs from the boiler plant to the distribution manifold. A separate line is laid from it to each heater under the floors. The connection is straightforward, without any fittings and unnecessary turns. For clarity, below is a functional diagram of the radiation heating system of a private house:

The easiest way to implement it is in a small one-story house. For the distributor, you need to choose a convenient place, better - somewhere in the center of the building, you can in the corridor. Bring the coolant from the boiler to it and lay pipes to the radiators. How it looks in the plan of the house is shown in the sketch:

The versatility of beam systems lies in the fact that you can easily carry out wiring in a private house of any number of storeys. To do this, a riser is laid from the boiler room from pipes of such a diameter to ensure the required flow rate of the heat carrier for the entire building. On each floor, a collector is connected to the riser, and from it the wiring to the radiators is made in a ray manner. The diameter of the vertical section leading to the next floor is reduced according to the hydraulic calculation. The layout for a two-story house is shown in the sketch:

In large cottages, in addition to the radiator heating system, they additionally arrange underfloor heating, buffer tanks and indirect heating boilers. Then the radiant heating system of a two-story house becomes more complicated, a distribution comb is installed in the boiler room. It is connected to both the riser of the radial distribution, and all other heat consumers, as shown in the diagram:

Each circuit has an individual circulation pump installed on the supply line from the manifold. It turns out that all circuits function independently of each other and can be adjusted automatically.

Note. The diagram below does not show the circulation pumps of the boiler circuit, since in wall-mounted boilers these units are located inside.

Pros and cons of a radiant heating system

It must be said that the new collector-beam heating system took all their advantages and disadvantages from their predecessors. First, about the good:

  • the most perfect hydraulics. The coolant goes to each battery along an individual line, so they are absolutely independent of each other. The design of the manifold allows for easy balancing of these branches;
  • all radiators receive water at the same temperature;
  • the number of connections is minimal, there are no tees;
  • it is convenient to introduce means of automatic regulation and control the entire circuit as a whole;
  • you can always turn off any battery by opening the cabinet with the distributor and turning off the corresponding tap;
  • aesthetics. There are no pipes in sight.

As usual, there were some drawbacks. The most unpleasant of them is the high cost of equipment and installation. Even the absence of fittings cannot compensate for the costs of the manifold and the increased footage of pipes. If there are several floors, then the price doubles and triples, compared to a simple two-pipe system, this is very expensive. Well, the installation of wiring in the floor screed or between the logs involves additional work on the installation of flooring, which again leads to a rise in price.

Homeowners often ask themselves the question: why do I need a radial heating circuit with radiators, if you still need to deal with the screed device, then it's better to immediately make warm floors. And they are right, underfloor heating warms up the room more evenly, and at a cost will come out slightly more expensive. The conclusion is simple: in the presence of financial resources, warm floors are preferable.

There is one more nuance: collector wiring will not allow you to realize the natural circulation of the coolant due to the inability to withstand diameters and slopes. So you can forget about energy independence.

First of all, you need to correctly determine the diameters of the pipelines, especially for highways, here you cannot do without a hydraulic calculation. It is a little easier with radial branches to radiators, their size can be taken according to the following principle:

  • for a battery with a capacity of up to 1.5 kW, a pipe 16 x 2 mm;
  • for a radiator with a power of over 1.5 kW, a pipe 20 x 2 mm.

When wiring in the floor, all liners must be insulated, otherwise you will heat the screed sections, and the batteries will be cold. Do not scatter pipes at random, arguing that they will still be filled with solution and there will be no mess. This is a mistake, the branches must be laid neatly, distributing them in pairs, and at the end put only noticeable marks on you in those places where the pipes lie. Subsequently, this will help to quickly find them in the event of an accident.

Do-it-yourself installation in a one-story house is relatively easy. Choose the optimal placement for a cabinet with a manifold (ideally in a wall niche), measure distances and purchase pipes, install radiators. There is no need to install balancing valves anywhere, only ball valves on batteries. By the way, if possible, vertical sections of pipes coming out of the floor can be hidden in walls. Then the connections to the heating devices will be completely invisible.

Council. Do not use polypropylene pipes in such networks. They do not bend and have a large linear elongation. And it is illogical to use cheap materials in an expensive system, it is better to take metal-plastic or cross-linked polyethylene.

In a house with two or more floors, it is necessary to install shut-off and control valves on each branch from the riser. A ball valve is installed on the supply pipeline, and a balancing valve on the return line. This will allow the entire system to be balanced hydraulically, as well as cut off the floors from heating if necessary.

Conclusion

As you can see, ray routing is one of the most successful solutions, although in some situations it may not be practical. Despite all its advantages, the scheme belongs to the high price category, where it is difficult for it to compete with warm floors and other modern systems. Nevertheless, such types of wiring have the right to life and find their application not only in private houses, but also in public and administrative buildings.

All types of heating systems have a common set of structural elements. This is a boiler serving as a source of heat generation; a circuit consisting of pipes and. The differences between different types are in different pipe arrangements.

One of the most famous wiring is the radiant heating system.

The main difference between the radiant heating system and other systems is that here, with the help of the collector unit, separate pipes for supplying and removing liquid are drawn to each battery.

Thanks to this method, you do not have to turn off the entire system in case of breakdown of individual elements. It will also not need to be installed, which will greatly simplify installation and reduce the total cost.

Considering the advantages of this system, it is worth noting:

1. Easy installation due to the use of pipes and a small amount.
2. The pipeline "wound" into the walls and floor does not spoil the interior.
3. Increased functionality, with the device additional. elements (for example: thermoregulation sensors, air vents, etc.)
4. Possibility of setting different defined temperatures in separate rooms.
5. Repair and replacement separately, without shutting down the entire system.
6. Uniformity of heating.



Due to the "fan" styling of this layout, almost always all pipes are installed inside walls or floors... This is done to preserve the aesthetic appearance of the room and convenience. When arranging a room, a radiant heating system is also used. The pipes are laid in the concrete floor screed, but all the connecting elements are on the surface. This is done in order to prevent leakage of the coolant under the screed.

The main disadvantage of the radiant heating system is the large number of materials used, due to its large footage.

Also, forced circulation of the coolant is mainly used here, which means that circulation pumps will be required.

In order to achieve high efficiency of the system, you should pay attention to the following points:

  • The unit equipped with a thermostat must be located away from hot appliances. (for the veracity of the testimony)
  • The circulation pump is preferably located on the return pipe, the temperature of which is significantly lower than the supply.
  • The presence of an air release device is mandatory. Alternatively, the pump must be equipped with an air vent.
  • It is desirable to locate the pump close to the expansion tank.
  • Before installing and starting the circulation pump, the system should be flushed and filled with liquid.

Of the advantages of the radiation system, it is also worth noting the convenience of adjusting the wiring temperature. If desired, each room has its own independent temperature.

The use of the beam method is also justified in multi-storey buildings. In the process of carrying out technical work or replacing individual parts, you do not have to turn off the heating system throughout the house.

The radiant heating system of a private house is also used in buildings with wooden floors. To do this, holes are drilled in the beams slightly wider than the diameter of the pipes. This is necessary so that the structure does not press on the pipeline.


During the installation of the beam distribution, certain rules should be followed to reduce heat loss:


Radial distribution of the heating system.

In the design of the beam system, one of its main components is the collector assembly.


If this system is installed in a non-one-story building, a collector is installed on each floor.

For the manifold unit, special manifold cabinets are provided. Their internal structure is due to the convenience and availability of each collector element.

Of the features of the beam layout, it should be noted:

  • The minimum of circuit connections is an undeniable plus. As a result, the system is almost always hydraulically stable.
  • To ensure high wiring efficiency, it is necessary to correctly select the boiler power, take into account the heat loss and calculate the heat energy consumption by heating devices.
  • It should be borne in mind that with an increase in the length of the pipes, the heat loss increases.

Almost always, the beam distribution is installed as horizontal, with forced circulation and bottom fluid supply. The use of a circulation pump allows you to reduce the temperature difference at the inlet and outlet of the pipeline. This significantly increases the efficiency of the system, makes it less cumbersome and significantly reduces material consumption. When choosing a device, you should pay attention to two main parameters: productivity (cubic meters per hour) and head height (in meters).

To select the correct unit for the capacity and head, the following pipe characteristics are taken into account:

  • Pipeline diameter
  • Total length of the pipeline
  • The height of the pipeline in relation to the position of the circulation pump.

Among other things, the circuit includes a manifold assembly. Its function is to supply fluid to each heating device and to drain it. From the collector, the coolant is sent back to the boiler. Typically, collectors can supply 2 to 12 circuits. But there are models with a large number. Collectors are often equipped with shut-off and control valves and thermoregulation. Thanks to them, the most efficient and acceptable liquid flow rate in each branch is adjusted. In addition, the presence of air vents is mandatory for a longer service life of the system.

Radiant heating system in an apartment building.


Radiant heating system in an apartment building

Almost always in modern multi-storey buildings, a radial distribution of the heating system is installed. The entire circuit is mounted in the wall or more often in the floor. Manifold units for supply and discharge are located in a special niche in the center of the floor. Pipes run from them to each radiator on the floor.

The scheme is carried out in the form of one-pipe or two-pipe installation. The pumps are also installed on separate rings or the entire branch. If possible, each contour is made the same length. Otherwise, each branch is equipped with its own pump and automatic temperature control. The temperature regulation process for each circuit is separate from the others. Each battery must be equipped with an air vent.

Making a general conclusion regarding the beam wiring, it should be said that this is the most balanced heating scheme, which has a large number of advantages in comparison with others.