The heating pipeline system in a private house depends on many additional devices involved in regulating the movement of the coolant. Among them are means of supporting water circulation, devices for removing air from circuits, devices for monitoring pressure indicators, etc. The coolant itself largely depends on the current pressure in the system. If it is not enough, it simply will not be able to provide sufficient distribution of flows. To equalize the intensity of movement of the coolant, a make-up valve is intended, due to which the volume of hot water in the heating circuits is restored.
The principle of operation and purpose of the device
From the point of view of functionality and the nature of the tasks to be solved, regulation devices for feeding water in pipelines are a combined version of a check valve, a pressure reducer and a coarse filter. Their main task is to fill the circuits with reduced pressure with the missing coolant. The valve operates in automatic mode - asonly the pressure gauge shows the pressure drop to a critical level, the mechanism opens access to a new inflow to an acceptable level.
Moreover, it is important to note the communication connection with other functional devices of the heating system. Supply mechanisms are recommended to be located near the expansion tank of a closed type. Heating for the home with such a regulator will be insured against sudden changes in pressure and temperature, which will eliminate the risk of pipe rupture. The fact is that when the heating system is turned on and off, the hydraulic tank starts automatic filling of the circuits, which entails a high load.
Against the background of a stepwise increase in temperature, the coolant expands - accordingly, the pressure in the pipeline also increases. If, however, an inflow control valve is installed near the placement point, the volume correction in the circuits will occur gradually. At a minimum, the user will be able to configure this process for a smooth transition, which will depend on the characteristics of a particular valve model.
Make-up valve design
The product is a small metal device, usually made of nickel-plated brass or stainless steel. The main parts of the design include:
- Spring chamber housing.
- Check valve body.
- Piston rod.
- Filtration plug.
- Filtration plug gasket.
- Spool holder.
- Reducer plug.
- Saddlecheck valve.
- Seat sleeve.
- Check valve and gearbox springs.
Of the additional features, in addition to filtration, we can note the presence of a pressure gauge and a tap for separating flows. For example, in Italian Emmeti Alimatic valves, along with a pressure reducer and a compact socket for a pressure gauge, a branch is provided for connecting a hose to the central pipeline. The peculiarity of this solution is that the user will be able to enter the make-up channel to the main water supply system without fear that the coolant will mix with the drinking water delivery channel.
Device performance
The performance of the valve may vary depending on the specific application, but the models for the domestic sector in general have similar parameters, the average values of which are presented below:
- Pressure - 16 bar.
- Admissible coolant temperature is up to 130°C.
- Reduction ratio - maximum 1:10.
- Flow Capacity - Standard make-up valve with 1/2" gauge, depending on pressure, provides a flow rate in the range of 1.3-2 m3/hour.
- Adjusting pressure range is from 2 to 5 bar.
Installation work
When choosing the location of the valve, the following conditions must be met:
- Filter plug oriented downwards.
- Direction of movementcoolant corresponds to the indication of the flow arrow on the instrument case.
- Provides free access to the adjusting screw.
- The pressure gauge must be visible.
The make-up valve is installed in the pipeline using winding materials (tow, FUM tape, sealant) and in compliance with the alignment of the connected circuits, the deviations in which should not exceed 3 mm per 1 m. The coupling joints are tightened with force up to 30 Nm for 1/2" channels and up to 40 Nm for 3/4" channels.
Valve setting
By default, most valves of this type are set to an outlet pressure of 3 bar, which can be changed. Adjustment of this and other parameters is carried out both before and after installation of the device without dismantling it. The main thing is to determine the optimal values of the required parameters. In this sense, one should be guided by a simple rule - the pressure level in the heating system of a private house must be obviously higher than in the make-up regulator.
During the adjustment process, it is advisable to open one of the drainage valves of the system until the optimum flow rate is reached, at which the jet in the spout will be dense and not divided into drops. Direct installation of the valve should be carried out through the built-in gearbox by turning the screw to the required value. In the future, pressure control will be carried out using a pressure gauge.
Device maintenance
If maintainedstandard operating conditions in terms of pressure, temperature and mechanical loads, the device can serve for years without the need for maintenance and repair. However, periodically it is recommended to check the connections of the make-up valve, the condition of the small sealing rings and the correct operation of the pressure gauge. If a filter is provided in the design, its mesh should be cleaned regularly, changing gaskets if necessary.
Conclusion
The inclusion of new control and regulatory elements in the domestic piping system, of course, reduces its reliability and operational safety, regardless of the purpose of the element. Unfortunately, in itself, an increase in the number of connecting nodes does not have the best effect on the durability of communications. But sometimes such measures are necessary to prevent other, more dangerous factors. The rest will depend on the quality of the device itself.
Today, for little money, you can buy a model that is quite worthy in terms of technical performance and functionality. For example, Watts make-up valves of the ALIMAT series are estimated at 3 thousand rubles. In this case, the brass body will be provided with a pressure gauge, a filtration system and a vent screw. As you can see, one small device based on a shut-off valve can replace several other specialized devices at once, which fully justifies such an acquisition.
