Water floor heating is becoming more and more common in individual residential buildings. The method creates a more uniform distribution of temperature in the premises, which makes them more comfortable, and heating - more economical by 10-15%. In high-rise buildings, this method is prohibited for connection to centralized heating systems and use above the first floor. Underfloor heating system contains:
- underfloor heating collector;
- pipes;
- rebar;
- measuring and control devices.
The power of the boiler is selected more than that of the heating system. In houses with a large area, additional radiators are required. It should also be borne in mind that you may also need hot water for the bathroom and kitchen. All this should be provided by one common boiler.
Arrangement and operation of underfloor heating
Warm water floor is one of the most modern heating systems. The coolant temperature does not exceed 55ºС. If it is higher, then the hot floorwill create discomfort. To make it pleasant for the feet to touch the floor, the surface temperature of the floor finishing material should not exceed 35ºС. The temperature of the heat carrier coming from the boiler is usually higher. Therefore, in the mixing unit of the collector, the heated and cooled water is mixed. The temperature of the coolant is set by the thermostat.
The heating pipes are located in the thickness of the concrete screed under the finishing coating. Autonomous heating system through the floor meets all modern requirements:
- high performance;
- reliability;
- durability;
- economy.
The premises are divided into sections, approximately 40 m each2, with separate contours no longer than 60 m and expansion joints along the borders. Inside each site, a water-heated floor is created. The collector is connected to the direct and return pipes of each circuit, and through it the flow of the coolant is regulated. The heated water from the boiler is distributed along the circuits, and the cooled water returns through it. Heating loops have different pipe lengths. With the same passages at the inlet and outlet, more water will pass through a short pipe than through a long one. Accordingly, the areas will be heated differently. On each circuit, it is necessary to provide a given water flow so that there is a uniform distribution of heat throughout the system. The indicator is the same temperature of the coolant on the return lines of all circuits. This will spread the heat across the floor.at home evenly.
Purpose and arrangement of the collector
The underfloor heating collector is used for uniform distribution of the heat carrier from the boiler to the heated premises and return for reheating in circular circulation. With its help, all connected circuits are adjusted to a given temperature, water is replenished and drained, and air is removed from the system. Structurally, the collector is made in the form of a “comb” pipe with branch pipes for connecting heating circuits. You should try to make them all the same length.
Manifold cabinet
When a water heated floor is being developed for a house, the collector is placed in a convenient location, as close as possible to the center of the heating system. The pipes of the circuits with the correct bend are also brought there, and the supply and removal of the coolant are also connected. In order to rotate the flexible pipe, leave space at the bottom. A group of supply and return manifolds with control valves or valves is assembled from above. The place must be removed from the heating devices and placed on the wall. The best is to place the equipment in a special cabinet. It should be placed on top of the warm floor, so that it is convenient to remove air from the pipes. The whole system is connected by compression fittings.
A simple version of the collector group
Simple manifolds are used with control valves and flow meters on each circuit, as well as shut-off valves for supplying or disconnecting the coolant. Such a system is goodsuitable for a private house where there are no significant fluctuations in pressure and temperature in pipelines. You can assemble the simplest collector of underfloor heating with your own hands, which will save money. The disadvantage is the dependence on changes in temperature and flow rate of the boiler coolant, as well as external conditions.
Manifolds of a modern heating system
Full connection of the underfloor heating collector is provided with the following additional equipment:
- mixing unit or three-way mixer;
- circulation pump;
- thermostatic controllers and flowmeters in each circuit;
- manual air vent.
The material can be plastic or metal. The collector of a heat-insulated floor is made of polypropylene, stainless steel or brass. Control valves, pressure gauges, thermometers, fittings, valves are mounted on it. In a special device, hot and chilled water are mixed, and at a given temperature they are pumped into the supply manifold by a pump. The return is connected to the boiler, closing the system of circular circulation of the coolant. The cooled water is returned to the heating, after which it enters the system again. The supply manifold is always located above the return manifold and contains an air vent.
The pumping and mixing unit contains a three-way valve installed at the outlet of the manifold system. It regulates only the flow of hot water, and the flow of chilled water remains constant. The pressure of the coolant from its outlet is maintained withpump.
With sufficient liquid circulation, the mixer is installed without a pump.
Flow control
For uniform distribution of coolant, flow regulators are installed on each circuit. More liquid must be supplied to long heating loops so that the heat transfer is the same everywhere. To do this, make a stationary adjustment of the flow rate so that the heat disperses evenly throughout the rooms. Similarly, you can create an uneven heat supply if some rooms do not particularly need heating.
The flow regulator is a valve. When an adjustment is made, its balancer is set in proportion to the length of the pipe of the corresponding circuit. The regulator is a flow meter for the underfloor heating manifold, since the mark on the scale can be used to judge the amount of coolant supplied.
Thermostatic valves
The temperature in the circuits can be maintained using thermostatic valves. They receive a signal from an air or floor temperature sensor in the room, after which the coolant flow rate is changed using an electrothermal drive.
Thermostatic valve can be manually adjusted. It is used when a simple collector for a water-heated floor is installed in a system with constant parameters.
Conclusion
The underfloor heating collector is used to evenly distribute the heat carrier through the heating pipes using a mixing unit and flow controllerswater.
For simple heating with stable parameters, devices with adjustment using valves are suitable. Multi-circuit complex heating systems require modern full temperature control.
