Water underfloor heating is becoming more common in individual residential buildings. The method creates a more uniform temperature distribution in the rooms, which makes them more comfortable, and heating is 10-15% more economical. In high-rise buildings, this method is prohibited for connecting to centralized heating systems and use above the first floor. The underfloor heating system contains:
- collector of underfloor heating;
- pipes;
- armature;
- measuring and regulating devices.
The boiler power 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 still need hot water for the bathroom and kitchen. All this should provide one common boiler.
The device and work of a heat-insulated floor
Warm water floor is one of the most modern heating systems. The temperature of the coolant does not exceed 55º. If it is higher, then the hot floor will create discomfort. To make feet feel comfortable touching the floor, the surface temperature of the floor finishing material should not exceed 35 ° C. The temperature of the coolant coming from the boiler is usually higher. Therefore, in the mixing unit of the collector is mixing heated and chilled water. The temperature of the coolant sets the thermostat.
Heating pipes are located in the thickness of the concrete screed under the finish coating. An autonomous heating system through the floor meets all modern requirements:
- high performance;
- reliability;
- durability;
- profitability.
The premises are divided into sections of approximately 40 m 2 , with separate contours not exceeding 60 m in length and expansion joints along the borders. Inside each site, a warm water floor is created. The collector is connected to the direct and return pipes of each circuit, and through it the flow of coolant is regulated. The heated water from the boiler is distributed along the contours, and the cooled water is returned through it back. Heating loops have different pipe lengths. With identical passages at the inlet and outlet, more water will pass through the short pipe than through the long one. Accordingly, the sites will be heated differently. At each circuit, it is necessary to ensure a given water flow rate so that a uniform distribution of heat occurs throughout the system. The indicator is the same coolant temperature at the return of all circuits. In this case, heat will spread evenly on the floor of the house.
Purpose and arrangement of the collector
The collector of the warm floor serves to evenly distribute the coolant from the boiler to the heated rooms and return to re-heating in a circular circulation. With its help, all connected circuits are tuned to a predetermined temperature, make-up and discharge of water, as well as air removal from the system. Structurally, the collector is made in the form of a “comb” pipe with pipes for connecting heating circuits. They should try to do everything the same length.
Manifold cabinet
When a water heated floor is being developed for the house, the collector is placed in a convenient place, as close as possible to the center of the heating system. Pipes of circuits with the correct bend are brought there, as well as the inlet and outlet of the coolant are connected. In order to rotate the flexible pipe, leave a place below. From above, a group of supply and return manifolds with control valves or valves is assembled . The place must be removed from the radiators and placed on the wall. The best is to place the equipment in a special cabinet. It should be placed on top of the underfloor heating 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 to supply or shut off the coolant. Such a system is well suited for a private house, where there are no significant fluctuations in pressure and temperature in the 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 fluid, as well as environmental conditions.
Collectors of a modern heating system
A full connection of the underfloor heating collector is provided with the following additional equipment:
- mixing unit or three-way mixer;
- circulation pump;
- thermostatic regulators and flow meters in each circuit;
- manual air vent.
The material may be plastic or metal. The underfloor heating manifold is made of polypropylene, stainless steel or brass. On it are mounted control valves, manometers, thermometers, fittings, valves. In a special device, hot and chilled water are mixed, and with a given temperature 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 chilled water returns to heating, and then enters the system again. The supply manifold is always located above the return and contains an air vent.
The pump 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 remains constant. The coolant pressure from its outlet is supported by a pump.
With sufficient fluid circulation, the mixer is installed without a pump.
Flow control
For uniform distribution of the coolant, flow controllers are installed on each circuit. In the long heating loops, you need to supply more fluid so that the heat transfer is the same everywhere. To do this, make a stationary flow rate setting so that the heat disperses throughout the rooms evenly. In the same way, you can create an uneven supply of heat, if some rooms do not particularly need heating.
The flow regulator is a valve. When 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 collector of underfloor heating, because by the mark on the scale you can judge the amount of heat carrier 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 flow rate of the coolant is changed using an electrothermal drive.
Thermostatic valve can be set manually. It is used when a simple collector for underfloor heating is installed in a system with constant parameters.
Conclusion
The collector of the warm floor is used to evenly distribute the coolant through the heating pipes using the mixing unit and water flow regulators.
For simple heating with stable parameters, devices with valves adjustment are suitable. For multi-circuit complex heating systems, a modern full-fledged temperature control is required.