Whatever the heating system, it involves the need for customization, you can do this in a variety of ways. These manipulations are required so that the parameters on individual sections of the network are as close as possible to the calculated ones. So you can achieve good work efficiency. You can control the functioning of the system by several means, but the most modern and effective of them is the balancing valve for the heating system.
Need to use
No heating system can work without hydraulic adjustment, which is balancing. The purpose of these manipulations is to bring the water flow in each branch to a standard value. In this case, the required amount of heat will be delivered to the batteries. Whereas when it comes to the simplest schemes, the flow rate is ensured by correctly selected pipe diameters. If you have a sophisticated system in place, then adjustment can be made with washers, however, the size of their passage should guarantee the flow of water in the right amount.
New methods
The above methods are not used now, because they are obsolete, today it is more acceptable to use a balancing valve. By design, this device is a manual valve with which the volume of water is regulated. In addition to the fact that the system has a flow shutoff mechanism, fittings are built into the body that are used to connect to the capillary tube. They are necessary to ensure interaction with other controls.
Principle of operation
Before installing the balancing valve for the heating system, it is necessary to understand the principle by which it works. To do this, you should take as a basis a dead end branch with several batteries that act as consumers. A certain amount of coolant flows through the pipes to them, which should be enough for heated rooms. After you learn how the balancing valve in the heating system works, you can proceed with its installation, which will be discussed below.
If the radiators do not have a thermostatic valve, and the flow rate of the coolant for each is unchanged, then the hydraulic adjustment is done by a manual balancing valve. This element must be installed on the return pipe in the place where the insertion into the common line occurs. At the next stage, measurements should be made, the valve is set to the required number of revolutions. This will ensure a certain flow rate of the coolant in an adjustable branch. However, the conditions may be different: the flow rate is constantly changing, what happens when thermostats have thermostatic regulators on the radiators, the latter can create an obstacle in the way of water, the flow will be reduced. The flow rate of the coolant will begin to change all the time. Here the balancing valve for the heating system helps, which guarantees the amount of coolant in a certain volume. This approach is especially relevant when the number of batteries does not exceed 5 pieces.
Additional information on the principle of operation
If you limit the regulation limits of thermostatic devices, the circuit can be configured. In the event that there are more radiators than the number mentioned above, they should be peddling. Overlapping the water of the first radiator will cause a significant increase in flow in the second. The valve closes, after which the flow will go to the next, and so on. Ultimately, such work will cause overheating of some radiators and underheating of others. The system will be unbalanced.
When installing a balancing valve for a heating system that has risers or branches with a huge number of heating devices, you must install the described elements without fail. The principle of operation in this case is as follows. It is important to adjust the balancing valve by setting it to the maximum rated flow rate of the coolant. During the operation of the system, when the consumer thermostat will reduce water consumption, the pressure will begin to increase. Using a capillary tube, information will go to an automatic regulator, which is responsible for the pressure drop. This component of the system will react quite quickly, then the thermostats will not have time to work, they will not block the flow of water, and the system will maintain hydraulic balance.
Installation work
The balancing valve for the heating system, the principle of which was described above, can be set by you yourself. It is very important to ensure the necessary position of the element. The arrow on the housing should be in the direction of water movement. This will provide the necessary rated resistance, and will also guarantee the necessary flow. Some manufacturers assume the possibility of mounting the valve both in direction and against flow. The stem of most models can occupy different positions.
The balancing valve for the heating system, the operating principle of which should be clear to you before the purchase of the device, provides for the need to protect the working parts of the valves: they should not get mechanical impurities. To do this, a special filter or sump is installed in front of the valve. In order to exclude turbulent movement of water, direct sections of sufficient length in front of and after the valve should be provided. In confirmation, it can be noted that this requirement is indicated by the manufacturer in the documentation for the valve.
Installation and Operating Instructions
The installation of balancing valves in the heating system requires compliance with certain rules. Thus, the filling of the system, which has the described element, must be carried out by a special technology. For this, provision should be made for filling nozzles, which is true for systems that have dynamic valves. The fittings are located close to the valve in the return pipe. As for the main element, which is located on the supply pipe, it is important to close it.
The automatic balancing valve for the heating system is set using the differential pressure and flow table, as well as the flow meter. But the initial calculation is important to perform at the design stage of the heating system.
Specialist recommendations
As for the straight sections of the pipe, which were discussed above, their length should be 5 diameters, after the described element it is necessary to leave two pipe diameters. If you have an automatic valve in front of you, then there must be a fitting in the circuit, which is necessary for filling the circuit with the inlet valve closed.
Conclusion
The balancing valve for the heating system, the installation instructions of which were presented above, can be with manual adjustment, automatic or adjustment of the temperature level of the working medium. The latter are used in air conditioning, cooling, as well as in the arrangement of underfloor heating.