In the operation of utility infrastructure, maintenance preventive measures are of great importance. They allow you to identify possible problems on the line, record leakage, sudden pressure drops, etc. The quality and accuracy of detection of such problems depends on the method used. The most common and relatively effective method of this kind is crimping. Special pumps for pressure testing of heating systems are often used as a tool for preventive and planned testing of the heating network.
General crimp pump device
The basis of any unit of this type is a pump unit that provides operating effort. As mandatory accompanying components, one can distinguish a reservoir with a liquid, hose communications, as well as a set of controls. Today, even the simplest pumps for crimping heating systems are supplemented with pressure gauges as standard. This device, in fact, provides information by which it is possible to assess the condition of the pipeline. As for pump manufacturing materials, they are mainly represented by steel, as well as high-strength composites. At least this applies to models from major manufacturers. When choosing a crimping tool, it is important to take into account the mass, as depending on the conditions of use and transportation, there may be restrictions on this parameter. On average, high-quality modern pumps of this type weigh 5-7 kg.
What functions does the pressure pump perform ?
The direct crimping operation is designed to detect leaks and deviations in pressure drops. However, pumps for crimping heating systems have a wider functional range. They also act as a means of preventive examination of a particular section of the line. This is important in terms of ensuring timely repair operations. Most often, the need to use such a revision arises after the completion of installation or repair operations.
In the rules of operation of heating systems, some paragraphs contain instructions according to which, the crimping procedure is mandatory. For example, you can not do without it when putting the object into operation. It is also common practice to use crimping machines before the onset of the heating season, when it is necessary to check the reliability of the joints in the pipeline.
The principle of the crimp
To implement the method, it is necessary to fill a closed area with water. At the same time it is filled with a special liquid, which can be oil, and the pump reservoir. Upon reaching the maximum possible filling of the circuit, the operator starts fixing the pressure parameters through the control relay. The crimping process lasts several hours. At this time, a stable preservation of the performance of the unit should be ensured. Further, after the expiration of the technological period, the operator also takes readings, comparing them with the primary data.
It is important to note that different pumps for crimping heating systems differ not only in the waiting time of the measuring process, but also in their ability to work in certain conditions. For example, for each network, you need to select a device with a suitable pressure range. Based on the results of the data received, the operator makes a conclusion about the need for further examinations. So, if the readings made before and after pressure testing are different, then there is a leak in the line. In this situation, you can either conduct a re-examination, or immediately proceed to eliminate possible damage to the pipe.
Types of crimping
There are two types of crimping machines - manual and electric. They differ both in the principle of operation and in the constructional device. So, the manual crimper usually has a special handle as a part, with the help of which pressure is produced. These are assemblies that are simple in design and can be used in a domestic environment.
Electric models are good in that they relieve the user of the power load and automatically implement the injection of pressure into the circuit. But such systems have their drawbacks. The fact is that the electric crimping machine can only work from a 220 V network. In other cases, the use of manual models justifies itself, unless, of course, the characteristics allow.
Features of a manual crimping machine
Models of this type are advantageous in that they have practically no restrictions in application when it comes to operating parameters that correspond to technical capabilities. That is, a compact hydraulic device will be convenient in checking the home system, and will allow you to evaluate the quality of the networks in the communal infrastructure of the apartment building.
An important feature that the manual crimping tool has is a low level of error. Since the injection is manual, the operator can vary the applied force without harming the circuit. By the way, manufacturers themselves take care of reducing undesirable risks for the network and hoses. They cover the hose with a special braid to prevent accidental expansion.
Electric devices also have protective shells on the hoses, but in some cases of peak loads, automatic pumping will not stop, unlike manual crimping.
Implement recommendations
First of all, the working components of the pump are checked. Particular attention is paid to the tightness of the tank, hoses and control system. It will also be useful to calibrate the measuring instruments for maximum accuracy. Further, the operating parameters of the crimp are evaluated from the point of view of the possibility of application in a particular section of the pipeline.
It should be noted that the crimp electric in terms of compatibility with different pipelines has an advantage, since it has a large power reserve. But this is the case when electrical units can lose to manual counterparts in accuracy.
One way or another, both types of crimping machines must be carefully prepared for testing. For some models, it is important to consider the temperature of the environment in which the operation is planned. The general recommended range is from 5 to 40 ° C.
Manufacturers
Different models of crimping machines are presented on the market, which differ both in operation principle and in technical characteristics. For example, in the Saturn product line you can find some good manual models. In particular, the NIR-25 modification works with a pressure of 25 Bar in conditions with oil and antifreeze media.
If, nevertheless, the choice fell on the electric pump, then you can contact the company REKON. In the family of this manufacturer, a pump is presented for filling the heating system and crimping the RTP-6 modification. This unit is characterized by ergonomic handles and a robust body. Also, high-quality models can be found in the assortments of the companies "Caliber", Voll, "Megeon", etc.
How much does a pump cost?
The price range is quite wide and varies on average from 4 to 20 thousand rubles. The cheapest options are represented by manual units with a minimum set of functions and low performance.
Further, in the segment of 5-10 thousand, you can already find an electric pump for crimping the heating system.
The price of premium versions that can work with high pressure indicators of about 60 Bar is already 15-20 thousand. Moreover, such pumps can assume both electric and manual control principles.
How to make a crimping machine with your own hands?
To implement this method of testing pipes for leaks, it is not necessary to purchase special equipment. For example, a home-made pump for crimping heating systems can be created with your own hands. This will require spare parts to form the unit, which will fulfill the principle of operation of the hydraulic mechanism. This can be done with an old jack and a cylindrical container.
Standard units of this type have an average capacity of 50 liters and operate at a pressure of 10 bar. The layout of the elements is made using threaded connections. Several holes should be made in the cylinder itself, among which a liquid outlet and a niche for a pressure gauge, which will have to be purchased separately, will be mandatory. Obviously, this results in a hand pump for crimping the heating system. You can also make an electrical analogue with your own hands, but this makes no sense, since the accuracy of such an assembly will be extremely low.
Conclusion
Crimping technology does not at all guarantee 100% detection of leaks or leaks in joints. Even when fixing the pressure loss in the circuit, this does not always mean that the defect in the readings was affected precisely by the pipe defect. Often, such fluctuations are affected by a change in temperature conditions in the medium being served. Conversely, if the manual pump for pressure testing did not reveal pressure drops, this does not mean that the system is necessarily devoid of problem areas.
In both situations, there are two ways to verify the reliability of the displayed data. Firstly, due to the performance of several crimping sessions, and in different temperature conditions. Secondly, you can get the most objective information about the condition of a particular section of the heating pipe using various crimping machines. It is best to use not just different models, but units that are different in principle of operation.