How comfortable living in a private house will be depends on the quality of the heating system. Today, there are several ways to assemble such structures. The simplest and at the same time quite effective is the so-called "Leningradka" - a single-tube system. About how to mount it with your own hands, and we'll talk further in the article.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of such a design as a single-pipe heating system with forced circulation include, first of all, ease of installation, efficiency and not too much cost. The disadvantage of such designs is not particularly high efficiency when used in buildings of large area, as well as the uneven heating of radiators on different floors.
What varieties exist
In private homes, you can usually see only two types of structures such as a one-pipe heating system with forced circulation of a closed type:
- Vertical. In this case, the coolant from the boiler first rises to the highest floor. Here he goes through all the radiators. Then the water or antifreeze goes down to the lower floor, after which the cycle repeats. Then, along the riser, the coolant flows even lower, etc.
- Horizontal Such single-pipe systems are installed in single-story buildings. In this case, the coolant simply passes through all the radiators of the house in series and returns through the return pipe to the boiler.
The design of the "Leningrad"
The one-pipe heating system with forced circulation consists of the following elements:
- Heating boiler. It can operate on gas, solid or liquid fuels, as well as on the mains. In country houses, the first variety is usually used. The advantage of this equipment is primarily considered economical. An electric boiler is cheaper, but for its work you will have to pay much more. Models operating on liquid or solid fuels are usually installed in areas where gas pipelines and electrical networks are not connected.
- Highways. This is also a very important element of such a design as a single-pipe forced circulation heating system. The diameter of the pipes in this case can be smaller than with the natural movement of the coolant. Highways for such heating systems can be used steel, polypropylene, metal-plastic or copper.
- Heating radiators. Batteries in private homes can be used steel, cast iron, aluminum or bimetal. It is better to choose the second or last variety. Each radiator must be equipped with a Maevsky tap.
- Expansion tank. This element is designed to reduce the pressure in the pipeline when heating the coolant. With the expansion of water, the "excess" part simply enters this tank.
- Circulation pump. Sometimes the coolant in the heating system circulates naturally - due to temperature differences in the direct and return pipes. But nowadays, homeowners prefer to use forced circulation options. In this case, the movement of the coolant occurs as a result of the pump. When using it, you can install pipes of much smaller diameter, which often allows you to save certain amounts. The drawbacks of forced circulation systems are only their dependence on electricity. However, when it is turned off, the design can be switched to natural mode. In addition, you can always use a portable generator.
- Stop valves. Among other things, the design of such systems includes all kinds of cranes, valves, as well as thermal valves.
We make a project
When drawing up a diagram of such a design as a one-pipe heating system with forced circulation, the following factors are taken into account:
- Boiler power. The calculation of this indicator is usually entrusted to specialists. The fact is that in order to choose the most suitable equipment in this case, a very large number of very different factors should be taken into account. Approximately, the calculation is based on the fact that for heating every 10 m 2 it takes 1 kW of unit power.
- The number of radiators. This indicator may also depend on various factors. The specific power of one section of the battery is indicated in its passport. For 1 m 2 of floor space, 100 kW is needed.
- Location and material of pipe production.
- The power of the circulation pump. The first indicator for water is determined by the formula:
Qpu = Qn: 1.163 x Dt [m 3 / h],
where Qn is the amount of heat consumed in kilowatts,
and Dt is the temperature difference in the return and supply pipelines. - The volume of the expansion tank. It can also be calculated independently. Do this using the formula:
V = ex C: (1 - P o / Pmax) xk,
where e is the coefficient of expansion of water,
C is the volume of coolant in the system in liters,
P 0 - the initial air pressure in the tank,
P max - maximum pressure in the heating system,
k is the capacity filling factor).
The last indicator and maximum pressure are determined by special tables.
Boiler installation
A boiler in a design such as a single-pipe heating system with forced circulation is installed below the location of the heating pipes and radiators. Most often it is located in the basement of the room. Install this unit on a flat area. There are also suspended models for sale. First of all, a chimney is connected and displayed on the street. Connection to the gas line is trusted only by specialists. It is impossible to do this on your own according to the standards.
Installation of radiators
They continue to install such a design as a single-pipe heating system with forced circulation, the diagram of which was presented above, by installing batteries. Radiators are usually hung under windows. Previously, the wall is marked on the width and length of the radiator. Then the brackets are attached. A battery is hung on them. It should be located in such a way that its lower edge does not reach the floor by at least 10 cm. The same distance should remain between its upper edge and the window sill. The distance to the wall is 5 cm.
Installation of pipelines
At the next stage, the trunk and risers are attached to the walls. The supply pipe must be located above the return pipe. Mounting to the walls is done by brackets. Between themselves pipes are connected by fittings. It is not recommended to make too many knees in the trunk. This will reduce the speed of movement of the coolant, therefore, and the quality of the entire structure.
One-pipe heating system with forced circulation “Leningradka”: connection of radiators
After the lines are completed, proceed to the connection of radiators. In this case, the diagonal and lower circuits are usually used. In the first case, the coolant flows through one of the upper radiator pipes. Retraction - through the bottom on the opposite side. In the second, both pipes join from below. Installation is bypassed. In the future, this will allow you to adjust the air temperature in the rooms, selectively turning off the radiators. In addition, with such a connection, it is possible to repair or replace batteries without interrupting the operation of the entire system as a whole.
Setting the remaining elements
The expansion tank is mounted on the supply pipe in the immediate vicinity of the boiler itself. The pump is mounted on the return pipe. The fact is that the hot water of the direct line can damage the elements of its structure. They put the pump on a bypass equipped with three cranes. A filter for the coolant is mounted in front of it. This structural element prevents scale or sludge from entering the device. The safety valve can be installed anywhere in the line. In this case, only the convenience of its use matters. A drain valve is installed at the lowest point in the pipeline.
At the final stage, the supply and return lines are connected to the corresponding boiler pipes.
As a result of all these actions, a very effective single-pipe heating system with forced circulation should be obtained. You can see a photo of a similar design below.
Coolant filling
After the system is assembled, make its trial run. Water is pumped into the mains by a submersible pump at a pressure slightly higher than the working one, until it starts to flow from Mayevsky taps in heating radiators. After that, they are closed and all connections are inspected for leaks. If there are no leaks, the assembly of the heating system can be considered completed.
Reviews about the "Leningrad"
Most owners of private houses have a very good opinion about this system. Especially flattering reviews about it sound from the lips of the owners of not too large buildings. In this case, such a system functions very effectively. Many private owners are also attracted by the low cost of such structures and, of course, the possibility of their independent assembly.
The owners of country houses don’t really like only the fact that the coolant reaches the farthest extreme radiators in such designs already quite chilled. Therefore, in the rooms in which they are installed, it is sometimes cool.
As you can see, the installation of such a design as a one-pipe heating system with forced circulation (excellent reviews about it) is not too complicated. You can install it in a few days. It works, provided that all the assembly technologies are followed, subsequently for a long time and efficiently.