Currently, you can see two main varieties of heating devices that are widely used in the process of installing individual heating systems - these are panel radiators. In the article below, we will study the features and design of panel devices, consider their technical characteristics, advantages, as well as disadvantages.
Varieties of panel radiators
There are several main features by which it is possible to classify panel steel radiators, we will consider them in more detail.
- Depending on how they are connected to the heating system, they may have side or bottom connections. The latter option is used when installing heating pipelines in the floor structure. The lateral connection is universal, in which case the radiators are connected to pipelines that run both in the walls and in the floor.
- Depending on the design features, all panel heating radiators are divided by power - they can be attributed to the 11th, 22nd or 33rd type. In other words, devices of the 11th type are equipped with only one heat exchange panel, of the 22nd type - with two, and, accordingly, of the 33rd type - with three.
- In most cases, all panel-type heating devices are designed according to some requirements, in particular, one of which is a fixed length. It varies from 400 to 2000 mm in 10 mm increments. That allows you to select panel heating radiators for any room.
Advantages
- The integrity of the design. This version of the heater is fully ready for operation. You will not need to select the required number of sections and purchase additional fasteners. The design is only fixed to the wall. And connection to pipelines is allowed to be made at any convenient time. With all this, the integrity of the structure has one negative point - in the event of a leak, it will have to be completely replaced.
- Aesthetics. Panel steel heating radiators will perfectly fit into the interior of any room, since they practically do not attract increased attention to their design. For example, if such devices are painted in the color of wallpaper or curtains, then they become almost invisible.
- Profitability. This advantage is due to a high degree of heat transfer and a small amount of coolant. The devices are low inertia and are equipped with a temperature controller, which allows you to save about 40% of energy.
- Good heat dissipation. Bimetal panel radiators have high heat dissipation, and the presence of convectors makes steel heaters almost indispensable.
disadvantages
- The material from which the panel radiators are made needs proper operation, since it is characterized by a small corrosion resistance. If air is regularly present in the heating system, there is a need for draining the water, and if there is an abnormal PH value, it is advisable to consider other varieties of these devices.
- Panel radiators made of steel are characterized by low resistance to water hammer. To reduce the latter and increase the operating life, use a gearbox, which is installed on the input.
- A steel heating radiator for a home requires careful transportation, since very often heating appliances become unusable when transported incorrectly.
Heat dissipation
Which heating devices have high heat dissipation? Of course, those that are equipped with a large number of finned elements, since it is in this way that the heating surface increases, resulting in increased heat transfer, and the air flow in the room becomes warmer. On average, this value ranges from 1200 to 1800 W, however, it all depends on the overall dimensions of the radiator itself, model, steel thickness and other options.
Pressure
Panel bimetal heating radiators are designed for a maximum pressure of 6-10 atmospheres, it can be supported exclusively in autonomous heating systems, that is, in private homes. In buildings with centralized heating, such devices cannot be operated, since the pressure there is much higher.
Coolant
This parameter in panel radiators made of steel is perhaps the weakest link. Despite the fact that manufacturers try to cover the internal surfaces with various anti-corrosion compounds, the liquid circulating in the centralized heating system and saturated with various additives will have a negative effect at any time. Contributes to surface damage and summer descent of fluid from pipelines. At this moment, the inner part of the heater becomes accessible to air - just at this time the “holiday” for corrosion comes.
In this regard, panel heating radiators (the price depends on their manufacturer and technical characteristics and can vary from 3,500 to 50,000 rubles) are more suitable for private homes, where the coolant remains in the heating system in the summer. For steel panel radiators, the temperature limit is +120 ºC.
Instrument Dimensions
Various manufacturers produce these heating appliances in different sizes. At the same time, the maximum permissible length can reach three meters, the height of the largest can be no more than 90 cm, the smallest - 20 cm. Another thing when it comes to tubular radiators: they can be not only completely inconceivable in shape, but also in length. They can even be made semicircular.
Center distance
Given that panel radiators (Russia) can be connected to the heating system in various ways, their center distance is important only if the side method was chosen. The distance between the axes indicates the location of the upper collector relative to the lower. Different models of these devices can have different center distance values.
Connection
Connection to the heating network of panel radiators can be carried out from below, from the side or in a combined way. This does not have much attention to the effectiveness of devices. It is preferable to use the lower connection, since in this embodiment the pipelines are less noticeable, and this is an important factor for the interior of the room.
A universal or combined way of connecting various types of panel devices is that the design has two holes - on the side and bottom, which allows you to choose the most optimal option for installing the pipeline and its wiring.
Steel thickness
This parameter is the most important, since the heating efficiency depends on it, as well as how durable the panel radiators will be. The characteristics of these devices directly depend on the thickness of the metal used for their manufacture. As a rule, the thickness of the steel is in the range from 1.15 to 1.25 mm. Since the difference is insignificant, it is not possible for an ordinary consumer to determine by eye what thickness the steel is used in a particular model. But the larger this indicator, the more high-quality the device will be. The buyer is obliged to carefully study the technical passport of the product, where this parameter will be indicated.
Steel panel painting
Steel panel heating devices have a small anti-corrosion protection, therefore, in production, special attention is paid to painting steel. In most cases, the main reason for the failure of steel panel radiators is poor-quality painting of the product.
To purchase a high-quality heating device that can serve for several decades, special attention must be paid to the paint layer, which must necessarily consist of a primer, thermal curing, as well as the outer layer of paint.
With special attention it is necessary to examine the inside of the panel radiator, on which, as a rule, manufacturers save. If the layers do not differ in color and are uniform, it means that the coloring was carried out efficiently.
Now you know what panel radiators are, in what conditions they can be used, and also how to choose these heating devices correctly.