The interweaving of pipes, valves, sensors, cones and pressure gauges - this is what the owner of a country house sees when he first opens the box of a warm floor. The system seems complex and confusing, but it is necessary to understand how it works and how to regulate it.
After reading the article, you will understand the purpose of the main components of the underfloor heating system and will be able to optimize its operation by redirecting heat from room to room.
First, let's look at the main nodes of the warm floor. Two large pipes that connect warm floor and the boiler are used to circulate the coolant. Through one pipe, the heated coolant is supplied to the warm floor. On the other hand, the cooled coolant is returned to the boiler for heating. The temperature difference in these two pipes shows how much heat was spent on heating the house. The optimal difference is from five to ten degrees.
In the collector we see circulation pump, which helps the boiler pump to push the coolant through the long pipelines of underfloor heating pipes. The second function of the pump is to mix the cold return water into the direct supply. This is necessary for the operation of the underfloor heating in parallel with batteries, which require a higher coolant temperature for efficient operation. Please note that the temperature of the direct supply entering directly into the floor pipes is always several degrees lower than its temperature at the outlet of the boiler.
Next, we see a three-way valve, which allows you to redirect part of the coolant flow back to the mixing pump and further reduce the supply temperature directly to floor pipes .
Behind the flow and return thermometers is the main part of the floor collector - a “comb” with pipe contours connected to special connectors. The connectors of each circuit are located opposite each other. One is connected to the direct line, the second - to the return line. Each circuit is essentially a separate battery, immured under a heating surface, and you must clearly understand in which part of the house it is located.
Next to the direct feed connector is a flow meter cone. Next to the return feed connector is a valve that shuts off the circuit. The principle of operation of the flowmeter is simple. Its float sinks the deeper, the greater the coolant flow through the circuit. There are systems where flowmeters are on the return flow. In this case, the float, on the contrary, emerges with an increase in the coolant flow.
flowmeters not only indicate the flow rate of the coolant in the floor pipes, but also act as flow adjustment knobs. They often have protective red washers that need to be lifted up to release the rotation knobs.
By twisting the flow meter, you reduce the flow of coolant along the circuit and thereby reduce the amount of heat that enters one or another part of the house.
The optimal coolant flow in the circuit is 2 liters per minute. During the initial balancing of the loops, it is necessary to achieve equal flow in each circuit by slightly rotating the flowmeter knobs. If the flow is equal, but below 2 liters per minute, then the power of the circulation pump is not enough. We need to replace it with a more efficient one. But first, check if the regulator of its speed is at full power.
After each adjustment, allow the system to come into dynamic equilibrium for 10 minutes and adjust the flow rate.
After the initial balancing of the circuits, it is necessary to let the warm floor work for a couple of days and measure the temperature in each of the rooms of the house. With the help of flow meters, we reduce the coolant flow by 25% in those areas of the house that are too hot. Now some circuits show a flow of 1.5 liters per minute, and the rest are slightly more than 2 liters per minute. Heat is automatically redistributed to colder rooms. We wait a couple more days, check the temperature and again adjust the coolant flow. We repeat until the balance of temperature in the premises of the house becomes optimal. We return the safety washers of the flow meters to their place, since we will continue to control the temperature in the house using the temperature of the coolant on the boiler or using a three-way valve.
Underfloor heating is a great option for space heating. Especially if the flooring itself is cold. Water heating, equipped in this way, has long ceased to be exotic and is gaining popularity literally exponentially. The effectiveness of this system is not in doubt, but before starting operation, it is necessary to adjust the underfloor heating and set it up. It will be discussed in this article.
Temperature setting
There are several ways to set up a thermal system with water heating. There are 2 directions of temperature control:
- Installation and control of floor temperature.
- Air temperature in the room.
You can debug the temperature on the surface in the following directions:
- Heat sources.
- Group and individual mixing units.
- Maintenance of the set temperature.
- Use of special sensors and equipment.
Important! An individual mixing unit is connected to a certain collector, so the temperature change occurs only in a specific area. Control over indicators on group mixing units makes it possible to set a different temperature regime in several areas.
Depending on the method of implementation, the following types of debugging are divided:
- Manual.
- Group or individual.
- Complex.
All types of adjustment, with the exception of manual, involve the use of automation and special devices. Adjusting the underfloor heating with flow meters is also an important point if you think not only about the microclimate in the room, but also about saving money. Collectors and flow meters make it possible to control the consumption of water, and, if necessary, shut off its supply.
Important! Please note that comfortable air temperature in living rooms is only one component of a favorable microclimate. The second is the level of humidity, which is usually greatly reduced when the heating is turned on and entails negative consequences not only for people's health, but also for interior items. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to use a special device that will maintain optimal humidity and purify the air. The information in the following articles will help you choose it:
Manual setting
When combining a water-insulated floor with a laminate or parquet flooring, thermal heads are used. Thermal heads are debugged manually by changing the degree of valve opening. No special equipment is needed for this. Install thermal heads on both collectors - supply and return.
The underfloor heating collector is adjusted as follows. It is possible to adjust the microclimate if each loop is filled with water:
- First fill the main heating system with water. Heating loops are left closed for now.
- After filling the main thermal system, the loops of the warm floor are filled in turn, not forgetting to ensure that the air is removed through a special air vent.
Important! If the system is airborne, it will function much worse.
- First, water circulation is started on one loop. The inlet and outlet water must be hot.
- After everything is done and working correctly, you can move on to the next loop.
- After all the loops are filled, open all the control valves.
Important! Of course, manually adjusting the thermal system is only possible approximately. And one more feature of the system is its inertia. The result of the setting becomes noticeable not immediately, but after a couple of hours.
Standards for setting the temperature regime:
- At the entrance 40-55 degrees.
- Floor surface - from 25 to 30 degrees.
Group adjustment of the temperature of the warm floor
It is used if you need to keep several areas insulated. This setting involves the use of automation. This is much more convenient than manual configuration. In addition, the result is much more accurate.
Debugging is performed on the heating source using the principles of “constant” or “climate”:
- Regulation of "constants" involves the use of thermal heads. Installation is made on a two- or three-way valve. Equipped with a special sensor, the thermal system maintains the specified microclimate mode. When the temperature changes, oscillatory processes occur. By means of a capillary tube, the valves close and open until the set temperature is reached.
- Debugging based on the "climate" principle is carried out automatically. "Smart" equipment makes the necessary calculations, depending on the external air temperature. According to the situation, the controller opens or closes the valves, setting the optimal temperature for the system according to a special program.
Important! As a rule, electric floor heating systems are used in apartments, in private houses - either electric or water. In any case, in order to enjoy all the benefits of everyday life and not pay fabulous sums for it every month, you need to carefully understand the types of energy monitoring and metering devices and install them. You will not have any problems with this if you read the following articles:
Individual regulation
This is the establishment of a certain regime for one section. Most often it is a room. Temperature regulation by sections is carried out by installing individual sensors for each room. Unlike a group setting, here each room has its own heat level.
A water heated floor, as a rule, consists of several contours of plastic pipes. Hot water, moving through them, gives off its heat and returns through the return supply part of the system. The collector (comb system) of a warm water floor is designed to collect cooled water, mix and supply heated water. In other words, it is a node that controls the operation of the underfloor heating system.
To regulate the temperature, flow meters are provided in the collector. These devices control the flow of the coolant, in this case water.
Theoretically, it is quite possible to do without mounting a flow meter in the manifold. However, if you do not install this device, then:
- In different rooms, the temperature will be different;
- Overexpenditure of electricity for heating water in the system is possible;
- Different circuits will warm up unevenly.
A simple example can be given: a bathroom and a bedroom. A gas or electric boiler heats water equally for both the bath and the bedroom. But the bathroom is at least 3 times smaller than the bedroom. Accordingly, it will be hot in the bathroom and cool in the bedroom with the same water supply to the underfloor heating system. This situation is due to the fact that the total length of plastic pipes in the area is much larger in the bedroom. It is in order to regulate a comfortable temperature regime in the entire apartment that it is desirable to install such a device.
Advice! When installing a water-heated floor, you should strive to make pipe contours of approximately the same length. This will save energy costs and allow for more accurate temperature control.
Principle of operation
The device is installed on the outlets of the return manifold. When the set temperature is reached in the manifold valve system, the energy supply gap is narrowed or completely blocked. This principle of operation is possible with full automation of the system. To do this, the collector is equipped with a temperature sensor.
The flow meter itself consists of several parts:
- Frame;
- Transparent flask with a scale;
- Float.
The flask is usually made of durable glass, the body can be plastic or brass. The float is located inside the flask, it serves as an indicator of the speed of the coolant. The flow meter is also called a float rotameter.
In the automatic collector of a water-heated floor, the balancing of the coolant flow is carried out using a temperature sensor. If the latter is not provided, then the rotameter can be adjusted manually.
Step by step instructions for installation and adjustment
H2_2The rotameter is installed strictly vertically. In order for the liquid level in the flask to be accurate, the collector itself is also mounted according to the level. If the manifold pipe is installed crooked, the temperature control will not be correct.
Since finishing work often occurs after the installation of the collector, it is necessary to protect the assembly and its components from possible damage. The best option is to make a niche in the wall for it or a special cabinet.
Installation and adjustment:
- Using a wrench, screw the flowmeter into the process inlet of the return line of the collector;
- By turning the membrane (flask) counterclockwise, open the pressure meter;
- Remove protective factory ring;
- Turn the brass body ring clockwise to the desired pressure. This is balancing the flow rate of the energy carrier. The float on the scale will indicate the set value;
- Close the brass ring with an overlay. This must be done in order to avoid damage to the device, especially if the water floor heating unit is not closed in a niche or cabinet;
- Check system operation.
During operation of the assembly, the flask remains open so that the level of the water float can be seen. If balancing is needed during operation, the membrane simply rotates in the right direction.
Choosing a flow meter for a water heated floor
High-quality rotameters should be accompanied by a guarantee for 5-7 years of stable operation. It is recommended to choose flowmeters with a brass body. You should also pay attention to the flask, it should be made of transparent glass with good visibility of the water level scale. However, there is an opinion that it is better to choose products with a membrane made of impact-resistant plastic.
When choosing a device, the area of \u200b\u200bthe piping system must be taken into account. It is also important whether the node is automated or not. In the first case, balancing will be extremely rare, mechanized collectors require more attention.
Ecology of consumption. Manor: In order for water floor heating to work as expected, it requires not only strict adherence to the rules of the installation process and the use of appropriate materials. Today we will talk about setting up the operation of heating loops and the principles of debugging the operating modes of a warm floor.
Typical connection diagrams
Water heated floor is rarely used as the only source of heating. Heating only due to floor heating is permissible only in regions with a mild climate, or in rooms with a large area, where heat removal is not limited to furniture, interior items or low thermal conductivity of the floor covering.
Almost always it is necessary to combine radiator circuits, hot water preparation devices and underfloor heating loops in one heating system.
A typical scheme of a combined heating system with the connection of radiators and underfloor heating circuits. This is the most technologically advanced and easily customizable option, but it requires a significant initial investment. 1 - heating boiler; 2 - safety group, circulation pump, expansion tank; 3 - manifold for separate two-pipe connection of radiators according to the "star" scheme; 4 - heating radiators; 5 - underfloor heating manifold, includes: bypass, three-way valve, thermostatic head, circulation pump, combs for connecting underfloor heating circuits with gearboxes and flow meters; 6 - contours of the warm floor
There are a fairly large number of variations in the execution of the boiler room piping, and in each case, their own principles of operation of the hydraulic system apply. However, if you do not take into account extremely specific options, then there are only five ways to coordinate the operation of heating devices of various types:
- Parallel binding of the underfloor heating collector to the mains of the heating unit. The tie-in point in the main line must be made up to the point of connection of the radiator network, the coolant supply is provided by an additional circulation pump.
- Association by type of primary and secondary rings. The main, wrapped in a ring, has several supply tie-ins in the supply part, the coolant flow in the connected circuits decreases as it moves away from the heating source. Flow balancing is performed by selection of the pump flow and flow limitation by regulators.
- Connection to the extreme point of the coplanar collector. The movement of the heat carrier in the underfloor heating loops is provided by a common pump located in the generator part, while the system is balanced according to the priority flow principle.
- Connection via a hydraulic separator is optimally suited for a large number of heating devices, a significant difference in flow rates in the circuits and a significant length of the underfloor heating loops. This option also uses a coplanar manifold, while a hydraulic arrow is needed to eliminate the pressure drop that interferes with the correct operation of the circulation pumps.
- Local parallel connection of the loop through the unibox. This option is well suited for connecting a short floor heating loop, for example, if necessary, heat the floor only in the bathroom.
The simplest option is to turn on the underfloor heating circuit to a radiator heating system with a coolant temperature of 70-80 ° C. 1 - line with supply and return of the high-temperature circuit; 2 - contour of the warm floor; 3 - unibox.
It must be remembered that the nature of the work of a warm floor can also vary depending on the layout of the coil. The “snail” scheme is considered optimal, in which the pipes are laid in pairs, which means that the entire area is heated almost evenly. If the warm floor is arranged in a “snake” or “maze”, then the formation of colder and warmer zones is practically guaranteed. This disadvantage can be eliminated, including due to the correct settings.
Temperature regime
Before proceeding with the adjustment of a warm floor, it is extremely important to establish a clear idea of \u200b\u200bthe purpose for which it is being performed. According to the principle of operation, a water-heated floor is fundamentally different from other heating devices. The main difference is the operating temperature of the coolant.
If the supply to the radiator network is carried out at temperatures up to 80 ° C, then the heating of the coolant entering the floor heating coil is limited to 40-42 ° C. This is necessary for reasons of comfort and safety. In normal mode, the temperature on the floor surface fluctuates in the range of 22-26 ° C, stronger heating causes discomfort.
There are two ways to control the heating temperature of a liquid underfloor heating. The first of them involves temperature control on the supply branch of the collector by mixing a portion of the cooled coolant from the return. Technically, this solution is implemented by installing a three-way valve with a thermostatic head RTL push-action. The difference between such a head and a radiator head is that it relies in operation on the temperature of the coolant, and not the air. With this method of regulation, the flow in the loops remains constant, only the temperature of the coolant changes with a small amplitude.
The second adjustment method involves limiting the flow of hot coolant in the circuit. In this case, a thermostatic head is also installed, but it is located on a two-way valve that interrupts the return flow circuit. With this method of regulation, the supply and return are connected by a bypass circuit, the flow through which is regulated by a restrictive valve with a pre-calibrated capacity.
The principle of such regulation is based on the high inertia of the underfloor heating system. During operation, the coolant is supplied to the loops at the nominal temperature of the heating unit, only the total flow changes periodically. Thus, the heating of the screed occurs cyclically, that is, a significant heat capacity of the storage layer is required to smooth out temperature drops.
In both cases, one important rule applies: thermostatic fittings must necessarily rely on the return temperature of the loop or collector. The device can have a mechanical or electronic principle of operation, it can even be a conventional thermometer. The need for a correct location is due to the fact that it is almost impossible to judge the effectiveness of the adjustment by the value of the coolant temperature at the supply, because the length of the loops can vary significantly.
Rules for refueling the system
It is impossible to set the operation of a warm floor if the coolant flow in the loops changes spontaneously. This phenomenon is typical in the presence of air congestion, so the heating system must not only be properly organized technically, but also properly charged.
To fully fill the system, automatic air vents must be installed on both branches of the underfloor heating collector. If the loops are located at a level above the collector, the supply connection to the latter must be made through a deaerator. Refueling of the underfloor heating system is carried out separately from other heating circuits, that is, the piping of the generator part and the radiator network must be filled in advance, and the shut-off valves at the collector inlets must be closed.
To fill the coolant into the system, a hose from the water supply system or pump is connected to the drainage outlet of the supply branch of the collector. Accordingly, a hose for bleeding air must be connected to a similar outlet of the return branch, the reverse end of which is either led out into the street or lowered into a container with a volume of 30-40 liters.
The collector and its piping are filled first in the underfloor heating system. In this case, the flow meters on the supply branch must be fully open, and the regulators on the return branch must be closed. Next, you need to sequentially fill each loop with coolant until a clean coolant without air bubbles flows from the bleed hose. Filling the warm floor is carried out at a minimum flow for uniform extrusion of air from the system. When all the underfloor heating loops are filled, you can put the heating system into operation and balance it.
Working with manifold meters
Hydraulic balancing of underfloor heating loops consists in rationing the flow in each coil. Depending on the length, a different amount of incoming coolant may be required in order for it to cool exactly to the calculated value when passing through the loop. The quantitatively required flow is determined as the ratio of the thermal load on the loop to the product of the heat capacity of water or other coolant and the temperature difference in the supply and return: G \u003d Q / s * (t 1 - t 2).
Often you can find recommendations to determine the flow rate of the coolant according to the performance of the circulation pump, that is, to divide its supply in proportion to the ratio of the lengths of the loops. Such advice should be avoided: in addition to the fact that it is quite difficult to calculate the length of each coil, one of the most important rules is violated - to choose equipment parameters based on the needs of the system, and not vice versa. Attempts to distribute the flow in the described way almost always lead to the fact that the flow in the loops differs significantly from the calculated values, which makes further adjustment of the system impossible.
The very same adjustment of the flow with flow meters is quite simple. In some models, the throughput is changed by turning the body, in others - by rotating the stem with a special key. The scale on the body of the flow meter indicates the flow rate in liters per minute, you just need to set the appropriate position of the float.
Almost always, when the throughput of one flow meter changes, the flow in the remaining loops changes, so the adjustment is carried out several times, successively calibrating each outlet. If such changes are especially pronounced, this indicates a lack of capacity of the control valves through which the collector is connected, or a too low performance of the circulation pump.
Automatic and manual temperature equalization
When adjusting the underfloor heating by mixing and limiting, the methods for setting the required coolant temperature are somewhat different. It also matters whether the proportional adjustment is performed on the fly, or whether the adjustment is carried out manually. The latter is permissible only for the mixing control method and only on condition that the coolant flow in the remaining circuits of the system changes insignificantly.
Manual setting of a three-way valve requires temperature control on the return branch, for which a thermometer sleeve or an attached temperature probe can be used.
Temperature measurements should not be carried out immediately, but based on the length of the loop and the flow rate of the coolant in it. It is necessary to measure the temperature after a time sufficient for 2 or 3-fold renewal of the coolant in the underfloor heating system.
The task of adjustment is to ensure a constant temperature difference of the coolant between the supply and return. In this case, the temperature difference is determined by the design of the warm floor and is calculated by the thickness, screed material, as well as the direction and step of laying the pipes of the coil.
Automatic proportional control is uncommonly easier. The main control element is a RTL thermostatic head or a unibox valve.
The higher the mark on which the flywheel is set, the higher the temperature of the coolant will be, which is true for both mixing and limiting control. published If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to specialists and readers of our project.