The circulation of the coolant in the heating circuit can be carried out in a natural and forced way. Due to the wide range of pumps, a second system is most often installed. For heating to be effective, it is necessary to select the correct circulation pump and correctly install it in the heating circuit.
Features of forced circulation
Water or other heat carrier moves along the heating circuit due to circulation. It is of two types - natural and forced. In the first case, no additional equipment is required, the fluid itself moves through the system due to a properly designed circuit. In the second case, the coolant moves under the action of a circulation pump.
The natural circulation of water along the circuit has an important advantage - ease of installation and the minimum amount of equipment. But it is less effective, since many different nuances must be taken into account. If the slope angles and pipe diameters are incorrectly calculated, the system will not work.
Forced circulation is more reliable and quality. It has the following advantages:
- The diameter of the pipes is small compared to the natural circulation system. As a result, the cost will be lower. In addition, a pipeline with a small cross-section does not spoil the appearance of the room.
- Possibility of hidden connection of radiators.
- No complicated calculation of pipe slope angles is required.
- Versatility and efficiency.
The disadvantages include:
- The high cost of the pump. It also requires electricity for its operation, which will require financial costs.
- Risk of equipment breakdown.
- The system will not function if the power is cut off. It is necessary to provide for the possibility of autonomous power supply to the pump.
Despite its disadvantages, forced circulation is preferable for use in homes.
Installing a circulation pump in the heating system solves several problems:
- uniform heating of heating devices;
- expansion of the heating system circuit;
- elimination of the problem of air congestion.
It can be installed in a finished heating system by means of a tie-in.
Pump selection
The heating system is connected to water. The pump is usually powered by electricity, so contact with the liquid is unacceptable. For this reason, all pumps for the heating circuit are divided into dry and wet pumps.
Dry type
In the dry circuit, there is a division into two sealed sections. In the first pumping part, there is direct contact with water, and in the second, electrical power is supplied from the network. It is completely isolated from the ingress of liquid.
The advantages of dry appliances include:
- high power;
- high throughput;
- ensuring optimal pressure in the network.
Dry-type products are justified in large industrial buildings. It is better not to put them in apartments due to disadvantages:
- big sizes;
- complexity of installation;
- the presence of a shaft that wears out over time and requires repair;
- noisy work.
When buying a pump, it is important to choose in advance the location of its installation and calculate the volume of water that it will pump.The best place to install is a separate room for the heating system.
Wet type
This type of equipment is suitable for apartments, one- and two-story private houses. Wet pump device: a housing with a closed electrical part that is connected to the pumping chamber. It pumps the coolant. Tightness is achieved by using a gasket. The inlet and outlet have nozzles and flanges for connecting pipes.
The electrical part is also divided into two parts. In the center there is a glass, in which there are all electrical mechanisms except for the power harness of the starter. It is sealed outside the glass and does not come into contact with water. The glass contains a rotor, on the shaft of which the impeller is attached. To place the glass in the coolant, an air release valve is used.
The disadvantages of the system include a decrease in efficiency. Pros - low power consumption, easy installation and the ability to install on any section of the pipe. It is important that the glass is in a horizontal position, otherwise, when installed vertically, the mechanism will overheat and quickly fail.
It is important to ensure that no particles of plaque and dirt enter the equipment. For this, a cleaning filter is placed in front of the inlet.
Criterias of choice
Dry or wet type is preselected. The latter is placed in residential buildings. You also need to decide on the supply voltage, power and pump performance.
To heat the apartment, pumps with a frequency of 50 Hz and a voltage of 220 V are used. A special line for connection is not required, you can turn it on through a regular household outlet. The voltage must be 220V, which is supported by additionally installed stabilizers.
The power is selected in such a way that all performance characteristics are maintained. The higher it is, the more energy is needed to operate the pump. There are devices of class A, B and C. Class A is characterized by the minimum energy consumption, but their cost is high.
When choosing equipment, you should pay attention to its performance characteristics. They can be found on the pump box or in the pump documentation.
The performance criterion is determined individually for each type of work. An optimal balance must be observed in the volume of distilled water and the electricity spent on it.
An important criterion is the operating temperature range. In modern models, it varies from 2 ° C to 110 ° C.
Installing the pump
It is not difficult to install a pump for heating a private house with your own hands. First of all, you should choose the place where the device will be connected. The best option is installation on a polypropylene return pipe before entering the boiler in the direction of water flow. There must be an expansion water tank in front of the pump. If it is an open or membrane type, the pump can be installed in any section of the return.
New high temperature pumps can be installed on the supply pipe. They are able to withstand up to 110 ° C. In this case, all parameters of the system must be balanced. If this is not done, in extreme cold when operating at maximum power, the coolant can boil and damage the system. Therefore, the recommended location on the supply pipe is a section farther from the boiler, but before the first branching of the battery.
In large houses, two groups of supply pipes can be made. In this case, it is recommended to install a separate pump for each.
There are no general recommendations for choosing a location. Each case is considered individually before installing the pump and considering all the features of the heating system and room.
Step by step installation
For self-installation, you will need a set of adjustable wrenches, pliers, tow, sealant. You will also need taps, adapters and squeegees of a suitable diameter. Nuts are supplied with the pump. The work is connected with the welding of parts, so the master must be able to work with the equipment.
Algorithm of actions for the correct installation of the pump for heating:
- Assembly in a knot with cranes. Two will be installed at the edges of the pump, one on a straight pipe.
- Assembling the pumping loop. It is necessary to tighten the nuts, but do not tighten them. Tightening should be done at the end after checking the system.
- Trying on the bypass loop and marking the places where the knots are welded.
- Welding parts to each other.
- Assembly of the unit on the return.
- Tightening the pipe nuts.
Finally, connect the pump. The assembled system needs to be tested. The pump is serviced in operating mode. The filter is periodically cleaned and the pressure gauge readings are taken. In case of discrepancy with the average values, the device is removed and adjusted by the master.
Popular manufacturers
Some of the most popular pump manufacturers in the CIS countries are:
- Danish brand Grundfos and German Wilo. These devices belong to the high price category.
- The middle price segment is represented by worthy models from the Italian firms DAB, Aquario, as well as the Chinese Sprut.
- Cheap pumps are available from the companies Vortex, Caliber, Oasis, Neoclima.
It is quite difficult to find a quality product. This is due to the large number of fakes and cheap low-quality goods. They differ from high-quality models in a short service life, inadequacy of technical characteristics, noisy operation, and strong heating of the case. In order not to change a broken product during operation, it is recommended to immediately choose a high-quality pump from a trusted manufacturer.
very instructive and helpful.