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Balancing valve for heating. What does a balancing valve do? Reasons for uneven heat distribution in rooms

Most modern users perceive the heating system as a set of pipes and radiators, supplemented by a heating boiler and. But such opinions are erroneous. It also contains a number of auxiliary components, without which the heating operation, to put it mildly, would not be of very high quality. One of these elements is a balancing tap or valve.

Purpose

A balancing valve in a heating system is used to ensure proper distribution of heat transfer. That is, there are times when in one room the batteries are hotter than required, and in another they are much colder than desired. That is, improper distribution of the coolant occurs. This means that adjustment is required to correct this situation.

Balancing valve is a type shut-off valves, through which the hydraulic resistance is regulated. This is achieved by changing the cross-sectional diameter of the pipe in a certain area.

IN Lately when designing heating (for both multi-apartment and private houses). However, what should owners of ready-made heating systems do?

There are several “symptoms” that indicate the need to install shut-off valves of this type:

• Absence comfortable temperature even at maximum load.
• Significant fluctuations in room temperature with a constantly equal load in the heating system.
• Difficulties in starting the system - inability to reach rated power.

All this indicates that it is necessary to install a balancing valve and carry out regulation. It will allow you to adjust the flow of coolant to one or another part of the system.

Benefits of use

Installing a balancing valve will help solve the above problems in heating operation.

In addition, the following advantages of using this equipment can be highlighted:

• Reduced costs - that is, owners of private houses note that after balancing the system, the amount of fuel consumed is reduced.
• Increasing indoor comfort – something you can achieve for everyone separate room whatever temperature level is most suitable.
• No difficulties during startup - the use of balancing fittings will simplify the startup of the system as much as possible.

The element is installed using special fittings and adapters. In this case, you should be careful: some taps can be installed on pipes with a certain direction of coolant movement.

Such taps have a special arrow that shows in which direction the water should move in the pipe. If you install a valve without following this instruction, an attempt to regulate the system with its help may lead to breakdown of the element itself and failure of the entire operation. heating system.

If it is difficult for you to install a balancing valve yourself, then You can order this service from professional installers. Write in the form on the right on our website - and a consultant will advise you on prices for services and answer additional questions.

Regulation

After installing the valve, using special equipment, measurements are taken to determine to what level adjustment is required. Some experts call this method quite labor intensive.

Important: before carrying out the balancing procedure, you should start the heating system, connect the necessary measuring equipment– this will make it possible to determine the quality of work.

More accurate balancing results can be obtained by dividing the heating system into separate segments and adding balancing fittings to each of them. In this case, the balancing procedure itself will take considerable time - it will be necessary to adjust each individual valve. But the results will be much better.

The heating system requires periodic adjustment. The coolant must be evenly distributed over it, which means that special equipment is required that will help make adjustments correctly. This device is often a balancing valve.

By hydraulic balancing, the coolant is distributed throughout all areas of the heating circuit without exception.

Simple system options involve adjusting the coolant flow by selecting optimal diameter pipes around the perimeter.

Special washers are also used, the passage in which is designed for uninterrupted flow of water and uniform heating of the elements.

Each of these options has been used in heating schemes old style. New method– installation of a balancing valve, which is a regular valve that regulates the amount of coolant supplied.

Design Feature

A high-quality part includes reliable components:

• Robust brass body with threaded connections for pipe connections. Inside the product there is a saddle in the form of a special vertical channel.
• Adjustment spindle. The working part is represented by a cone, which is screwed into the saddle. As a result of spindle activation, the coolant flow is blocked.
• Rubber O-rings.
• The cap is usually made of plastic. There are also metal options.

A distinctive feature of the device is the presence of two special fittings.

They are responsible for the following functions:

1. Determine the pressure inside the system both before and after the valve.
2. Connect a capillary type tube.

Each of the fittings measures the pressure, and if a difference in values ​​is detected on the control mechanism, the water flow is calculated.

Operating principle

Balancing valves are designed to help achieve maximum performance from all heating elements system, and also adjust it at any time.

Good day to everyone who reads this post! In it I will tell you about balancing valves for heating systems. Let's start by figuring out why a balancing valve is needed in a heating system.

Why is a balancing valve needed?

In modern large heating systems, uneven heating is often observed different rooms. This is due to different consumption coolant through the branches of the heating system. Coolant (as electricity) tries to flow along the path of least resistance, therefore, at a great distance from the heat source (thermal unit or boiler), the flow rate should be less than near it. In order to equalize the coolant flow through different branches, balancing valves are used.

As can be seen from the top figure, the flow rate in heating circuits of different lengths will be different and the temperature in the rooms will also be strikingly different. Now let's talk about the types of balancing valves.

Types of balancing valves.

Balancing valves come in two main types:

Danfoss has done very interesting video about the operation of manual balancing valves. I advise you to watch this video from beginning to end. It shows unexpected patterns of operation of this type of valve:

From the figure it is clear that internal organization An automatic balancing valve resembles a piston pressure reducer, but the functions of these devices are completely different. I bring to your attention two videos on this topic:

To simplify the setup of heating systems, special measuring instruments, which simplify and speed up system balancing. Look at the picture below:

Installation of balancing valves.

The installation of a balancing valve is carried out in the same way as the installation of ball valves. The position of the valve in space does not affect its operation, but you need to pay attention to the arrow, which indicates the recommended direction of flow. If it is mixed up, the valve will create greater resistance to the flow of coolant. Valves can be installed on both supply and return pipelines.

Operating temperature and pressure may vary depending on the specific model, so it is best to select the equipment you need using manufacturer catalogs. You can find them on the official websites of manufacturers.

Summary.

Installation of balancing valves is necessary in large heating systems. They allow optimal distribution of coolant throughout all circuits. For the operation of such equipment, it is important correct installation and subsequent setup. It is necessary to consider the installation of valves at the design stage of the system. That's all, I'm waiting for your questions in the comments!

Large multi-circuit heating systems quite often face the problem of uneven heating of different rooms. The coolant flows along the path of least resistance, which is why the farther from the heat source, the less thermal energy consumption than next to it. A manual or automatic balancing valve for a heating system (otherwise known as a valve) is used to equalize the coolant flow in different branches.

The design of the radiator element, which serves for manual balancing of heating branches, consists of the following parts:

1. A body with threaded pipes used to connect pipes, made of brass. Using casting, a so-called saddle is made inside, which is a round vertical channel that expands slightly upward.
2. A shut-off and regulating spindle, the working part of which has the shape of a cone, which enters the saddle during twisting, thereby limiting the flow of water.
3. O-rings made of EPDM rubber.
4. Protective cap made of plastic or metal.

Everyone has famous manufacturers Products come in two types - angular and straight. Only the shape has changed, but the operating principle is the same.

How a valve works in a heating system: as the spindle rotates, the flow area decreases or increases, thereby making adjustments. Number of revolutions, from closed to open, to limit level varies from three to five revolutions, depending on who is the manufacturer of the product. To turn the rod, use a regular or special hexagon-shaped key.

Compared to radiator valves, main valves have a different size, an inclined spindle position, and excellent fittings, which are necessary for:

• to drain the coolant if necessary
• connecting metering and control devices;
• connecting the capillary tube coming from the pressure regulator.

It is also necessary to mention that not every system needs balancing as such. For example, 2-3 short dead-end branches, equipped with 2 radiators on each, can immediately enter normal operating mode, provided that the diameter of the pipes is selected accurately and the distances between the devices are not very large. Now let's look at 2 situations:

1. There are 2-4 heating branches of unequal length leading from the boiler, the number of radiators on each is from 4 to 10.
2. The same thing, only the radiators are equipped with thermostatic valves.

Since the bulk of the coolant always flows along the path with the least hydraulic resistance, in the first case most The first radiators that are closest to the boiler will receive heat. If the flow of coolant to these batteries is not limited, then those located at the very end of the batteries will receive the least amount of thermal energy, and thus the difference between temperature conditions will be 10 ° C or more.

To ensure that the farthest batteries are provided required quantity coolant, balancing valves are installed on the connections to the nearest radiators from the boiler. By partially blocking the internal cross-section of the pipes, they limit the flow of water, thereby increasing the hydraulic resistance of this section. In a similar way, the supply is regulated in systems where there are 5 or more dead-end branches.

In the second case, the situation is somewhat more complicated. Installation of radiator thermostats makes it possible to change the water flow automatically if necessary. On long branches with big amount heating devices that are equipped with thermostats, balancing valves are combined with automatic differential pressure regulators.

The latter, using a capillary tube, are connected to a balance valve, react to a decrease or increase in coolant flow in the system and maintain the return pressure at the required level. Thus, the coolant is evenly distributed between consumers, despite the fact that the thermostats are activated.

What types of balancing valves are there?

Standard Ball Valves for heating radiators cannot cope with regulating the distribution of thermal energy in pipes and radiators. But nevertheless, in order to distribute heat evenly in the rooms, such adjustment is simply necessary.

There are two types of balancing valves - manual and automatic. Manual ones are necessary in order to configure the network during its installation, and automatic ones change the parameters of the heating network at the time of heating.

When selecting a valve, you need to take into account many characteristics, which include:

• type and characteristics of the coolant;
• installation location in the system;
• adjustment characteristics;
• adjustment parameters;
• classification of buildings;

The types of heating systems directly depend on the coolant they use. It can be antifreeze, steam, water. They directly affect the performance of the system.

Quite a lot important characteristic is the purpose of the system. The parameters of hot and cold water supply and heating systems differ quite greatly. For example, in DHW system Only thermostatic balancing valves are used.

The type of building where the balancing valve will be installed is of great importance. The location of the valve also plays a significant role important role, since the return and supply pipelines differ quite significantly from each other in characteristics. And because of this, the balancing devices that will be mounted on them will have significant differences.

Where and when is the main valve installed?

Most private homes use manual radiator valves. They are quite enough for normal adjustment of water heating in cottages whose area does not exceed more than 500 m². Installation Installation of main-type balancing valves in the heating system is done in the following cases:

• in buildings where an extensive heating network with a large number of risers is installed;
• V apartment buildings, which are heated by their own boiler room;
• when connecting a solid fuel boiler with a heat accumulator.

Once you have an idea of ​​the purposes of balancing valves, you need to understand the specific locations of their installation. Radiator valves must be installed at the outlet of the heater, that is, on the return line, and main valves must be installed on the pipeline that brings cooled water from consumers to the boiler room. In the case when the element is paired with an automatic pressure regulator, it can be installed both in the return and supply pipelines, depending on how the circuit itself is designed.

Note: aluminum and steel radiators with bottom connection are already equipped with a balancing tap, which is built into the special fittings that are necessary to connect the connections to such devices.

We list the points in which it is not necessary to install control valves:

• in short-term dead-end systems, which have identical hydraulic “shoulders”;
• in the case when the batteries are equipped with thermostatic valves with presetting;
• in collector-type heating systems.
• on the last (dead-end) heating radiator;

Temperature regulators with presetting, which are installed on the water supply to the battery, also act as a balance valve, therefore it is necessary to install a shut-off ball valve at the outlet of the heating device. Such fittings are installed on the connections to the last radiator in the chain, since there is no particular point in adjusting it, and it must be completely open.

How to balance a heating system?

As a rule, heating system installers determine the coolant flow in the batteries quite simple method: the number of revolutions of the balancing valve is divided by the number heating devices and thus the adjustment step is calculated. Moving from the last radiator to the first, the taps are tightened with the resulting speed difference.

For example, one arm of the dead-end system is equipped with 5 radiators with manual valves for 4.5 spindle turns. 4.5 must be divided by 5, as a result we get approximately 0.9 revolutions. And thus the penultimate device must be opened by 3.6 turns, the third by 2., the second by 1.8 and finally the very first by 0.9 turns.

The method is very approximate and takes into account different radiator powers, and is therefore used exclusively as a preliminary setting with adjustments during operation.

During installation, the following manipulations must be performed:

• check the system installation;
• in the place where the valve is to be installed, it is necessary to cut a thread;
• prepare the valve for installation;
• install the valve in its place in the system;
• A filter must be installed in front of the valve.

After the balancing valve is installed in the heating system, you need to begin the process of setting it up. This operation can only be performed by specialists, as it requires additional knowledge and equipment.

Step-by-step instructions for balancing can be presented as follows:

1. All balancing valves must be opened to the limit and the system brought into operating mode, whose supply temperature will be 80°C.
2. Using a contact thermometer, it is necessary to measure the temperature of all heating devices.
3. In order to eliminate the resulting difference, it is necessary to close the taps of the first and middle batteries; there is no need to touch the end batteries. The near heating radiator must be opened by 1-1.5 turns, and the middle ones by 2-2.5.
4. The system will take about 20 minutes to adapt to the new settings, after which it will be necessary to take measurements again. The main task is to achieve a minimum temperature difference between the nearest and farthest radiators.

Note. Weather and street temperature do not matter; the only important characteristic is the difference in heating of the batteries.

Installation of balancing valves is necessary for large heating systems. They help to optimally distribute the coolant throughout all circuits. For such equipment correct work achieved correct installation and setting. The installation of valves should only be considered when designing the system.

To the owner of the house who is engaged in self-installation equipment for the heating system, you will certainly have to deal with balancing. It is quite easy to implement if all devices except the last one have balance valves.

The best choice would be models that can be easily adjusted with a screwdriver or wrench, rather than using a plastic handle that children can reach. Perhaps in winter period you will have to adjust the position of the spindles, since heat loss in the rooms varies.

Advice: there is no need to make sudden movements, and open taps in cold rooms slowly by ¼ turn.

The larger the heating system, the more difficult it is to ensure uniform distribution of heat to all rooms without exception, no matter what distance from its source they are located. To temperature regime was uniform, into the heating network at different areas mechanisms are built in to regulate heat flow. The most common and effective of them is the balancing valve in the heating system.

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general characteristics

There are several types of methods by which heat flow is regulated. The first of them uses pipes different diameters regulating the volume of coolant passing through the radiators. Another one is based on the use of special washers that correct the passage of the required amount of heated water in this area.

A detailed description of these methods is not of interest, since they are already outdated and not used. A modern mechanism for regulating the supply of coolant is the heating installation balancing valve consisting of:

• durable brass body, equipped with pipe connections, with a saddle located inside in the form of a special vertical channel;
• a cone-shaped spindle screwed into the seat body to regulate the coolant flow;
• rubber sealing rings;
• plastic (less commonly, metal cap).

The main part of the device is two special fittings responsible for:

• determination of intrasystem pressure on both sides of the valve;
• connection of a capillary type tube.

Each of the fittings has a pressure meter, and if there is a difference in values, you need to calculate the rational amount of water flow.

Balancing valve VT.054



Operating principle

The principle of operation of a balancing valve in a heating system is to adjust the cross-section of the passage opening for the coolant inside the pipeline. Using the working elements of the valve, you can adjust the heating system at any time without stopping its operation and achieve comfortable thermal regime in heated rooms at minimum consumption energy.




Rotation of the adjusting handle causes the spindle to move down or up, respectively opening or closing the passage hole in the pipe or reducing its cross-section. Reducing the cross-section of the throughput hole creates an obstacle to the movement of water, artificially increasing the flow speed. As a result, water comes to remote circuits faster and with less losses heat. This ensures uniform heating of all rooms.

With constant changes in operating pressure, it is important to ensure reliable tightness of the connections inside the valve. For the production of spindle o-rings, use:

• fluoroplastic;
• dense rubber;
• metal.

Manual balancing Danfoss valves. Hydraulic balancing engineering systems



Types of valves

There are two types of valves: manual and automatic. Each of them has its own advantages. Manual balancing valve is more suitable for heating pipelines small sizes with stable pressure, usually installed in individual residential buildings and apartments. Here balancing valves are installed on each radiator.

Except customization each battery, if necessary, this configuration provides repair of individual system elements without turning it off completely. Another advantage of a manual valve compared to an automatic one is its lower cost.



Automatic crane

Automatic devices for adjusting the flow of coolant are much more expensive than manual valves. They are installed on the risers of heating systems of apartment buildings, administrative buildings or production premises.

The operating principle of an automatic valve is not the same as that of a mechanical faucet. At manual adjustment the amount of coolant passing through the pipe per unit time depends on the flow area, which is set using the valve.

And in automatic system the valve is constantly set to maximum water flow; the pressure and amount of coolant supplied to the pipeline is regulated using thermostats and capillary tubes installed on the radiators.

Balancing valve with internal thread STAD

Installation of balancing valve

Each balancing valve has an arrow on the body that indicates in which direction the liquid inside the body should move in order to minimize turbulence that affects the correct settings. The arrow serves as a guide when installing the mechanism on the pipeline.

The device is installed on straight sections of pipes so that the length of the flat part of the pipe in front of the valve is at least five times its diameter and at least two at the outlet. It needs to be mounted in the return branch of the system; for this you only need a plumbing adjustable wrench.

During installation work several rules must be followed consistently. First, a mandatory check is carried out, followed by flushing and cleaning the pipeline from the possible presence of metal shavings or other foreign objects in it.

If the device has a removable head, it must be removed before installation, following the instructions. This makes installation of the valve easier. Then one end of the tap is screwed onto the pipe. The other end is connected to the radiator through a coupling. To seal the threads, it is necessary to use threads made of flax fiber impregnated with a special lubricant.

Manual balancing valves - master class

Setting methods

After installing the balancing valve in the heating system, it must be set to energy-saving mode. To do this, each valve is supplied with instructions for calculating the optimal number of handle revolutions. The valve can be adjusted in two ways.




Professionals use a simple and time-tested method. By dividing the number of valve revolutions by the number of radiators, they determine the adjustment step of each tap. So, if the spindle speed is 4.5, and the number of radiators is 10, then the step is determined to be 0.45 revolutions. The system will be optimally adjusted if each valve, starting from the last radiator, is open by plus 0.45 turns.

For the faster and more accurate second method, it is necessary to use a contact-type thermometer. To adjust, you will need to heat the system to 80 degrees with all valves open and measure the temperature of each radiator separately. Temperature discrepancies are eliminated if you tighten the first and middle taps. Typically, 1.5 turns is enough for the first valve, and 2.5 turns for the middle ones. After letting the system adapt, take control measurements after half an hour.

The use of both methods eliminates temperature differentiation when heating radiators and promotes uniform heating of all rooms with minimal thermal energy consumption.

Installation of balancing valves in the heating system ensures uniform heating of all rooms without exception and economical consumption of energy resources. This is especially necessary for large heating systems. This device best helps distribute the coolant along its contours. But the installation technology should be considered even when designing the heating system, since the quality of the valve’s operation depends on its correct installation and configuration.