Heating

Installation of bimetallic heating radiators is a good solution for urban centralized heating networks

In our latitudes, living quarters need heating. The heating system should function for almost half of the year. For this reason, the choice of heating devices should be taken responsibly.

Recently, in addition to cast-iron batteries, other designs have appeared on the market for heating radiators: steel, aluminum and bimetallic.

Quite often, when replacing radiators, the user opts for bimetallic batteries and for good reason. The purpose of a heating system of any type is to create and maintain a microclimate inside the room where people are.

It can be both living quarters and workers. Usually, a comfortable temperature is set within values of about 20 ° C.

It must be taken into account that heat exchange with the surrounding space of the heated room passes through the walls and floor, as well as through windows, therefore, in order to maintain a certain temperature, it is necessary to ensure the supply of such an amount of heat that is lost in the heat exchange process.

Requirements for heating appliances

Radiators are the best choice as heating devices in terms of practicality and efficiency. In addition to rational considerations related to the performance of the equipment, the appearance of these devices also plays an important role, since they inevitably become part of the interior of the room.

There are several requirements for these heating elements when choosing. The first factor that is important for good performance is mechanical strength. It is strength that allows the radiator to withstand the pressure that is maintained inside the heating system.

The operation of radiators in urban heating networks

For urban centralized networks, this pressure is quite significant (usually, at least 10 atmospheres). Therefore, radiators must withstand this pressure with a fairly large margin. Bimetallic devices are able to withstand pressure inside the system of 40 - 50 atmospheres.

From the point of view of consumer characteristics, bimetallic heaters quite successfully combine in their design the best aspects of both steel and aluminum plumbing systems.

Advantages of bimetallic radiators

Long term of effective operation (about 20 years);
High heat transfer (with a center distance of 500 mm - about 200 W);
Mechanical and hydrodynamic strength;
Ergonomic and aesthetic appearance;
The use of steel elements in allows to reduce the corrosion resistance of heating devices, as well as to increase the working pressure inside the system;

Important!
It is rare where you can find heating networks that use pressure up to 50 atmospheres, for which bimetallic radiators are designed.
However, always in plumbing systems, the danger of such a phenomenon as hydrodynamic shock remains.

The design of bimetallic radiators suggests the presence of channels with a small diameter (unlike cast iron batteries). This allows you to reduce the amount of coolant. What does it give in practice? The temperature of the radiator will change much faster depending on the change in the position of the thermostat;

The price of bimetallic batteries is higher than similar aluminum radiators, on average by 20%. However, the reliability and quality indicators are much higher.

Selecting the type of radiators

Before buying heating appliances, the question arises of choosing which batteries to buy:

cast iron;
steel;
aluminum;
bimetallic.

There is no single answer to this question. It does not exist in the sense that there is no universal solution for all cases. For example, in an apartment with central heating, installing aluminum radiators is not the best solution.

The reason is not only the high pressure that aluminum appliances can not withstand. Most of the central heating system is made of steel, which enters into certain chemical reactions when it comes into contact with water.

Aluminum itself is not a chemically inert material. Therefore, its use in heating systems made of steel elements only reduces the service life of both the system as a whole and specifically these radiators.

From this point of view, bimetallic heaters are devoid of such disadvantages. They show the best operating pressures during testing.

From the point of view of aesthetics and design, all modern devices can be quite harmoniously fit into the interior. They are available in various shapes and sizes, and can also have a surface of any color. It is difficult to distinguish a bimetallic battery from the outside from an aluminum battery. But the weight of the bimetallic one will be one and a half times heavier (with the same dimensions).

According to the technology used in the manufacture of batteries, bimetallic radiators are of two types:

based on a steel frame;
with reinforced channels.

Those that are made on the basis of a steel frame exclude the contact of water inside the system with aluminum. Such batteries are better protected. They are stronger and do not corrode.

Radiators, which are made by reinforcing aluminum channels with steel elements, will have good performance with reliable fixation of steel tabs. If not fastened correctly, they can block the collector from below. This is due to the difference in the thermal expansion of steel and aluminum.

When choosing the first option, you need to focus on the price and weight of the radiator.

Important! When bimetallic batteries are heated or cooled, a knock is always heard - this is a consequence of the different expansion of aluminum and steel elements with temperature changes. Therefore, do not be afraid of this phenomenon.

You can see other advantages of these systems in the video posted in the article.

Installation of bimetallic heating devices

Installation of bimetallic heating radiators must be carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the equipment manufacturer. Instructions are included with each product. You can, of course, install such a battery with your own hands.

However, it is better if these works are carried out by a certified specialist who has a license for this type of activity.

Before carrying out the installation of bimetallic heating radiators, flushing of communications should be carried out.
In this case, alkaline solutions should be avoided. To prevent leakage of water from the system, it is not recommended to clean the surfaces that are in contact with each other with abrasives;
An automatic or manual valve is installed on each radiator, through which air will be vented from the system.
Installation will be correct if a multi-start thread is used. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the force when connecting the threaded elements does not exceed the value of 12 kg (conditional force);

To prevent pollution of the working area of the valve, it is necessary to install special filters on the supply pipeline in the risers of the system;
If the valve is in working order and installed correctly, it will close as soon as air is bled from the system. In this case, the radiator must be completely filled with water from the inside.

Work order

Marking for places for mounting brackets;
Installation of the radiator by combining horizontal sections with sections of heads and brackets;

Connection with underwater communications, taps or valves;
Installing an air vent at the top of the battery.

Important!
During installation, it is necessary to observe the distances from the radiator to the floor and walls. Batteries should not be covered with screens, curtains, screens and other decorative elements.
This will worsen the operating conditions of the equipment.

The number of sections on a bimetallic battery - the principle of calculation

At , but only its power. In addition, calculations must be made for each room separately, and not for rooms as a whole.

So, the number of battery sections is determined by the formula:

N = S x 100/W, where

N is the number of sections (an indicator to be determined);
S is the area of the room for which the number of sections on the radiator is determined;
W - radiator power (indicated by the manufacturer). In this case, the standard ceiling height is 2.7 m.