A properly equipped heating system includes not only a set of shut-off valves for shutting off radiators during repair or replacement, but also thermostats that allow you to get a comfortable temperature in each room. In addition, the use of a thermostat makes it possible to save energy by reducing the amount of coolant entering the battery. In the retail network, you can find several types of thermostats designed for various heating systems. Recommendations of specialists will help you to make the right choice and correctly install the equipment.
Installing a heating radiator thermostat will allow you to change the air temperature in the room and save thermal energy
To answer the question about the need to install temperature controllers, remember how often you had to open windows when the temperature outside the window rises. Unfortunately, the irresponsibility of utilities and the inertia of centralized heat supply systems do not allow flexible response to changes in external conditions. Of course, such a situation can be tolerated when the cost of heating is calculated according to standards. If heat energy meters are installed in the house, then paying for the excess heat that flies through the window is, to put it mildly, unprofitable.
In this case, it is easier for owners of autonomous heating systems, since it is possible to reduce the temperature of the coolant at the outlet of the boiler. However, this will not allow regulating the air heating separately in each room.
There is only one way to reduce the temperature of an individual heating radiator - by partially or completely shutting off the coolant flow. Of course, a ball or cone valve can be installed on the supply line, but this method has disadvantages:
- firstly, the application ball valve does not allow precise regulation of the coolant flow;
- secondly, a partially open locking device of this type wears out quickly and ceases to fulfill its main function.
Installing a cone valve also does not allow you to accurately adjust the temperature in the battery, moreover, setting using taps requires constant attention.
The device of a modern thermostat
The thermostat for the radiator is devoid of all these drawbacks, with which you can automatically maintain the temperature of the device. If it is not possible to install regulators on all radiators, then the devices are mounted in rooms with windows oriented to the sunny side, in the kitchen and bedrooms.
The thermostat shuts off the heat carrier flow depending on the degree of heating of the control mechanism, which makes it possible to automatically regulate the room temperature.
There is no better place than the radiator itself for mounting a thermostat. The main thing is that the heating battery is not covered with curtains, protective or decorative screens, etc., since this will not allow the device to adequately respond to the temperature level. Note that some models of modern thermostats allow you to bypass this requirement.
The choice of the thermostat
Thermostatic regulators for radiators differ in the design of the temperature-sensitive element and in the method of supplying a signal to the control part.
There are two types of thermostats on the plumbing market today. They are controlled by sensors that react to temperature:
- coolant;
- indoor air.
Devices of the first type belong to the category of obsolete equipment, therefore, today they are used only as a budget solution to the problem. Modern thermostats that respond to air temperature have a remote sensor that is installed at a distance from the radiator. This eliminates the influence of the device on the accuracy of regulation.
Thermostats with electronic control provide adjustment accuracy up to tenths of a degree
Depending on the internal device thermostats are divided into:
- direct action devices. The design of the simplest thermostat includes a shut-off device and a bellows filled with a solid, liquid or gaseous substance. Due to thermal expansion, the working fluid pushes the valve stem, thus blocking the flow of the coolant;
- electrically controlled devices. In such thermostats, the signal to the actuator is supplied from a remote sensor installed in the room.
Thanks to the electronic type of control, high-tech thermostats are equipped with a time relay, a day / night function, and a programmer. If possible, you should pay attention to just such models. They are comfortable to set up and efficient to work with. In addition, their use allows you to save energy.
The main work on changing the coolant flow is performed by the thermostat valve, the choice of which depends on the type of heating system and the size of the connecting pipe.
Thermostat with an increased valve bandwidth type RTD-G for one-pipe heating systems
For single-pipe heating systems, select RTD-G valves... It is recommended to install the same devices in the case of natural circulation of the coolant.
For the normal functioning of a one-pipe heating system, each radiator with a thermostat must be equipped with a bypass through which the liquid will circulate when the valve is closed.
In schemes involving the use of circulation pumps, as well as in two-pipe heating systems experts recommend installing thermostats with valves marked as RTD-N. Locking mechanism This device allows mixing the cooled liquid from the return line to the hot coolant. This helps to reduce the discreteness of regulation and increase the efficiency of the device.
Thermostat with valve type RTD-N for two-pipe heating systems
Place for the thermostat
The operation of the thermostatic regulator is influenced by:
- direct sunlight;
- air temperature outside the window;
- air circulation rate in the room;
- additional heat sources.
In multi-storey private houses, thermostats are primarily installed on the upper floors. This is due to the fact that warm air rises up, contributing to an increase in the temperature difference along the height of the building.
In single-storey buildings, radiators located closer to the heating unit have a higher priority.
The best option is the installation of low-capacity radiators with highly sensitive thermostats installed on the supply section of the line. The only condition is that heating devices should not be covered with curtains, panels or grilles. Otherwise, you will need a thermostat with a remote sensor.
Thermostatic temperature controllers of heating batteries are installed on the supply section of the heating system directly in front of the radiator.
Wiring diagrams
Wiring diagrams for installation in one- and two-pipe heating systems
- When installing the thermostat on a radiator in a one-pipe heating system, it is necessary to change the battery connection diagram, additionally installing a bypass - a jumper between the inlet and outlet of the mains. Thanks to this, the coolant will be able to flow to other radiators while the valve is closed. In addition, enter the connection diagram locking devices that will allow the thermostat or battery to be removed for repair or replacement.
- In a two-pipe heating system, a thermostatic regulator is installed on the supply pipe, and a ball valve is mounted at the outlet of the battery.
Heating system thermostats can be installed on steel, aluminum and bimetallic radiators. Mounting on cast iron batteries impractical because of their high thermal inertness.
Do-it-yourself thermostatic regulator installation
No special skills are required to install a mechanical or electrical thermostat for heating radiators. Difficulty can only be caused by the installation of a bypass in a heating system made of metal pipes.
The thermostat is installed in the coolant supply section in front of the battery
What you need to work
To install a thermostat on a heating battery with your own hands, you will need:
- mechanical or electrical thermostat;
- shut-off valves;
- pipe section and fittings or welding machine for arranging a bypass in a one-pipe heating circuit;
- adjustable and plumbing wrenches.
In addition, you need to stock up on tow and a special paste to seal the joints.
Preparatory activities and installation
V one-pipe system heating, a bypass must be installed in front of the thermostat
Before proceeding with the installation, it is necessary to drain the water or other coolant from the heating system. To do this, shut off the taps at the entrance to the apartment from the heating riser.
This work is best done during a period when heating season has not started yet.
After all the coolant has been drained, proceed to installing taps on radiators. To do this, at a short distance from the battery, the horizontal pipes are cut off, after which the sections of the line are disconnected from the radiator. Further, the sequence of work looks like this:
- Depending on the material, a jumper is welded or installed between the supply and return pipelines in a single-pipe heating system.
- Remove the shanks with nuts from the shut-off valve and thermostat and screw them into the plugs of the heating radiator.
- Shut-off and thermostatic devices are connected.
- Assemble the battery piping.
- The heating system is filled with a coolant.
After turning on the heating, it is necessary to inspect all areas for leaks and, if necessary, eliminate or repair defective places.
When installing the thermostat, be sure to think about the possibility of convenient settings for the device. To do this, provide sufficient free space and correctly orient the adjusting knob.
Setting the thermostat
Graduation applied to the adjusting knob body facilitates instrument set-up
- Before proceeding with the thermostat setting, it is necessary to exclude any factors affecting the room temperature. To do this, close the windows and doors in the room, turn off the fans and additional heat sources. After that, a control thermometer is placed in the right place.
- To adjust the thermostat, turn its head fully counterclockwise. This position corresponds to the full opening of the device valve, which allows the coolant to flow freely to the radiator. As the room temperature rises to one that is 1–2 ºС higher than desired value, the head of the device is turned all the way to the right.
- As the radiator cools down, the required temperature will be set in the room. At this time, the valve begins to slowly open.
- At the moment when the valve body begins to heat up, and the noise of incoming water is heard from the battery, the rotation of the adjusting device is stopped. This completes the device setup.
Modern thermostats with remote sensors have a scale by which you can set the desired temperature without resorting to additional methods. It is possible that during the operation of such a device, an adjustment will be required to accurately set the required temperature.
Easier to set up electronic thermostats... Their design allows you to set the room temperature with an accuracy of tenths of a degree, increasing or decreasing this value in accordance with a given algorithm.
The principle of operation of the heating radiator thermostat (video)
The use of radiator thermostats ensures a comfortable air temperature in every room. It is also correct installed thermostat will help reduce heating costs, and thereby save part of the family budget. The device is easy to install yourself, but you can always entrust this work to professionals.
Share with your friends!Tsugunov Anton Valerievich
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For creating comfortable conditions in an apartment there is often a need to change the temperature of heating devices. How can you do this? It must be understood that the intensity of heating depends not only on the temperature of the hot liquid, but also on the volume that enters the radiator. Since the coolant in centralized system heating independently cannot be influenced, the temperature of the heating batteries is adjusted due to a change in the volume of liquid passing through the device.
With the help of radiators with a temperature controller, you can:
- save on payment (if available individual meters heat in the apartment);
- maintain in each room its own temperature regime;
- avoid drafts from open vents and refuse blankets on radiators if too high temperature heating.
Most often, regulators are installed on batteries in rooms where the temperature often changes - in the kitchen, rooms on the sunny side of the house. They may also be required where you need to constantly maintain a comfortable temperature regime - in the nursery, in the bedroom.
Attention! Not all types of systems central heating allow the adjustment of radiators. Adjust the batteries in multi-storey buildings, in which the supply of the heat-carrying fluid occurs vertically from top to bottom, is impossible. Changing the temperature of radiators using a control valve is available in buildings with one-pipe and.
Types of temperature regulators for batteries
Devices that allow you to adjust the temperature of heating radiators can be divided into several groups depending on their design and principle of operation.
Shut-off valves
The simplest device that can change the temperature of the batteries is a shut-off valve. He can, at the most primitive level, control the supply of hot water from the heating system of the house. The shut-off valve has the form of a ball valve, which has only two positions:
- "Closed" - the movement of hot liquid is stopped, the battery is cooling down;
- "Open" - the maximum volume of the coolant passes through the radiator, and it heats in full force.
A significant disadvantage of using a shut-off valve is the need for constant manipulation. It is impossible to create a stable temperature regime using this device.
Important! The ball valve must not be left in an intermediate position, as the shut-off valve is damaged by solid particles in the water of the heating system.
It is possible to use a valve to regulate the temperature of the radiator only if a bypass (bypass pipe) is installed upstream of the battery. Otherwise, a closed tap will disrupt the circulation of the coolant in the common building system.
Manual valves
Manual valves allow you to change the volume of the coolant entering the radiator by increasing or decreasing the diameter of the passage hole.
The cone valve includes a valve with a shut-off head. This, in turn, is associated with a handle on which a graduated scale can be applied. Turning the handle causes the shut-off head to move and change the volume of the incoming heat carrier to a smaller or big side... Marks on the scale allow you to set the desired battery temperature.
Manual valves are simple, reliable and inexpensive, but require regular monitoring.
Automatic thermostats
There is a more advanced type of battery regulator that can respond to the room temperature and automatically vary the degree of heating of the radiator. In this case, the change in the diameter of the flow area of the valve dosing the volume of the incoming liquid occurs according to the signal from the temperature sensor.
Automatic heat regulators are divided into two types:
- thermostatic;
- electronic.
V next video you can clearly get acquainted with the principle of operation of the thermostat.
The design of the thermostatic device resembles a manual valve. At the same time, a thermostatic head is installed on its valve, which controls its operation. The thermal head includes:
- a temperature sensor that responds to the air temperature and is associated with the shut-off valve head;
- an adjustment mechanism with a control handle and a setting scale.
To select the room temperature, which will be maintained at a constant level without further intervention, you can turn the knob in accordance with the required value on the scale.
Such thermostats allow not only maintaining the required temperature with maximum accuracy, but also making it possible to program their operation. For example, every day on weekdays during the absence of residents in the apartment, the degree of heating of the devices is automatically reduced, and before the arrival of the owners, the rooms will again warm up to the optimum temperature.
Tip: You do not need to buy a new thermostat to change the way the batteries are regulated. One valve can usually be equipped with any type of thermocouple: manual or automatic.
Details about self-installation and setting the thermostat for the heating battery is written in.
An unconventional device for regulating the temperature of heating devices is the three-way valve shown in the photo below. It is installed at the junction of the bypass and the supply pipe that goes to the battery. In order for the device to perform the function of stabilizing the heating level of the radiator, it must have a thermostatic head.
- If the temperature near the head rises above the required supply of the coolant to the battery, the flow of liquid moves through the bypass.
- When it cools down, the valve opens again and the radiator heats up.
This method of regulation is used in single-pipe systems with vertical wiring.
By adjusting the rate of flow of the coolant into the radiator, you can control the temperature of its heating, and, therefore, the microclimate in the room. The thermostat helps to solve this problem. We will tell you about the types of this device and methods of installation.
Design and principle of operation
This device consists of two main blocks - a valve and a thermostatic type head for temperature control. On sale you can find models designed for different types heating, which can be used for installation on pipes of different diameters.
Most often, the head can be removed, so the control components are suitable for the valve used. different types... This standardization seat makes the use of the device very convenient.
The thermostat allows you to provide a comfortable temperature in the room, save energy resources, and reduce financial costs for heating. In this case, the principle of operation of the thermostat is to control the flow of the incoming heat carrier in accordance with the required heating mode.
The thermostatic head contains a container with a medium that sensitively reacts to temperature indicators. When heated, it expands, which leads to an increase in the container and blocking of the stroke for the coolant by the rod. On cooling, the reaction takes place in the opposite direction.
The advantages of the device are as follows:
- ease of installation and operation;
- ergonomics;
- wide range of temperature regulation;
- uniformity in the redistribution of the coolant.
Thermal valve design features
The devices of this component include two elements - a plug and a seat. The locking mechanism also provides for the overlap of the gap for the movement of the coolant. The valve is selected depending on the type of wiring. They are different for one-pipe and two-pipe wiring, which can be seen in the photo of the thermostat on the battery.
For the manufacture of the case, only corrosion-resistant materials are used, often with a special chrome or nickel coating. On sale you can find products made of brass, bronze, stainless steel.
The latter option is more preferable in terms of reliability and level of regulation, but the cost of such a model is higher. Bronze and brass counterparts are available in to a greater extent, but their quality depends on the characteristics of the alloy.
Depending on the type of execution, a distinction is made between angular and straight models. The last option is throughput. Also, thermostats can be included with the headset of the heating system. The choice is made depending on the installation conditions.
Thermal heads: types and advantages
Thermostatic components used in thermostats can be manual, mechanical and electronic. With equality of functions, the types of temperature controllers per battery differ in ease of use.
Manual
This is the simplest option, based on the principle of operation of a conventional valve. When the head is turned in one direction, the coolant flow decreases, when it is turned in the other direction, it increases.
The devices are inexpensive and reliable enough. But in terms of comfort, they lag significantly behind their counterparts. Usually they are placed at the entrance and exit. They act as ball valves.
Mechanical
Devices can provide the required temperature regime without constant human intervention. A bellows stands out in the design - a container filled with gas or liquid. These temperature agents differ high coefficient expansion, therefore, when heated, they increase their volume.
The instructions for using the thermostat are based on the principle that the bellows will support the stem. The latter blocks the path for the coolant during heating and expansion of the cylinder. When the substance in the bellows cools down, the cylinder size decreases, the pressure on the rod becomes less and it rises.
Mechanical devices allow for more precise temperature control. But this property depends on the inertness of the substance in the cylinder of the bellows. If gas is used, the response of the device will be higher. But it is much more difficult to produce such models, which means that they will be more expensive.
Fluids are slower to react to temperature changes, but the difference in accuracy will be extremely small. Therefore, most often it is this solution that is chosen in the manufacture of a thermostat. There are also models with a remote sensor with capillary tube connection.
Electronic
It is more expensive, but also massive. It assumes the presence of an electronic board and a block for installing accumulators - batteries. The movement of the stem is not set by temperature changes in the bellows, but by a special sensor.
In this case, the required mode can be easily and conveniently set at any time, but you will have to regularly monitor the performance of the batteries.
Distinguish:
- Closed logic devices. Only basic parameters can be changed in them.
- Open logic devices that allow deep reprogramming.
- Household models that work on the principle of mechanical analogs, but have an electronic display.
Installation features
Do-it-yourself installation of a thermostat on a battery is usually done on radiators made of aluminum, steel or bimetallic models at a height of more than 800 mm.
You need to choose a place so that it is enough for adjusting a manual or mechanical device. The design of the electronic model should also fit, but at the same time it should not be closed with thick curtains.
Installation is carried out in the following order:
- the supply riser is completely shut off with a full drain of water;
- cut out at some distance from the radiator horizontal section pipes, with subsequent disconnection from the system;
- if the device is installed on a one-pipe system, then it is necessary to first equip a jumper to the system between the inlet and outlet - bypass;
- the regulator valve and stopcock are freed from the shank and nuts, which are wrapped in the plugs of the radiator itself;
- piping is assembled and installed in the right place with connection to the supply pipes.
Customization rules
It is important not only to understand how to install the thermostat on a battery, but also how to set it up. Mechanical instrument regulated in the following sequence:
- block the places of active heat exchange with the street and other premises;
- the thermostat is moved to the extreme left position, which indicates full opening;
- after heating by 5-6 degrees, the rotation is made to the extreme right position with a decrease in the temperature background;
- after the temperature reaches the desired comfortable level, the valve must be slowly opened until the noise of the gaining water appears;
- the start of heating is a signal to stop, after which the position of the thermostat should be memorized.
Electronic models are easier to set up - you just need to set the desired temperature on the display. Using thermostats makes you feel more comfortable. Moreover, it is not difficult to install and configure them.
Photo of thermostats on the battery
In the countries of the post-Soviet space, up to 40% of energy resources are spent on heating and ventilation of buildings, this is several times more than that of advanced European countries... The issue of energy saving is more acute than ever, especially against the backdrop of a constant increase in the cost of energy resources. One of the devices that allows you to save thermal energy in the house is a thermostat for a battery, whose installation can reduce heat consumption by up to 20%. But for this it is necessary to choose the right regulators for the heating system and carry out their installation, which will be discussed in this article.
How the thermostatic valve works
The first thermostats for radiators, designed to maintain a constant temperature in a room, were invented back in 1943 by DANFOSS, which also holds the leading position in the market for the production and sale of such devices. For this reason, our article will be based on the materials and recommendations of the DANFOSS company, whose many years of experience are beyond doubt.
Over the years since the invention, thermostats for radiators have changed and become what we know them. Structurally, they consist of two main elements: a valve and a thermal head, which are interconnected by a locking mechanism. The purpose of the thermal head is to sense temperature environment and to regulate it, act on the actuator - the valve, it also blocks the flow of the coolant entering the heater.
This control method is called quantitative, since the device affects the flow rate of the coolant passing into the radiator. There is another method - a qualitative one, with its help the temperature of the water in the system changes. This is carried out by a temperature regulator (mixing unit) installed in a boiler room or heating point.
To understand the principle of operation of the thermal head, it is proposed to study the diagram of the device shown in section:
Inside the cell body there is a bellows filled with a temperature-sensitive medium. It is of two types:
- liquid;
- gas.
Liquid bellows are easier to manufacture, but they are inferior to gas bellows in terms of speed, so the latter are very widespread. So, when the air temperature rises, the substance in a closed space expands, the bellows expands and presses on the valve stem. That, in turn, moves down a special cone, which reduces the flow area of the valve. As a result, the flow rate of the coolant decreases. When the ambient air is cooled, everything happens in the reverse order, the amount of flowing water grows to a maximum, this is the principle of the thermostat operation.
Depending on the type of heating system and the installation conditions of the device, valve - thermal head sets in various combinations can be used to control the heat carrier flow. In one-pipe heating systems, it is recommended to install valves with increased flow capacity and low hydraulic resistance (DANFOSS product marking - RA-G, RA-KE, RA-KEW).
The same recommendation applies to two-pipe gravity systems, where the coolant circulates naturally, without forced induction. If the heating circuit is two-pipe with a circulation pump, then you should choose a valve with the ability to adjust the throughput (DANFOSS marking - RA-N, RA-K, RA-KW). This adjustment is quite simple and special tool is not needed for her.
When the issue of valve selection is resolved, you need to decide on the type of thermal head. They are offered in the following designs:
- With an internal thermocouple (as in the diagram above).
- With an external temperature sensor.
- With external regulator.
- Electronic (programmable).
- Anti-vandal.
A conventional thermostat for heating radiators with an internal sensor is accepted for installation if it is possible to position its axis horizontally so that the room air flows freely around the body of the device, as shown in the figure:
Attention! It is not allowed to install the thermostat on the battery in a vertical position, the heat flux rising from the supply pipeline and the valve body will affect the bellows, as a result of which the device will not work correctly.
If horizontal mounting head is impossible, it is better to purchase a remote temperature sensor for it complete with a capillary tube 2 m long.It is at this distance from the radiator that this device can be positioned by attaching it to the wall:
In addition to vertical mounting There are other objective reasons for buying an external sensor:
- heating radiators with a temperature controller are located behind blackout curtains;
- pipes with hot water or there is another heat source;
- the battery is under a wide window sill;
- the internal thermocouple enters the draft zone.
In rooms with high demands to the interior, batteries are often hidden under decorative screens from various materials... In such cases, a thermostat caught under the casing registers the temperature of the hot air accumulating in the upper zone and can completely block the coolant. Moreover, access to the control of the head is completely closed. In this situation, the choice should be made in favor of a remote controller combined with a sensor. Its placement options are shown in the figure:
Electronic thermostats with display are also of two types: with built-in and removable control unit. The latter differs in that the electronic unit is disconnected from the thermal head, after which it continues to function as usual. The purpose of such devices is to adjust the temperature in the room according to the time of day in accordance with the program. This allows the heating output to be reduced by work time, when no one is at home and in other similar cases, which leads to additional energy savings.
When there are small children in the house who want to try everything with their pens, it is better to install an anti-vandal-type thermostat with a casing that protects the device settings from unskilled intervention. This also applies to thermostats in other public buildings: kindergartens, schools, hospitals and so on.
How to install a thermostat on a battery
The first recommendation is not to place thermal heads on all heaters within sight. Here the rule is the following: radiators, whose total power is 50% or more of all in the same room, should be subject to regulation. For example, when there are 2 heaters in the room, then 1 battery with a higher power must be equipped with a thermostat.
Advice. If cast iron radiators are used as heating devices, then maintaining the microclimate with the help of thermostatic valves will be ineffective. The fact is that the work of cast-iron batteries is very inertial, after blocking the flow of the coolant, they radiate heat for a long time and vice versa, they accelerate for a long time. Mounting the valves doesn't make sense, you just waste your time and money.
The first part of the device - the valve - is recommended to be installed on the inlet supply pipeline when the radiator is connected to the heating system. In the case when it is required to cut it into the assembled system, then the supply line will have to be dismantled. This will cause some difficulties if the connection is made steel pipes, you will need a pipe cutting and threading tool.
After the thermostat is installed on the radiator, the thermal head is mounted without any tools. It is enough just to align the marks on the bodies and fix the head in the socket by smooth pressing. The click of the locking mechanism will serve as a signal.
It is a little more difficult to install an anti-vandal thermostat, for this you need a 2 mm Allen key. Aligning the required marks, as shown in the diagram, you need to press the thermal head, and tighten the fixing bolt on the side with a hexagon.
Installation of the remote sensor and regulator is carried out on a section of the wall free from interior parts and furniture, placing them at a height of 1.2-1.6 m from the floor, as shown in the diagram:
First, the mounting plate is attached to the wall with dowels, and then the body is snapped onto it with a simple push. The capillary tube is fixed to the wall with plastic clips, as a rule, they are included with the product.
In addition to the standard temperature control in the heads, the thermostat can be adjusted to the maximum and minimum limits, beyond which it will be impossible to turn the wheel. For this purpose, limit pins are provided at the rear of the product. You need to pull out one of them and, after debugging the system, insert it into the hole under the corresponding mark:
Conclusion
Selecting a thermostat is not a difficult task, it is important to understand under which heating system the valve is being purchased and to know where it will be located. Programmable devices are unambiguously recommended as the most economical.
Any knot is important. Therefore, it is important to carry out the correspondence of the installation parts correctly. The heating design includes, an expansion tank, radiators, a heating boiler mounting system, fittings, automatic air vents, a heat control mechanism, wires or pipes, thermostats, circulation pumps. On this page we will try to help define specific installation components for a home. The heating installation of the mansion includes various components.
Battery regulator
In modern heating systems, which most often involve the subsequent wiring of underfloor heating, a special thermostatic valve is installed, which is widely known as a thermostat.
Temperature regulators and similar control devices for radiators mainly consist of two mandatory parts:
- thermostatic valve (in other words - valve);
- a mechanism that acts on the valve stem (thermocouple or thermostatic head).
The thermostatic valve is necessary so that the heat transfer from the heater can be effectively regulated. In this case, the amount of coolant passing through the heater must constantly change, depending on the temperature of the heated room.
There are two main types of heating controllers:
- manual;
- automatic.
Manual adjustment is carried out as follows: the handwheel of the valve is rotated, while the valve stem is in motion.
Accordingly, the flow area of the seat changes, and at the same time, the temperature of the used heater also changes.
It is worth noting that manual heating thermostats are considered less effective, and many valve manufacturers, even on their own products, emphasize that the protective cap on the valve is not designed for frequent openings and closings.
In automatic thermostats, the thermostatic valve usually "works" in tandem with a thermostatic head.
Even the smallest changes in ambient temperature are instantly recorded by a bellows (thermal cylinder) filled with a substance of a special composition.
So, for example, when heated, the substance in the bellows expands and gradually begins to change its state of aggregation, while stretching the bulb.
In this case, the effects on the valve stem are observed, and the latter begins to be squeezed out of the bellows.
All these actions lead to the overlap of the flow section of the saddle with a cone, as a result of which the actual flow rate of the coolant decreases.
When the temperature of the heated room decreases, all the above actions are repeated in the reverse order, that is, the filler in the bellows narrows and the stem is pulled back, while increasing the flow rate of the coolant to increase the temperature.
In general, the regulation of radiators effectively allows you to create the most comfortable room temperature.
Today, there are only two main types of types of thermostats.
The first type is intended for installation in a single-pipe heating system, the second, respectively, for heating systems consisting of two pipes.
Thermostats installed on two-pipe heating systems are most often designed in such a way that they can work normally even with sudden and frequent pressure drops.
The reason is that the hydraulic balancing of any two-pipe heating system is carried out at the expense of a large number pressure losses in the valve areas.
In order for pressure loss to occur without problems, the temperature regulator of the radiator of the heating batteries has an increased hydraulic resistance (often this indicator can be even an order of magnitude higher than that in a one-pipe system) and a small flow area.
In addition, thermostatic valves that can be installed on two-pipe systems, in turn, are divided into two main groups:
- those that need additional customization hydraulic resistance;
- those that do not need additional adjustment of the hydraulic resistance.
Thermostats of the second group
The use of thermostats of the second group (without regulation) will lead to the fact that for the most part all heating devices and devices located on the same riser will be characterized by approximately the same coolant flow rate, although it must be installed separately for each device, depending on the heat loss in a particular room that needs to be compensated.
In practice, everything is simple: if more than it should be, the amount of coolant passes through the radiator, then the room will be too hot and vice versa - if the coolant is not enough, then the air in the room will be uncomfortably cold.
From this it follows that, nevertheless, it is better to choose a thermostat for heating batteries with a valve that assumes presetting.
If all the settings are performed correctly, this will help to optimize the flow rate of the coolant and create a comfortable temperature and coziness in the room.
Often in heating systems in which radiator thermostats are installed, automatic check valves are mounted on risers. This is done in order to reduce the noise level arising from significant pressure drops across the valves.
Which one is better to put, you decide, because each of them has its own pros and cons. In addition to the parameters listed above, you must also keep in mind where you are going to put the radiators. It is better to choose some for heating in your house, and others for a city apartment. And before buying a new battery in case of replacement, pay attention to what kind of radiators are installed in your apartment. This will help you navigate which batteries can be installed in this particular house. Consider the main positive and negative sides of each kind.
Cast iron radiators
Technology for unscrewing and assembling cast iron batteries: a - nipples capture the thread of sections (2-3 threads); b - tighten the nipples, dock the sections; c - mount the third section; d - group two radiators.
These batteries, for sure, will cause you to associate with Soviet Russia, in which all residents of new houses with steel Soviet radiators sought to supply them. And all because it is really warm from her. And even if the heating pipes do not flow completely hot water, they also heat due to the radiation of heat from the structure itself. In other words, such batteries play the role of heat accumulators. All this is achievable due to their shape, weight and material.
In this case, cast iron batteries heat up longer than, for example, aluminum radiators. And much more water is required to fill them. And their huge weight(70-100 kg) requires the use of force in order to bring them and deliver them. Cast iron radiators are not very susceptible to corrosion. What else modern designs for heating will last more than half a century? And cast-iron batteries are used for that much. They can be chosen both for a private house and for an apartment in a high-rise building. There are no restrictions here.
Cast iron radiator piping diagram.
If speak about appearance, then cast iron radiators now have a much more presentable appearance than in the past.
They resemble steel and aluminum structures and will not spoil the design of your home in any way. In addition, there are also extraordinary cast iron batteries for artistic casting.
It costs a lot of money to install them, but they will certainly add originality to the room. If you choose standard cast-iron radiators, then the issue price will be very democratic.
In terms of weight and thermal conductivity, these radiators differ slightly from the previous ones. They are better than cast iron only because of the abundance of shapes and sizes on the market. The disadvantages include wall thickness. For tubular radiators of imported production, it is very thin. The steel tubular battery looks presentable, it is easy enough to wash it, but, alas, it is rather short-lived. At the same time, those wishing to choose exactly steel radiator there are many. Their accessibility plays an important role in this. At good quality their service life is up to 15 years.
Aluminum radiators
Examples of connecting aluminum radiators.
With all their positive characteristics, only owners of private houses can choose aluminum radiators. Because district heating systems are fraught with danger in the form of pressure drops. Aluminum batteries do not resist them well and often leak. Moreover, they heat the room faster than cast iron and steel. The same radiators are easy to adjust the temperature due to their low weight. The lightness of the aluminum battery is a big plus in itself.
A huge disadvantage of aluminum is its malleability to corrosion. Some manufacturers treat batteries inside with a special anti-corrosion material. But taking into account the quality of water in district heating pipes, the service life of aluminum radiators is often short. They must not only be placed, but also carefully monitored. Do not leave for a long period with closed taps or with water for a summer non-heating period. Otherwise, it may crack much earlier than the expiration of the service life declared by the manufacturer. Buyers are attracted by the choice of design and color aluminum battery whatever you want and good value for money.