To date, among the used residential heating systems, a significant place was given a warm sexes. According to the complexity of construction and method of mounting a warm floor is hardly easy and affordable for this heating. Another thing is efficiency. Using heating underfloor heating provides the most comfortable temperature balance in the living room. Comparing the operation of water underfloor heating conventional radiator, the first significant benefit, both in terms of performance and aesthetic terms. The only obstacle that does not allow more extensive use of heating water pipes for floor heating - it is a significant temperature difference between the coolant.
Autonomous boiler or central heating system for heating water provide a temperature of 75-950FROM. Heated floor is a low temperature system, the optimum temperature of water in heating pipes is water circuit 35-550FROM. As in this situation to get the water to the desired temperature underfloor heating? With this task successfully copes mixing valve for underfloor heating. The apparatus performs mixing of hot and cold water circulating in the system, i.e., preparation of coolant for subsequent feeding into the pipeline of your floor. What are the mixing valves and how they work, look at all the existing models and installation options.
The place and role of the mixing valve in the heating system "warm floor"
The main task that faced by consumers when deciding on the installation of underfloor heating in your home to achieve the required flow temperature. Radiator water, temperature 750C is acceptable, but not so on the pipes, which are laid in the thickness of the concrete screed.
Important! Excessive heating of the concrete screed leads to poor temperature balance inside the heated space. The flooring (in most cases wood-based) at high temperatures quickly loses its aesthetic and technological quality becomes unusable.
In accordance with the sanitary standards, normal underfloor heating temperature should not exceed 260FROM. Then the median layers of the air mass inside the room warmed up to a comfortable 20-22 values0FROM. should be heated to 50 in order to obtain that these temperature parameters, the water flowing into the water circuit loop0FROM. Slightly less than 50% of the thermal energy of the heated water out to the heating layer cake floor heating. Given the concrete layer thickness, material and variety of flooring occurs reducing the temperature on the floor surface.
Achieve a substantial reduction of the boiler water temperature at the inlet of heating water circuits helps the mixing unit, which is a set of interconnected devices and appliances. One of the main roles in the plays of the mixer valve termosmesitelnyBlending water for floor heating. Due to this small priborchiku performed mixing of the two water flow of cold and hot in order that the output would be turned water required temperature. The valves are installed in the mixing units are of two types, three-way and two-way. Each of the types of cranes to fulfill its defined process tasks and functions. Which device is best used for your underfloor heating? What is behind the choice of the type of mixing and control device?
What is a thermostatic mixing valve
Process underfloor operation consists in supplying hot water from a heater or other heating source into the mixing unit. The first device, which comes into contact hot water safety thermostatic mixing valve. Two-way or a three-way valve specifically set for that would reduce the temperature of the boiler water before it enters the collector. Cooling of the coolant is performed automatically, due to mix with the cooled water from the return flow pipe. This process takes place continuously and without interruption throughout the time when the heating is included.
It has already been said that for these purposes, valves mix with two types.
Two-way thermostatic mixing valve
Two-way thermostatic valve, as far as conventional words, is an improved version of the manual valve.
Simple and clear valve device allows to effectively carry out adjustment of the coolant temperature in the automated mode. Typically, such a device is put into the heating system, replacing manual faucets. The main advantages of the two-way type device can safely include:
- automatic operation to reduce water temperature;
- simple and inexpensive construction;
- easy installation.
On a note: A disadvantage of such a device are restrictions of use. This type of valve is designed to operate underfloor heating a small area. Typically, two-way valve is placed on the water heating circuits are short (for the bathroom, in the nursery).
This type of mixing device used most often, when it comes to underfloor equipment as auxiliary heating systems. With this device carried correct adjustment of coolant temperature and the operating pressure in the system and the intensity of the water flow.
The apparatus consists of a solid, cast body (brass or bronze). The crane has a thermostatic head with a metric scale. The position of the head can vary in manual or automatic mode. For simple and inexpensive heating systems typically use equipment with manual adjustment. In complex systems adopted set thermostatic valves with remote temperature sensing. The main part of the device design - the saddle, one or two. Double-seat valves are able to block the flow of water is completely in contrast to the three-way devices.
The principle of operation of the device is as follows:
- water coming from the return path, again sent to the loop-floor heating;
- reducing the temperature of heating the waste water is below the set parameters, leads to the triggering device. The system starts hot water, mixed inside the device with the cooled water;
- when the water temperature preset parameters, the thermostatic sensor is triggered, the valve automatically shuts off the hot water in the system.
In other words, the valve consisting of a seat and a plunger responsive to the mechanical action of the thermostatic head. The plunger, dropping downwards, closes the water flow by reducing the pressure. Lowered down the shutter is completely sealed bushing tap holes, respectively, in the water does not flow. A plunger mounted transversely to the direction of movement of water and may be a needle, plate or rod.
On a note: if you use this type of equipment for heating, very large rooms, the thermostat will not work properly. Water in long loops cools down faster, so the thermostat valve will operate more frequently, adding to the hot water system.
In practice today, the valves are used in three types:
- hydraulic;
- Pneumatic;
- With the electric drive.
The picture shows the connection diagram of the two-way mixing valve for heating "warm floor" system.
Three-way mixing valve
Concerning three-way mixing valve, His work is, in principle, different from the operating principle of a two-way device. There is a question of to mix with the hot water coming from the boiler to the manifold, the cooled water coming from the return line. Pros and cons of this device are similar to two-way cock except for one detail:
While the device is included in the operation, the coolant flow rate does not change. This achieves a uniform temperature change in the water flowing into the water circuit loop.
The main features of this device should include easy adjustment of the maximum temperature of the water floor heating mode. This type of mixing device is designed to work with large-scale heating systems (space area of over 250 m2). However, despite the obvious advantages, the three-way valve has a number of drawbacks.
Important! When the thermostat is activated, the valve opens completely, giving access to the system of floor heating of hot coolant. This may cause overheating of the heating circuit in the best case and in the worst case, to rupture the pipeline.
Unlike the two-way type, three-way mix with the device has a low throughput.
The product is made of brass or bronze. Equipped with heat-sensitive product or thermostat head. The circuit of this device is as follows:
Hot water follows through the right and front tubes to the moment when the water temperature corresponds to the specified parameters. By reducing or increase the coolant temperature in the job enters the thermostat driving rod. As a result, movement of the rod occurs mix with hot or cooled liquid from the other roads. Front opening is opened completely when the water temperature again reached the desired parameters.
Depending on the drive, three-way valves may be of the following construction:
- with thermostatic actuator;
- with thermostatic head;
- Electric;
- servo.
Each model has its own differences and peculiarities, specifically designed for use in a variety of hydraulic communication systems.
Connected three-way valve as follows.
conclusion
Connect both types of thermostatic mixing valve in different ways. For typical two-way tap is a parallel connection circuit. For the three-way valve using a serial connection.
The first type, two-way valve is mainly used to work with one or with two water heating circuit. For this option, and use parallel connection.
The three-way type of device designed to work with long water circuit. In sequential mode of valve maximizes performance underfloor. Both devices are mounted in front of the mixing unit, before the circulation pump. The reliability of the cranes checked during the test of the heating system start-up. Proper installation and configuration devices enable your floors to work for a long time and as efficiently as possible.
