Heating of an apartment building: heat carrier distribution and the possibility of switching to autonomous heating. How is the heating system in an apartment building
Most often, for many years, using such a blessing as a modern centralized heating system, we are absolutely not interested in how it works and how it works. More precisely, we are not interested in this as long as her work suits us. But imagine the situation - almost all residents of your house are not satisfied with the heating system, and everyone is ready to connect separate autonomous systems in their apartments. In this case, the question arises - how did everything work before, and whether the apartments can be heated independently of each other. Of course, in this case, it will be necessary to calculate the heating in apartment building, drafting - all this is done by special services.
In fact, during the construction of any house, regardless of the number of floors in the past few years (or even decades), the same enough simple circuit building heating. That is, both in a three-story and in a twelve-story house, the same schemes for creating heating system. Of course, there may be minor differences that the design of the heating system of an apartment building implies, but in most cases the identity is complete.
What is the scheme of the heating system of a multi-storey building?
At a certain stage of construction, a special thermal route is installed in the house. A certain number of thermal valves are mounted on it, from which the process of powering the heating units takes place in the future. The number of valves (and nodes, respectively) directly depends on the number of floors (risers) and apartments in the house. The next element after the introductory valve is a sump. It is not uncommon for two of these system elements to be installed at once. If the project of the house provides for a Khrushchev heating scheme open type, this requires the installation of a valve on the hot water supply after the sump, which is necessary for the emergency removal of the coolant from the system. These valves are installed by means of a tie-in. There are two mounting options - on the coolant supply pipe, or on the return pipe.
Some complexity and abundance of elements of the central heating system are caused by the fact that it uses highly heated water as a coolant. In fact, only the increased pressure in the pipes of the system through which it moves prevents the liquid from turning into steam.
If the supplied water has a very high temperature, it becomes necessary to use hot water from the waste. This is due to the fact that in the areas that produce the outflow of the spent coolant, the pressure is much lower than in the supply ones. After the temperature of the coolant drops to a normal level, the liquid again enters the system from the supply.
It should be noted that most often the heating unit is made in a small closed room, which can only be entered by representatives of the utility company serving this heating system. This is due to safety requirements and is applicable in almost all modern high-rise buildings.
Of course, the question involuntarily arises - if the temperature of the coolant in the system often reaches a critical point, then why are the batteries in apartments, basically, a little warm? In fact, everything is pretty banal.
Only the scheme of operation of the system provides for a certain number of elements that will protect the system at an elevated temperature of the coolant.
However, quite often utility companies simply save fuel by heating the coolant to a level that is extremely far from what is actually required. In addition, very often during the installation of the system, due to the negligence of workers, gross errors are made, which later cause severe heat loss.
Of course, few people have heard the term "elevator node" before. It can be safely called an injector, which includes a heating scheme for a nine-story panel house or a house with fewer floors. After all, it is into it through a special nozzle that the coolant heated almost to the limit enters. Here, the return water is injected, after which the liquid begins to actively circulate in the heating system. As a matter of fact, after the coolant and the return have entered the system through the elevator assembly, they get the temperature that we feel when we touch the battery.
Often, depending on the plan, which implies a heating project for an apartment building, valves of various types can be installed at the heating unit. In many ways, their appearance depends on how many rooms should be heated, whether this unit is involved in heating one riser (entrance) or the entire house. In addition, sometimes, in addition to valves, an additional manifold is installed, on which, in turn, locking elements are fixed. Often a separate section of the introductory system is used to install meters. Most often, one metering device is used for one entrance.
The principle of building a heating system
Speaking about the principle of operation of the heating scheme for multi-storey buildings, a few words should be said about its construction. It's actually quite simple. Most modern houses use a single-pipe centralized heating scheme for a five-story building or a house with a smaller / larger number of floors. That is, the heating scheme of a 5-storey building is a single (for one entrance) riser, in which the coolant can be supplied both from below and from above.
In this case, there are two options for the location of the supply element - in the attic or in the basement. Return pipes are always laid in the basement.
Let's take a typical 9-storey house as an example, let's analyze how heating works in it, as well as hot water supply. The heating of this apartment building is assumed to be central. The house is equipped with the input of the heating main, introductory valves are installed. The thermal unit, which is powered by them, can be one or several. In order for everything to be safe, the heating unit is locked - locksmiths do not let anyone in there. Let's describe what's there.
After the inlet valves, there are mud collectors (two or one). If the heating system is open, after the mud collectors, valves (2 pieces) are located through the inserts on the DHW. These valves are from the return and from the supply. This is done so that, depending on the circumstances, water for hot water supply can be taken either from the return of the building or from the supply. Let's explain these circumstances. The central heating system of an apartment building is designed to operate on superheated water. Water comes from the boiler house or from the CHP (especially when it is very cold outside) with a pressure of 6 to 10Kgf and a temperature of 1300C to 1500C. Due to the increased pressure, the water retains its liquid state, and does not boil in the pipeline to form steam.
At such high temperatures, DHW is switched on from the return of the building - there the water temperature is about 600C-700C. When the temperature of the coolant is relatively low (in spring and autumn), it may not be sufficient for hot water supply. In this case, the water for hot water supply comes from the supply to the rear. We think everything is clear here. Let's analyze the open heating system of an apartment building (open water intake). Many will note that there have never been such hot batteries in their apartments. That's right, it can't be. In residential premises, such a hot coolant is not used. If we consider the heating unit further, then we can notice something incomprehensible: the supply line is connected to the return line by a jumper. To your question: "What is it?" answer - elevator node.
The principle of operation of the elevator unit
What is it for? Incoming water with high temperatures enters this device. The device functions as an injector in which water is used instead of air. A coolant with high pressure and temperature passes through the elevator nozzle and injects return water. At the same time, water from the return is passed for recirculation in the heating system. As a result, the temperature of the mixed water flow is the same as in your batteries. Excesses of the incoming cooled water go into the return line. It has long been calculated that this option is the most optimal.
Further, in the thermal unit there are valves for heating the entire apartment building, or only the entrance (depending on how the system is equipped). A collector can also be installed, on which there are several valves. In addition, at the entrance to the house, a heat meter can be mounted on the entrance or house. We've dealt with the heat sink.
About the system
Let's deal with the system now. As a rule, the heating system of an apartment building is one-pipe with a lower or upper filling.
The return and supply can be placed either both in the basement, or the return in the basement and the supply in the attic. The movement of water in the risers can be passing from top to bottom or counter from bottom to top (depending on how the system design is developed). There are risers that can be used with a counter coolant, or with a passing one. According to this scheme, in any type of system (both open and closed), a heated towel rail riser functions.
The number of sections and the size of heating radiators is determined by calculations as the water (coolant) cools. If you want to replace radiators with new ones or more modern ones, then you should not focus on a friend who lives in the same apartment building, since the advancement and cooling of the coolant must be taken into account. And do not throw away the jumpers - the service company will require them to be restored.
Due to the high cost of centralized heating, many people increasingly prefer autonomous heating, completely switching to individual heating appliances. But many do not realize that an autonomous heating unit in an apartment building is calculated and arranged according to the same principle as the installation of a centralized heating main.
Immediately I would like to answer the question of interest to everyone, from what date the heating is turned on. This issue is decided by the authorities of the settlement or city.
According to the current schedule, the heating system of an apartment building is turned on under two conditions:
- At the start of a certain period of the year. As a rule, heating in high-rise buildings starts working in the first half of October. And when it will be turned on, on the 1st or 15th, depends on the weather conditions.
- The average daily temperature on the street is up to 8 ° C and does not exceed this figure for five days.
It does not matter whether the temperature drops in October or September. In Salekhard, for example, heating season begins already in the first ten days of September, while in the Crimea, even at the end of October, heating is not always turned on.
If you think that individual system heating in the apartment high-rise building has a lot of differences from the centralized one, then you are deeply mistaken. Of course, there are some differences between them, but they are not as fundamental as between a multi-storey building and a private household.
So, how is the heating system in an apartment building? During the construction of the structure, a heating main is laid, on which a certain number of thermal valves are mounted. These are nothing more than thermal circuits, so their number is closely related to the number of risers in the structure.
Next, the system is equipped with a mud collector. Sometimes two such structural parts are installed at once. If the design of the heating system in an apartment building is carried out according to the Khrushchev type, then the scheme in this case involves equipping the hot water supply with sliding elements. They are necessary in case of an unforeseen descent of fluid from the line. Gate valves of this type are mounted by tie-in. There are two methods for installing this feature:
- to the coolant supply pipeline;
- to the return circuit.
Some difficulties in installation and use huge amount components and parts when installing a heating system in an apartment building are caused by the fact that it circulates through it as a coolant hot water, the temperature of which can reach 80 ° C, and sometimes even higher.
Due to a certain hydraulic pressure in the thermal circuit, the liquid is not converted into steam, but gradually gives up its energy to the heating devices.
What is return used for?
When the coolant has a critically high temperature, it becomes necessary to use liquid from the return. This is due to the fact that on the circuits through which the cooled heat carrier is returned, the pressure is an order of magnitude lower than on the supply pipeline. As soon as the water temperature drops to an acceptable level, the liquid again enters the system from the supply section.
In fairness, I would like to pay attention to one important detail: often, thermal units are located in small areas, to which only utility workers have access. Thanks to this approach, it is possible to avoid emergency situations and accidents. After all, if unauthorized actions are applied to the heating of an apartment building, for example, by children or people who are poorly versed in this matter, then this can end very badly. Well, if only the heating in the apartment building stops working. It is much worse if a stream of hot water splashes on a nearby person.
Why batteries are often barely warm
Of course, many are interested in the question why, with enough high temperature coolant in the line, the radiators in most cases remain slightly warm? The answer is simple: heating risers in an apartment building are equipped with elements that protect the circuit from overheating and, as a result, from its deformation.
The second question immediately arises: why warm the water to a critical point, if all the same its heat does not go to heat the room? Everything is even simpler here: the coolant is heated at thermal power plants, which are located far from your homes. So, if the water warms up to 40 ° C, which is necessary to warm residential buildings, then by the time it reaches your house through a centralized highway, its temperature will drop by 20 degrees. Ultimately, your batteries will generally be cold.
Appointment of the elevator node
Many of you are probably hearing this term for the first time. Although this is nothing more than an injector that is included in any piping of a multi-storey building. It is into this structural element that heated water is pumped from a centralized line. In addition, by means of the elevator unit, the return coolant is injected, after which it begins to actively circulate along the thermal circuit, giving up its energy to the heating device and the pipeline. In this unit, hot water is mixed with cold water from the return to the temperature that we feel when touching the radiators.
On the back, before elevator nodes, usually located shut-off valves. With the help of such structural elements, in the event of an emergency, one or another stand can be turned off without damage to the heating system of the entire structure.
AT recent times people, in order to save money, began to equip heating circuits counters. Thanks to such devices, it is possible to monitor not only the temperature of the coolant, but also the amount of heat consumed by a certain section of the house. In most cases, meters are installed in the amount of one device per house. Less often, people equip individual entrances with such devices. This allows you to more accurately calculate the consumption of thermal energy.
The principle of tying the heat main
Most of the multi-storey buildings have a single-loop piping. What does it mean? The heating scheme of an apartment building in this case is a single (for a single entrance) heat main. The coolant supply of a single-circuit scheme is carried out both from the bottom up and from the top down.
The top-down coolant supply device provides a 20% reduction in heat loss compared to another option for supplying heated fluid to radiators. That is why in multi-storey buildings on the upper floors it is always warmer than on the lower ones.
As for determining the area of \u200b\u200bheaters, then remove everything much easier. So, according to SNiP, it is necessary to spend about 100 watts to heat 1 sq.m. Knowing the quadrature of the room and the heat transfer of radiators ( bimetallic battery gives out no more than 120 W for 8 sections), you can independently calculate how many sections are needed in order to heat the structure.
Many of us are greatly mistaken when they say that the higher the building, the more complicated and confusing is the scheme for tying it with a thermal circuit. Regardless of how many floors the building has - 5 or 55, the principle of organizing heat supply is the same. It is not as complicated as it seems at first glance, but quite effective. We hope that the information presented above helped you figure out how heating is arranged in an apartment building.
Video: How heating is supplied in an apartment building
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On the territory of Russia, the system is usually used central heating apartment building, the coolant in which comes from the city boiler house or CHP. At the same time, water circuits are equipped according to different schemes, since they are single-pipe and two-pipe. Usually, heat consumers are of little interest in such nuances, but if it is necessary to repair an apartment and change old batteries for new modern heating radiators, it is advisable for owners of residential real estate to understand such subtleties.
Individual heating in residential buildings
In addition to the central one, one can meet heating system apartments in an apartment building, usually such heat supply is rare and in last years installed in new buildings. Also, local heating systems are used in the private residential sector. When the boiler room is usually located either in the building itself in a separate room or close to the house, since it is required to regulate.In addition, dependent heating systems are used in apartment buildings. In this case, the coolant is transported to apartment batteries without additional distribution directly from the CHP. At the same time, the temperature of the water is independent of whether it is supplied through a distribution point or directly to consumers.
Types of heating systems in an apartment building are open or closed (in more detail: "").
In the latter version, the heat carrier from the CHP or central boiler house, after entering the distribution point, is supplied separately to heating radiators and hot water supply. AT open systems such a separation is not provided for by the design and heated water for the needs of residents is supplied from the main pipe, so consumers outside the heating season are left without hot water supply, which causes a lot of complaints about utilities. See also: "".
Single pipe heating system
Single-pipe heat supply of an apartment building has a lot of disadvantages, the main among which are significant heat losses in the process of transporting hot water. In this circuit, the coolant is supplied from the bottom up, after which it enters the batteries, gives off heat and returns back to the same pipe. For end consumers living on the upper floors, previously hot water reaches a barely warm state.There are cases when a single-pipe system is further simplified, trying to increase the temperature of the coolant in the radiators. To do this, the battery is cut directly into the pipe. As a result, it seems that the radiator is its continuation. But from such a connection, only the first users of the system receive more heat, and the water reaches the last consumers almost cold (read also: ""). In addition, the single-pipe heat supply of an apartment building makes it impossible to adjust the radiators - after reducing the coolant supply in a separate battery, the water flow along the entire length of the pipe also decreases.
Another disadvantage of such heat supply is the impossibility of replacing the radiator during the heating season without draining the water from the entire system. In such cases, it is necessary to install jumpers, which makes it possible to turn off the battery and direct the coolant through them.
It does not matter how the battery is connected - to a riser or sunbed pipe, the coolant has a constant temperature throughout its transportation through the supply pipes.
One of the important advantages of two-pipe water circuits is the adjustment of the heating system of an apartment building at the level of each individual battery by installing thermostatic taps on it (read also: ""). As a result, the apartment provides automatic maintenance of the desired temperature regime. In a two-pipe circuit, it is possible to use heating radiators with both bottom and side connections. You can also use different movement of the coolant - dead-end and passing.
Hot water supply in heating systems
DHW in multi-storey buildings is usually centralized, while the water is heated in boiler rooms. Hot water supply is connected from heating circuits, both from single-pipe and from two-pipe. The temperature at the faucet hot water in the mornings it is warm or cold, depending on the number of main pipes. If there is a single-pipe heat supply for an apartment building with a height of 5 floors, then when you open a hot tap, it will first go out of it for half a minute cold water.The reason lies in the fact that at night rarely any of the residents turn on the tap with hot water, and the coolant in the pipes cools down. As a result, there is an overspending of unnecessary cooled water, since it is drained directly into the sewer.
Unlike single pipe system in the two-pipe version, the circulation of hot water occurs continuously, so the above problem with hot water does not occur there. True, in some houses, a riser with pipes - heated towel rails, which are hot even in the summer heat, is looped through the hot water supply system.
Many consumers are interested in the problem with hot water after the heating season has ended. Sometimes hot water disappears for a long time. The fact is that utilities are required to comply with the rules for heating apartment buildings, according to which it is necessary to carry out post-heating tests of heat supply systems (read also: ""). Such work is not carried out quickly, especially if damage is found that needs to be repaired.
Features of heat supply in an apartment building, details on the video:
Radiators for heating systems of high-rise buildings
Habitual for many residents of multi-storey buildings are cast iron radiators that have been in use for decades. If necessary, replace this heating battery it is dismantled and a similar one is installed, which is required by the heating system in an apartment building. Such radiators for centralized heating systems are considered best solution, because they can withstand enough high pressure. in the passport to cast iron battery two digits are indicated: the first of them indicates the working pressure, and the second indicates the test (pressure) load. Usually these values are 6/15 or 8/15.The higher the residential building, the greater the value of the working pressure. In nine-story buildings, it reaches 6 atmospheres, so cast-iron radiators are suitable for them. But when it is a 22-storey building, then 15 atmospheres will be required for the working functioning of centralized heating systems. In this case, steel or bimetallic heaters are needed.
Experts do not recommend using with centralized heating aluminum radiators- they are not able to withstand the operating condition of the water circuit. Professionals also advise property owners when conducting overhaul in apartments, in case of replacing batteries, change the pipes for distributing heat carriers by ½ or ¾ inches. Usually they are in poor condition and it is desirable to install ecoplast products instead.
In some types of radiators (steel and bimetallic), the watercourses are narrower than those of cast iron products, so they become clogged and subsequently lose power. Therefore, at the place where the coolant is supplied to the battery, a filter should be installed, which is usually mounted in front of the water meter.
panel radiator
There is constant talk that energy resources are becoming more expensive. Therefore, it is necessary to urgently consider issues related to energy savings. This also applies to heating systems, the use of which entails significant energy costs. If we talk about the heating system of any apartment building, then saving money and energy here will largely depend on the method of supplying thermal energy to apartments. There are two such methods - centrally and in the form of autonomous heating of an apartment building.
Pros and cons
Advantages
Let's take a closer look at the second option and determine its positive and negative sides. To begin with, let's figure out what an autonomous heating point is. This is a separate room where boiler equipment, the power of which is enough to provide heat and hot water to the entire apartment building. This is a kind of mini-boiler room with a full range of necessary appliances, fixtures and systems. Modern technologies for providing heat to residential buildings began to be used in autonomous systems. The latter worked for one or more houses, which was doubly beneficial. Why?
- Firstly, the distance from the heat generator to the heating devices in each apartment has been significantly reduced. This means that heat losses have decreased due to the transportation of the coolant.
- Secondly, the time of heat supply to the consumer was reduced, which is again associated with a decrease in distance.
- Thirdly, the costs of maintenance of heating networks, their repair and installation have changed downwards.
- Fourth, the economic performance stemming from previous benefits has declined. This means that the cost of the supplied coolant has changed to a minimum.
Autonomous System Diagram
There is another advantage of the system. When a house is being built, the developer is required to obtain a large number of permits that will allow him to crash into the central highway. Bureaucratic delays sometimes take more than one month. Yes, and the installation of a meter will cause a lot of disputes between developers and the host, that is, the operating company. So for builders, the option with, even for the largest house, is ideal.
And the last advantage - the boiler house for the microdistrict occupies a place where not only buildings and water tanks will be erected, but also an electrical substation, access roads, warehouses, office premises, office buildings and so on. That is, under it will have to allocate a fairly impressive area. And if there is no need for a boiler room, the district administration can use this area for its own needs. For example, to build another residential building, a school, a clinic, and so on.
Flaws
gas boilers
Cons exist in any system, but they are usually less:
- An autonomous boiler room should be located in a separate building, so it is necessary to allocate a site near the house for it. Sometimes such a building looks like an extension.
- Mini-boiler rooms pollute to a certain extent environment. Therefore, modern cleaning devices are indispensable here. And being inside microdistricts obliges to create conditions for environmentally friendly performance indicators. They exist and are stipulated by the norms and rules of SNiP. Hence the increase in the cost of the equipment itself.
- An autonomous heating system is not yet as popular as a centralized one, so the production of equipment and related components has not yet been put on stream. Hence the high cost of such systems. So, not all developers can afford them.
Heating regulator
However, experts say that engineering developments today can eliminate some of the shortcomings. For example, if an autonomous boiler room is used to heat only one apartment building, its equipment can be placed in the attic - the dimensions of the devices allow this. In addition, the attic immediately becomes heated, which is undoubtedly a plus. In addition, the area in the territory between the houses is freed up. The only requirement for such options is the presence of a flat roof, which is not a problem. If you plan to install just such a heating system, then you can add a flat roof to the project. Experts have already carried out preliminary calculations, which showed that even if the cost of equipment and installation costs are high, all this will pay off in a few seasons.
Varieties of decentralized heat supply
Of course, building a stand-alone boiler room, even a small one, is quite expensive. And the attic option is also not cheap. However, there is an alternative.
Modular boiler rooms
Block-modular boiler house
One of the very interesting projects is modular, or block, boiler rooms. There is no need to build anything, and only a small area is allocated for the boiler room. Blocks are brought here, which are easily and quickly connected into a finished structure. All of them are completed in the factory, the equipment inside them is precisely matched according to technical indicators, they are insulated and have a presentable appearance. The most important thing is to correctly arrange and connect the equipment. A couple of days, and the boiler room is ready. But only specialists should be engaged in its assembly. If anyone remembers, such modular boiler houses were used to heat change houses and barracks, that is, temporary structures. After engineers and designers worked on them, such autonomous installations began to be used for organizing heating in apartment buildings. However, this option is not the only one.
Wall mounted boilers
The most efficient and economical today is apartment heating, where as a heating device are used wall boilers. They run either on gas or electricity. Why wall-mounted?
wall boiler
- Firstly, they are small in size, so they can be installed even in kitchens. At the same time, their appearance does not spoil the interior design at all.
- Secondly, wall-mounted heating boilers are real mini-boiler rooms. Their design has circulation pump, expansion tank as well as control and safety devices.
- Thirdly, such heating installations can have a power of up to 35 kilowatts, which makes it possible to heat rooms up to 100 square meters with their help.
- Fourthly, modern manufacturers offer both single-circuit and double-circuit boilers for autonomous heating. So you will also be provided with hot water.
And now the important question is how to choose the right boiler? The main thing is to correctly select the unit according to the design features. It should contain all the devices that we mentioned without exception - a pump, a tank, and so on. In addition, a chimney is required, which will ensure not only the removal of fuel combustion products in the case of gas boilers, but also the flow of clean air from outside. This means that the wall-mounted gas boiler must be with a closed combustion chamber. And the last - full automation, which will not only simplify the operation of the boiler, but also save on fuel.
Attention! Modern wall-mounted heating boilers can also be used to connect the "warm floor" system to them. To do this, they have enough pressure, power, and coolant temperature.
Of course with gas boilers More connectivity issues. But electrical counterparts in this regard are simpler. Here it is only necessary to draw a branch from the switchboard with the installation of the machine and connect to the water supply system.
What can cause difficulties?
modern kitchen
It may seem that everything is very simple and profitable. Then why aren't tenants switching to this heating system? And no one gives them permission. Imagine that the residents of one house simultaneously submit documents for the re-equipment of heating networks, or rather, for the refusal of the services of organizations supplying heat to houses. This is, firstly, a disaster for such an organization and deprivation of its profits. And, secondly, job cuts, although this issue is controversial. Someone needs to serve autonomous mini-boilers. So, according to many indicators, any of these options is not profitable for management companies. Although on a national scale, the opposite is true. But it is not up to us to decide this issue.
Conclusion on the topic
No matter what happens in the technical and financial sphere, no matter who forbids the introduction of innovations that entail savings, autonomous heating is still gradually making its way into life. Mini-boiler houses appear in new buildings in different cities, which are now being introduced as experimental ones. But it will take a couple of years, and everything will fall into place. No one wants or will pay more, so new technologies will gradually be introduced into life.