Water pump for heating installation. Where is the best place to put the pump: supply or return? Selecting a pump tie-in location

A modern heating system is economical, convenient and manageable. However, the practice of its organization often contradicts the principles of building such structures. In an average apartment or one-story cottage, it is difficult to implement the classical gravitational mechanics of coolant movement. Installing a circulation pump will allow you to achieve a good level of stability and efficiency from the heating system. Such a device is also useful in structures with a gravitational component of the movement of the coolant, and a warm floor simply does not work without a forced supercharger.

A modern circulation pump is a fairly technological device. It uses components and materials that can work for a long time at high temperatures. Therefore, the installation of a supercharger in the heating system of a private house can be carried out practically without regard to the parameters of the coolant and other criteria.

In order to extend the life of the device and provide it with optimal working conditions, it is recommended to install the pump according to standard requirements, namely, on the return line of the heating system, where the coolant has a lower temperature. At the same time, there are several simple rules for organizing circulation systems, both open and closed.

A circulation pump must be installed for each closed heating circuit. This rule is always observed when heating individual parts of a private house or when supplying coolant to apartment radiators and underfloor heating.
Installing an additional pump produced in buildings where the network of pipelines is quite long. It is recommended to mount another blower if the pipe length is 80 meters or more.
If the supply and return differ in temperature by more than 20 degrees, this means that the supply pump must be installed in a system with natural circulation additional supercharger, if the existing one does not cope with the task.
Circulation pump control by changes in its speed can not only provide the best heating mode, but also save money due to the optimal operating conditions of the boiler.

The supercharger is easy to install with your own hands. In this case, it is necessary to choose the right place for installation according to the requirements for optimal operation of the equipment. At the same time, convenient adjustment of the heating pump and access for its quick dismantling for repair should be provided.

Advice! The right strategy when choosing a device for installation in a new or existing heating system is not only in the correct calculation of its parameters. The circulation pump should be selected according to the level of functionality. Options such as speed control are useful, and if you purchase a model with frequency control, you can get the opportunity to very finely tune the heat output and resource consumption.

The rules for choosing a point in the heating system where the forced circulation device is installed are quite simple and understandable.

The pump must be as close as possible to the heating equipment.
It is recommended to install the device on the return pipe.
Both when installing on the supply line and on the return line, there should not be any pipe outlets between the boiler and the circulation pump, with the exception of special ones designed to service the system.

The blower connection scheme, according to standard rules, should provide for the possibility of isolating the installation point for dismantling, ensuring the operation of the equipment in normal mode, guaranteeing easy maintenance of the system, and commissioning.

Heating system piping schemes

Building a line of presentation for a quick understanding of the features of the organization of certain heating systems, it is reasonable to start with the forced circulation option.

With forced circulation

This scheme has a number of features.

Height differences, pipe slopes, the location of radiators relative to the heating boiler are not regulated in any way.
The system uses multi-point equipment or a single-point air outlet system (Maevsky taps on heating radiators or one outlet point with the highest level of height).
It is allowed to organize an arbitrarily large number of isolated circulation circuits, each of which is serviced by a separate pump.

The main distinguishing feature of a system with forced circulation is that its operation without the operation of a circulation pump is impossible. Therefore, when the power is turned off, the coolant stops, the rooms are not heated.

Important! If a power outage occurs at negative air temperatures, a forced circulation system requires an emergency drain if the time before operation is restored allows the coolant to freeze. For this, emergency drain points are necessarily provided, in several places of the pipe structure with a low level. This does not need to be done if the system is closed, and the coolant does not provide for freezing at low temperatures.

With natural circulation

The system with natural circulation has a number of advantages, but requires strict adherence to the rules of the organization. Its features are as follows.

After the heating boiler, an accelerating line is provided, a vertical pipe that allows you to create pressure when the coolant expands for its movement through the network.
A clear slope parameter is regulated, both for supply and return pipes.
With several heating circuits, it is difficult or impossible to achieve optimal heat transfer in each of them.

The control of the circulation pump by the movement of the coolant can dramatically increase the functionality, efficiency, and customizability of the heating system with natural circulation.

Such a system allows solving a number of standard tasks:

level out design errors and overcome the hydraulic resistance of the pipeline network;
optimize the loading of heating circuits when installing several pumps, regulate heat transfer;
improve the working conditions of heating equipment.

The main advantage of a system with natural circulation, for all the complexity of its organization, is the ability to work when the power is turned off. To achieve this, the circulation pump installed in bypass. This is a fairly simple structure.

Bypass is a separate unit for installing a circulation pump with a bypass loop and shutoff valves for maintenance.

The bypass assembly provides several convenient options.

When the ball valves are closed, the supercharger can be removed without draining the entire system in order to repair the circulation pump or replace it.
Provides system operation without power supply.
It is possible to carry out the initial start of heating without the participation of the circulation pump.
It is easy to organize a structure to protect the pump from impurities entering its turbine by installing a coarse filter or a mesh-type assembly.

The water heating circuit of a private house can use both manual and automatic bypass. In the latter case, in the bypass circuit of the circulation pump check valve is installed.

During the operation of the circulation pump, excess pressure is formed at the outlet of the check valve. The unit shuts off the flow, providing an optimal scheme for the movement of the coolant. When the power is turned off, water begins to move through the valve due to the natural gravitational component. Such a scheme does not require adjustment and tuning, including during commissioning.

Advice! Since the non-return valve is a device that is quite sensitive to the ingress of scale and mineral deposits, in open heating systems it is recommended to duplicate its operation with a sequentially installed ball valve.

Connecting the pump to the power supply

Connection to the power supply network can be made in two ways.

Direct connection

The first is standard, it is a direct connecting the power cable to an outlet with the desired type of voltage. Wherein:

a wire with a cross section of at least 2 sq.m is selected;
conductors should be multi-stranded to reduce the likelihood of fractures when bending;
connection must be made using a ground wire.

The specific cross-section of the conductors should be selected based on the manufacturer's recommendations and the nameplate power of the pump. The socket into which the device is connected should be located as close as possible to the installation point, while it is recommended to install RCDs and emergency shutdown circuit breakers between it and the pump.

Advice! If the pump voltage supply cable is located close to the pipes of the heating network, and the coolant temperature exceeds 90 degrees, a special heat-resistant wire is selected to power the equipment.

UPS application

During the operation of the supercharger, especially under load, power failures, cases of its termination, changes in the input voltage parameters are possible. This can adversely affect the life of the device, its efficiency, and lead to breakdowns. Therefore, if possible, you should use the connection diagram through an uninterruptible power supply.

When choosing an uninterruptible power supply model, a simple calculation is carried out. The basic conditions include the power of the circulation pump and the time during which its operation must be maintained. Based on the results of the calculation, the battery capacity or UPS model is selected. Many manufacturers of such equipment on their official resources offer graphs and tables that make it easy to determine the best power source option.

Advice! To power the circulation pump, it is recommended to use a UPS only with a sinusoidal output signal or close to it. Best results show On-Line UPS, providing zero response time and an ideal voltage curve.

Commissioning and commissioning

Commissioning after installing the circulation pump is not difficult, but must be carried out in a certain order.

The pump is mounted in a bypass or crashes into a return or supply pipe.
The device is connected to the mains.
The heating system is filled with water.
Air locks are removed by opening shut-off valves on specially made bends or Mayevsky taps installed on heating radiators.
Air is removed from the circulation pump housing by opening the valve, unscrewing the screw on the cover of the device housing.

As soon as water begins to come out of the special outlet of the pump, the device is ready for operation. After that, it is enough to start the heating boiler, check the passport, what speed is better to turn on the heating pump, set the optimal mode and adjust the pressure parameters in the system during the heating of the coolant.

Possible malfunctions of circulation pumps

The circulation pump is a fairly simple device. Its serious breakdowns are in the wear of the turbine wheel, physical damage to the elements or failure of the electrical circuit. Some malfunctions of the heating pump can be fixed by hand. To do this, the device needs dismantle and dismantle. The procedure for this is as follows.

Turn off the power to the equipment.
If the pump is installed in a bypass or taps are provided on both sides, the coolant supply is shut off, the device is dismantled from the installation point.
For long-term repairs, a replacement pump should be installed.

Advice! If the heating system does not allow shutting off the fluid supply in a limited area of pump installation, it is recommended to completely drain the coolant before dismantling the device. Such a measure will allow faster commissioning according to the standard scheme.

When disassembling the circulation pump, you can access its main functional parts:

The pump is very buzzing, but there is no circulation of the coolant

Such an error occurs during long periods of equipment downtime. Sealing devices, bearings lack lubrication, dense mineral deposits form. To start the pump must be disassembled according to the manufacturer's instructions. The case, the electric drive is removed. Using a screwdriver or any jig, turn the rotor and achieve relatively free rotation. After that, the pump is installed in a regular place and turned on.

The device makes a lot of noise during operation

Cause of excessive noise debris hit into the area of the electric motor shaft and the turbine wheel unit. The problem is eliminated by complete disassembly and cleaning of the device.

Advice! To prevent trouble in the future, it is recommended to install cleaning filters at the pump inlet, and for idle equipment, start up for 20-30 minutes at least once a month.

The pump does not turn on

There can be several reasons for the launch failure. The most common - power failure. You should check the power cable (by turning off the circuit breakers or pulling the plug out of the socket) for fractures, damage, test the voltage of the power source.

Another reason for launch failure is protection operation. To eliminate the problem, replace the fuses or other elements provided by the manufacturer. Before starting the pump, carefully check the condition and parameters of the power supply, make sure that other systems associated with the blower are working correctly.

The device starts and stops working after a short period of time

The reason for the automatic stop is exceeding the permissible load. This is caused by scale build-up on wet rotor parts. To restore normal operation, the pump should be disassembled, remove mineral deposits using special tools.

Loud noise, vibration, heat generation

The reasons for the sharp change in sound and other operating parameters are the air in the circulation pump. This problem may be caused by improper commissioning or exceeding the minimum cavitation limit. Troubleshooting is carried out by adjusting the parameters of the heating system. Air plugs are removed from the pipes, a similar operation is carried out with a valve on the upper part of the pump housing.

Advice! To prevent the formation of cavitation bubbles, the inlet pressure should be adjusted (make it higher than the minimum specified in the pump passport) in the supply pipe.

Constant, increased vibration level

The cause of excessive vibration may be bearing wear. These structural elements have a limited service life even with ideal coolant parameters. The recommended interval for replacing bearings in circulation pumps must be indicated in the passport of a particular model.

It is worth remembering that you can pull out the bearing pressed into the mounting hole using a special puller. Reverse installation at home is done with a wooden mallet. The new bearing is placed on the bore and hammered in with light, precise blows.

Insufficient pressure

A correctly installed, working circulation pump is in some cases not able to provide sufficient pressure. The reason may be in incorrect rotation speed setting, which is often observed with high viscosity of the coolant or excessive length of pipelines. If there is such an opportunity, the device is regulated, in case of an incorrect choice of model, it is replaced.

For three-phase pumps the cause of insufficient pressure may be an incorrect wiring diagram. Therefore, the first phase of troubleshooting should be to check the phasing, the state of the neutral wire, and the voltage of the power grid.

It should always be remembered that the circulation pump does not reach the user immediately after production. Therefore, knowing how to disassemble and clean the device, as well as its components, is useful. For example, such information will easily help to cope with the case when a shutdown occurs due to oxidation of the fuse contacts. The operation of partial disassembly and stripping in this case can be performed even without dismantling the device.

Important! If simple troubleshooting methods do not help, you should seek the help of professionals. To determine the gap (degree of wear of the turbine wheel) between the impeller and the housing, special tools may be required. The same applies to the evaluation of the parameters of the motor windings. In some cases, complex, professional repairs may be required.

Conclusion

In order not to encounter malfunctions in the operation of the heating system, not to freeze, not to spend money and time on making changes to the piping, you should not save on the design and proper organization of the installation sites for circulation pumps. Bypasses equipped with shut-off valves, filters, check valves, the right choice of installation point will help simplify the heating setting, provide automatic control, guarantee optimal operating conditions for the equipment and a significant increase in its reliability and service life.

The installation of a circulation pump in dwellings with an individual heating system ensures uniform and high-quality distribution of heat throughout all the premises of the house.

In closed heating systems, forced circulation of hot water is required. This function is performed by circulation pumps, which consist of a metal motor or a rotor attached to a housing, most often made of stainless steel. The ejection of the coolant is provided by the impeller. It is located on the rotor shaft. The entire system is driven by an electric motor.

Circulation pump

Also in the design of the described installations there are the following elements:

shut-off and check valves;
the flow part (usually it is made of a bronze alloy);
thermostat (it protects the pump from overheating and ensures the economical operation of the device);
work timer;
connector (male).

The pump, when installed in a heating system, draws in water, and then supplies it to the pipeline due to centrifugal force. The specified force is generated when the impeller produces rotational movements. The circulation pump will work efficiently only if the pressure it creates can easily cope with the resistance (hydraulic) of the various components of the heating system (radiator, pipeline itself).

Various circulation units can be mounted in the heating system of a private house. They are divided into two large groups. The circulation pump can be "dry" or "wet". When installing devices of the first type with your own hands, it should be borne in mind that their motor is separated from the working part by sealing rings. They are made from stainless steel. During the start-up of the installation, the process of movement of these rings begins, which leads to the sealing of the connection with a water (very thin) film. The latter is located between the seals.

Circulation pumping unit

High-quality sealing in this case is ensured due to the fact that the pressure in the external atmosphere and in the heating system itself is characterized by different indicators. A “dry” pump makes quite loud sounds during operation. In this regard, its installation is always carried out in a specially soundproofed separate room of a private house. The efficiency of such a circulation unit is at the level of 80%.

There are three types of "dry" devices for connection to the heating system: horizontal, vertical, block. The electric motor in the units of the first type is placed horizontally. The discharge pipe is attached to them on the body of the apparatus, and the suction pipe is mounted on the shaft (on its front side). In vertical installations, the nozzles are on the same axis. And the engine in this case is located vertically. In block circulating units, heated water exits radially, and enters the system in an axial direction.

Caring for a "dry" unit is objectively difficult. Its elements must be regularly lubricated with a special compound. If this is not done, the end seals will quickly fail, causing the pump to stop. In addition, in a private house, “dry” devices should be placed in rooms where there is no dust. Its turbulence during equipment operation often causes pump depressurization.

In "wet" units, the coolant itself performs the function of lubrication. The impeller and rotor of such installations are immersed in water. "Wet" devices are much less noisy, they are easier to mount with your own hands. And their maintenance is simpler compared to "dry" pumps.

The body of the "wet" installation, as a rule, is made of brass or bronze. Between the stator and the rotor there must be a special separator made of stainless steel. It is called a glass. It is necessary to give the required tightness to the engine (more precisely, its elements under electrical voltage). It is the “wet” units that are most often mounted in a private house in the heating system.

They do a good job of heating relatively small areas. For large objects, such devices are not suitable, since their performance usually does not exceed 50%. The low efficiency of "wet" installations is due to the impossibility of high-quality sealing of the glass placed between the stator and the rotor.

The key indicator that determines the efficiency of the circulation pump is its power. For a domestic heating system, you do not need to try to purchase the most powerful installation. It will only hum strongly and waste electricity.

Mounted circulation pump

indicator of hot water pressure;
section of pipes;
productivity and throughput of the heating boiler;
coolant temperature.

The flow of hot water is determined simply. It is equal to the power of the heating unit. If, for example, you have 20 kW, no more than 20 liters of water will be consumed per hour. The pressure of the circulation unit for the heating system for every 10 m of pipes is about 50 cm. The longer the pipeline, the more powerful the pump must be purchased. Here you should immediately pay attention to the thickness of tubular products. The resistance to the movement of water in the system will be stronger if you install small pipes.

In pipelines with a diameter of half an inch, the flow rate of the coolant is 5.7 liters per minute at the generally accepted (1.5 m / s) speed of water movement, with a diameter of 1 inch - 30 liters. But for pipes with a cross section of 2 inches, the flow rate will already be at the level of 170 liters. Always select the diameter of the pipes in such a way that you do not have to overpay extra money for energy resources.

The flow rate of the pump itself is determined by the following ratio: N/t2-t1. Under t1 in this formula is understood the temperature of the water in the return pipes (usually it is 65–70 ° С), under t2 - the temperature provided by the heating unit (at least 90 °). And the letter N indicates the power of the boiler (this value is available in the equipment passport). The pump pressure is set according to the standards accepted in our country and Europe. It is believed that 1 kW of power of the circulation unit is quite enough for high-quality heating of 1 square of the area of a private dwelling.

Installation of circulation pumps is carried out in two ways. The first connection scheme of the unit is two-pipe. This connection method is described by a high temperature difference in the system and a variable flow rate of the coolant. The second scheme is one-pipe. In this case, the temperature difference in will be insignificant, and the carrier flow rate will be constant.

Installed circulation pump

Do-it-yourself connection of the pump is carried out according to the instructions that are attached to the unit. It also indicates the installation procedure for a functional reinforcing chain. Be sure to drain all water from the system before installing the pump. Often there is a need to clean it. During the operation of the heating boiler, a lot of debris is collected on the inner surfaces of the pipes, which worsens the technical performance of the system.

Experts advise placing the circulation unit in front of the boiler - on the return line. This is done in order to eliminate the risk of boiling of an open-type heating system due to the vacuum that is created when the pump is installed at the supply. In addition, if you install the circulation unit on the return, its trouble-free operation will be significantly increased due to the fact that it will operate at lower temperatures.

The procedure for installing the pump itself looks like this:

You make a bypass (in professional slang - a bypass) in the area where the pump will be placed. The bypass diameter is always taken slightly smaller than the cross section of the main pipe.
Mount (strictly horizontally) the shaft of the pumping device, place the terminal box on top.
Install ball valves on both sides of the pump.
Install a filter. It is not recommended to operate the equipment without this device.
Place an automatic (optionally manual) vent valve above the bypass line. This device will allow you to clean the air pockets that regularly form in the system.

Further, valves (shut-off) are installed at the inlet-outlet section of the circulation unit. For an open heating system, an expansion tank is additionally required (not installed in closed complexes). The final stage of installation work is the processing of all, without exception, the connection points of various elements of the system with a good sealant.

The power of heaters operating on the principle of natural circulation is often not enough to produce the required volumes of heat. In some buildings, heating can be carried out due to the temperature difference and the mass of the coolant, but large cottages will require a pump to be connected to the heating system. In order for the heat to be evenly distributed throughout the dwelling, and the heating circuit to function without interruption, it is necessary to follow the technological sequence of its installation.

Modernization of the heating network

A standard heating system works well even without adding additional elements, but this is only true for small buildings.

The heating circuit distributes energy too unevenly among its elements, especially in the case of autonomous water supply. The water in the boiler will come to a boil, but the radiators in the rooms far from it will remain almost cold.

The efficiency of the heating network can be increased by installing pipes of large diameter or inserting a circulation pump. Preliminary dismantling of structures built into walls and floors requires the involvement of construction organizations due to its complexity.

In addition, replacing pipes with analogues of a wide section will seriously hit the homeowner's wallet. The use of a water pump will become a more profitable technical and economic solution.

The use of devices of this design will improve the temperature regime of a private house and achieve constant uniform heating. The ingress of air into the system leads to the formation of gas plugs that rise and prevent water from flowing to the radiators.

The operating pump will eliminate the possibility of their occurrence and significantly expand the range of the heating circuit. In order not to spend extra money on equipment with excess power and correctly determine the place where to put it, you will need to carry out technical calculations.

Equipment selection

An important parameter when buying a water pump is its power. Unsuccessful selection will lead to excessive consumption of electricity and strong noise interference during operation. The complex architecture of the heating system will also require the intervention of a heating engineer.

To calculate the required power, the owner of a private house can use the diagram below. The technical parameters of the mounted devices must exceed the calculated values by 10-15%.

power search

The heating demand supplied by the pump depends on the section of the conductive pipe. They are strongly influenced by the maximum head pressure, the volume of the coolant, its temperature and density.

The amount of working fluid passing through a random section of the water circuit is calculated similarly to the volumes of water that the boiler used. The consumption values are equated to the power parameters.

In practice, using a 20 kW boiler will mean that it will pass 20 liters of liquid through itself per minute.

Calculation formula

The same principle applies to radiators. When choosing a place where the circulation pump will be installed, it is necessary to take into account the fluid flow of each ring of the heating network. This indicator will also be affected by the cross section of the pipeline and its length.

Each ten-meter section of the heating system will require 0.6 m of pressure from the working pump. For communications of a hundred-meter length installed in a private house, you will need an apparatus with a pressure of 6 m.

Stimulation of fluid movement in pipes involves the use of one of two qualitatively different methods. A “dry” type unit can be installed in the system, the rotor of which will not come into contact with water inside the circuit. The connection scheme of a "wet" pump, on the contrary, requires immersion of its working part in a liquid heat carrier.

Hermetically sealed flywheels of the first type of devices are used in the arrangement of high-rise buildings or large shopping centers. The air turbulence that accompanies their rotation causes a lot of noise and makes them inconvenient for installation in private buildings.

Wet pump bodies are made of brass or bronze with ceramic or steel parts inside. The water flowing through them performs the function of lubrication and prolongs the service life.

Direct installation

The process of installing a pump for heating requires the prior purchase of equipment with a split thread. In case of its absence, installation will be difficult due to the need for self-selection of transition elements. For long-term operation, you will also need a deep filter and check valves that provide pressure operation.

Installation is carried out using a set of wrenches of appropriate sizes, valves and bypasses equal to the diameter of the riser.

The final heating capacity will be affected by the choice of a place where it will be possible to put the equipment.

Place for tie-in

When connecting the pump, take into account its periodic maintenance and place it within direct reach. The priority installation site is also determined by other nuances. In the past, wet pumps were often mounted in return circuits. Cooled water, which washed the working part of the equipment, extended the life of seals, rotors and bearings.

The details of modern circulation devices are made of durable metal, protected from the effects of hot water, and therefore can be freely attached to the supply pipeline.

Improving Efficiency

A properly installed pump unit can increase the pressure in the suction area and thus increase the heating efficiency. The connection diagram implies the installation of the device on the supply pipeline near the expansion tank. This creates a high temperature zone in a given section of the heating circuit.

Before inserting the bypass with the pump, you will need to make sure that the device can withstand the onslaught of hot water. If a private house is equipped with underfloor heating, the device must be installed on the coolant supply line - this will protect the system from air locks.

A similar method is suitable for membrane tanks - bypasses are mounted on the return line in the minimum proximity to the expander. This can make it difficult to access the unit. The problem will be corrected by installation on the supply circuit with a vertical check valve tie-in.

Structural scheme

Installation of circulation equipment requires compliance with the rules regarding the sequence of fastening elements:

ball valves mounted on the sides of the pump provide the possibility of removing it for inspection or replacement;
a filter embedded in front of them protects the system from impurities clogging the pipes. Sand, scale and small abrasive particles quickly destroy the impeller and bearings;
The upper parts of the bypasses are equipped with air bleed valves. They can be opened manually or operate automatically;
the scheme for the correct installation of a "wet" pump implies its horizontal mounting. The arrow on the body must coincide with the direction of water movement;
protection of threaded connections is ensured by the use of sealant, and all mating parts are reinforced with gaskets.

For safety reasons, pumping equipment can only be connected to a grounded outlet. If grounding has not yet been carried out, it must be provided before the machine is put into operation.

The dependence of the pump on the availability of electricity is not an obstacle to normal functioning. When developing a project, it is necessary to include the possibility of natural circulation in it.

Sequence of work

When connected to an existing heating network, you will need to drain the coolant from it and blow the system. If the pipeline has been actively used for many years, it must be flushed several times to remove scale residues from the pipes.

The functional chain of the circulation pump and its fittings is mounted in a pre-selected place in accordance with the connection rules. When the installation cycle is completed and all additional devices are attached, the pipes are again filled with coolant.

To remove residual air, you need to open the central screw on the cover of the device. A signal of successful bleeding will be water flowing from the holes. If the pump has manual control, the gases will need to be removed before each start. To save equipment and reduce interference in the heating process, you can put an automatic pump with a control system.

In order to make life in the house as comfortable as possible in the winter, it is imperative to perform such an operation as installing a circulation pump in the heating system. The procedure is not too complicated and, if necessary, can be done independently. But, of course, you will first have to choose the equipment that is suitable in all respects, as well as familiarize yourself with the technology of its installation.

Benefits of using

Systems with natural circulation of the coolant have a number of disadvantages. Firstly, in the house you have to install pipes with too large a diameter. This is necessary so that the water circulates freely through them, without lingering anywhere. Secondly, when installing such a system, it is necessary to calculate the angle of inclination of the pipes. And thirdly, this type of equipment is not very convenient to use.

Installing a circulation pump in the heating system solves all these problems. Pipes when using it can be placed thin. The slope in such systems is not necessary, but the heat is distributed evenly throughout the rooms. You can install such a pump, including in a system with natural circulation of the coolant. In this case, the house will not be left without heating.

Varieties

At the moment, only two main types of circulation pumps are produced: wet-running and conventional. The first variety is not very powerful, it works silently and is usually used in country houses and cottages. Most often this is a single-phase equipment.

The pump in the heating system of an apartment building is produced in the same way as in the network of a private small building. However, conventional equipment is used, that is, one in which the rotor and stator are separated from the volute by a waterproof membrane. Installation at the same time is carried out on the highway in a separate room - the boiler room. The fact is that such pumps are very noisy. This is a three-phase heavy equipment that requires, among other things, periodic lubrication.

How to choose

Before proceeding with such a procedure as installing a circulation pump in a heating system (it is quite possible to do it yourself, as you will soon be able to see), you should, of course, purchase all the necessary equipment. So, in the event that you need a pump for a private house, you should buy a single-phase model with a “wet running” rotor. For an apartment building or a very large cottage, three-phase powerful pumps are suitable.

In any case, when buying, you should study the technical data sheet of the model. In this case, first of all, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:

Performance. This indicator is usually expressed in liters or cubic meters. It means the volume of liquid that the pump can pass through itself in an hour. In order to choose the right model, you should know how much water is pumped into the system. The performance value should exceed this figure by about three times.
Head. This parameter shows with what force the pump can draw in the coolant. The device should easily cope with pumping water through all the bends of the heating, if necessary, raise it to the upper floors, etc. For example, for an apartment building, you will need to purchase equipment with a pressure of about 20 m. A less powerful model is also suitable for a cottage.

Automatic circulation pumps are considered very convenient to use. Such a model can be put on a timer, and it will turn itself off and on when necessary.

Basic installation rules

Most often, the circulation pump is installed in the heating system through a bypass pipe called a bypass. In this case, during a power outage, the system is transferred to natural circulation without any problems. In order to start up water directly, you just need to close the valves on the bypass.

The circulation pump is installed only on the return pipe between the last radiator and the heating boiler. This is due to the fact that the pump does not push water, but sucks it in. In addition, under the influence of a very hot coolant in the supply pipe, its mechanisms quickly fail.

Between the pump and the boiler, only a pressure gauge, a thermometer and a pressure relief valve are installed. A filter is mounted directly next to it on the bypass. There is a lot of different debris in any heating system: scale, silt, etc. Without a filter, the pump impeller will quickly clog, as a result of which it will simply fail.

When performing such an operation as installing a circulation pump in the heating system of a private house, the following recommendations must be observed:

If the tie-in is made into an existing network, the water must first be drained from the mains. The pipeline must be thoroughly flushed.
After completion of the complete installation cycle, the system is refilled with water.
All connections must be sealed with sealant.
At the final stage, open the central screw on the pump housing and release excess air from it.

How to install

Do-it-yourself installation of the circulation pump in the heating system is carried out as follows:

A piece is cut out in the intended section of the return pipe, the length of which should be equal to the width of the bypass.
Tees are installed on both freed ends.
These elements are connected by a piece of pipe with a valve built into it.
Each tee is connected to an L-shaped piece of pipe with nuts at the end and valves.
A filter is installed on one of the L-shaped pieces (between the valve and the pump).
The nuts are screwed to the nozzles of the circulation pump.

Install the device in such a way that the coolant subsequently moves in the direction indicated by the arrow printed on the housing. In addition, the place for its tie-in should be chosen in such a way that subsequently access to it is not difficult.

How to connect to the mains

When using the method of mounting the circulation pump described above, its shaft will be located in a horizontal position. In this case, air will not accumulate in it, preventing the lubrication of the bearings. Among other things, when installing the device, be sure to ensure that it is located on top.

Connect the electric pump to the mains in compliance with all applicable safety rules. The power cable must be equipped with a plug or switch. The minimum distance between the axes of the contacts is 3 mm. Cable section - not less than 0.75 mm. Of course, the pump must be connected to a grounded outlet.

One or several?

Usually in a private house, only one circulation pump is installed in the heating system. The power of modern equipment of this type is quite enough to ensure a sufficient flow rate of the coolant. Two pumps are included in the system only if the total length of the pipes exceeds 80 m.

Can it be installed without a bypass

On the bypass pipe, a circulation pump is usually installed in an open-type heating system. At the same time, if necessary, the owners of a country house have the opportunity to switch the network to the natural current of the coolant. If the system is planned without slopes, the pump can be mounted in a pipe without a bypass. In this case, the installation is carried out directly in the return line. In this case, a shut-off valve must also be installed. This will allow you to easily remove the device for repair or replacement without having to drain the water from the system.

Such a procedure as installing a circulation pump in a heating system without a bypass is usually performed only if the house has an alternative source of electricity. It can be, for example, a modern gasoline or diesel generator. In this case, in the event of a sudden power outage, the building will not be left without heating.

How to install on polypropylene

Now let's see how the circulation pump is installed in the heating system in this case. Polypropylene - the material is quite light and easy to use. Connecting the equipment in this case is done as follows:

Special connections (3/4) are soldered to the ends of the line.
Further, cranes are attached to them using flax.
Then the latter are connected to the pump assembly with the help of spurs.

Operating rules

Modern circulation pumps are reliable and have a long service life. But, of course, sometimes this equipment also fails. Such a nuisance can happen, for example, due to:

too strong or weak water supply,
operation without coolant in the system,
in the event of a long downtime,
at too strong heating of water (over +65 gr).

How to dismantle

So, we have examined how the circulation pump is installed in a closed and open heating system. Now let's discuss how to remove this equipment in case it needs to be repaired or replaced. This procedure consists of just a few steps:

the pump is de-energized
valves on the bypass are closed,
the valve on the main line opens,
fastening nuts are loosened.

In the event that the pump has been installed in the system for a long time, it is likely to be stuck. Therefore, it will have to be knocked out by tapping a mallet.

It is unlikely that it will be possible to repair the pump on your own, if the owner of the house does not have sufficient experience in this matter. Most likely, it will have to be carried to a repair shop. But most often, the owners of suburban buildings still install new equipment in the system, since pumps are not too expensive today.

Uniform distribution of heat in a house with an autonomous heating system is due to the model of the pumping device used. Due to this equipment, the forced movement of a warm medium through pipes and radiators is ensured.

To determine which heating pump connection scheme will be optimal for self-implementation, many details have to be taken into account. In this article, we will consider in detail the possible connection schemes, we will analyze in detail the connection rules.

We will also pay attention to the intricacies of choosing a place for installation, supplementing the material with thematic photos and diagrams.

A couple of decades ago, in the private sector, houses were equipped with gravity-flow heating. A wood stove or gas boiler was used as a heat source. For overall circulation devices, there was only one area of \u200b\u200bapplication - district heating networks.

Today, manufacturers of heating equipment offer smaller units with the following advantages:

Increased the speed of movement of the thermal carrier. The heat generated by the boiler quickly enters the radiators. Due to this, the process of warming up the premises was significantly accelerated.
The higher the speed of movement, the higher the throughput of the pipes. This means that the same amount of heat can be delivered to the rooms with a smaller diameter pipe.
Water heating schemes have undergone significant changes. The highway can be laid with the slightest slope. Also, the complexity and length of the line can be anything. The basic rule is the rational choice of the heating pump based on the required power.
With the help of a household circulation device, it became possible to organize underfloor heating in the house, as well as an efficient closed-type heating system.
It became possible to hide the entire heating line of communications passing through the rooms, which is not always well combined with the design of the room. Quite common options for laying pipes behind stretch ceilings, in walls or under flooring.

The disadvantages of pumping systems include the conditionality of functioning from the supply of electricity and its consumption by the pumping apparatus during the heating season.

The leading company Grundfos, which develops equipment for heating, has released innovative models of Alpfa2 circulation pumps that can change performance based on the needs of the heating system, which saves on electricity consumption

Therefore, if the site is often deprived of power supply, it would be advisable to install a device to provide electricity in uninterrupted mode. The second drawback is not critical and can be eliminated by the power and model of the circulation pump.

Choice of insertion point of the device into the system

The installation of a circulation pump is supposed to be in the area immediately after the heat generator, not reaching the first branching line. The selected pipeline does not matter - it can be either a supply or a return line.

Where can the pump be placed?

Modern models of household heating units made of high quality materials can withstand temperatures up to a maximum of 100 ° C. However, most systems are not designed for higher heating of the coolant.

The temperature index of the coolant in the personal heating network rarely even reaches 70 °C. The boiler also does not heat water above 90 degrees.

Its performance will be equally effective both on the supply and on the return branch.

And that's why:

The density of water when heated to 50 ° C is 987 kg / m 3, and at 70 degrees - 977.9 kg / m 3;
The heating unit is capable of generating a hydrostatic pressure of 4-6 m of water column and pumping almost 1 ton of coolant per hour.

From this we can conclude: an insignificant difference of 9 kg / m 3 between the static pressure of the moving coolant and the return does not affect the quality of space heating.

Are there exceptions to the rules?

As an exception, inexpensive ones can serve - with a direct type of combustion. Their device does not provide for automation, therefore, at the moment of overheating, the coolant begins to boil.

Installation of collector wiring in a heating system using a solid fuel boiler is considered the most effective. However, this type of heating of a private house is one of the most difficult to perform.

Problems begin to arise if the electric pump installed in the supply line begins to fill with hot water with steam.

The heat carrier penetrates through the housing with the impeller and the following occurs:

Due to the action of gases on the impeller of the pumping device, the efficiency of the unit decreases. As a result, the coefficient of the circulation rate of the heat carrier is significantly reduced.
An insufficient amount of cold liquid enters the expansion tank, located near the suction pipe. The overheating of the mechanism increases and even more steam is formed.
A large amount of steam, when it enters the impeller, completely stops the movement of warm water along the line. Due to the increase in pressure, a trip occurs. Steam is released directly into the boiler room. An emergency is being created.
If the firewood is not extinguished at this moment, the valve will not be able to cope with the load and an explosion will occur.

In practice, from the initial moment of overheating to the operation of the safety valve, no more than 5 minutes pass. If you mount the circulation mechanism on the return branch, then the length of time for which steam enters the device increases to 30 minutes. This gap will be enough to eliminate the heat supply.

In inexpensive heat generators made of low quality metal, the pressure of the safety valve is 2 bar. In high-quality solid fuel boilers - this indicator is 3 Bar

From this we can conclude that it is impractical and even dangerous to install a circulation device on the supply line. Pumps for solid fuel heat generators are best mounted in the return pipeline. However, this requirement does not apply to automated systems.

Heating with a group of individual lines

If the heating system is divided into two separate lines, heating the right and left sides of the cottage or several floors, it would be more practical to install an individual pump for each of the branches.

When installing a separate device for the heating line of the second floor, it becomes possible to save money by adjusting the required mode of operation. Due to the fact that heat has the ability to rise, it will always be warmer on the second floor. This will reduce the rate of circulation of the coolant.

The tie-in of the pump is carried out in a similar way - in the area located immediately after the heat generator to the first branch in this heating circuit. Usually, when installing two units in a two-story house, the fuel consumption for servicing the upper floor will be significantly less.

Schemes for different types of systems

Initially, it is necessary to determine the tie-in zone of the circulation device. With its help, the process of active movement of the liquid is carried out - the flow passes through the boiler and is forcibly directed to the heating radiators.

For the location of the domestic pump, it is necessary to determine the most convenient area so that it can be easily serviced. At the feed, it is installed after the shut-off valves of the boiler.

In order to carry out maintenance and control of the functioning of the equipment, it is necessary to install shut-off valves. Thus, any element of the heating system can be removed without completely dismantling the line

On the return pipeline, the pump is placed after the expansion tank in front of the heat generator.

Due to the presence of various mechanical impurities in the water, for example, sand, problems may arise in the operation of the pumping mechanism. Particles contribute to the jamming of the impeller, and in the worst case, to stopping the motor. Therefore, directly in front of the unit, you will need to put a strainer-strainer.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the issue of an open-type heating system. It is capable of operating in two modes - with forced and gravity circulation of the coolant.

The second option is more suitable for areas with frequent blackouts. This is much more economical than buying an uninterruptible power supply or a generator. In this case, the unit with shut-off valves must be installed on, and a tap must be inserted into a straight line.

In stores you can find ready-made units with a bypass. In place of the flow tap, they have a check spring valve. This solution is not recommended - the valve produces a resistance force of 0.1 bar, which is listed as a large indicator for a gravity-flow type circulation system.

It is better to use a reed valve instead. However, its installation is carried out strictly horizontally.

Solid fuel pump and boiler

The pump is connected to a system with a solid fuel unit on the return line. In this case, a pumping device is connected to the boiler circuit with a bypass and a three-way mixing valve. In addition, the latter can be equipped with a servo drive and a clamp-on temperature sensor.

The solid fuel boiler connection scheme is based on two important elements that allow it to function effectively in the heating system of a private house. These include: a safety group and a mixing unit based on a three-way mixing valve

Due to the fact that the maximum performance of heating equipment is used to the full only in the cold period, it is possible to install a heat accumulator (TA). It is able to absorb excess heat, and then, on demand, give it to the heating circuit.

This battery is made in the form of a tank and lined with heat-insulating material. On one side of the device there are two branch pipes intended for its connection, and two on the other - for connection to the radiator line.

The heat accumulator has two circuits: small and large. The first receives energy from the boiler, the second - gives the coolant to the heating system as needed

In the process of passing the liquid through the boiler, which operates at maximum, the coolant in the heat accumulator warms up to 90-110 degrees over time. In a large circuit, a tie-in of another circulation device is required.

Depending on the degree of cooling of the liquid in the heating system, the required amount of heat from the storage device will enter here through the valve.

Pump installation diagram

To perform its functions, household circulation equipment, regardless of the manufacturer, must be on a pipe or shut-off and control valves.

Fastening is carried out by means of union nuts. This fixation option will allow, if necessary, to remove it, for example, for inspection or repair.

When choosing a model of a circulation pump, it is necessary to pay attention to its ability to function in different positions. Vertical placement of the device reduces its power by up to 30%

Correctly executed installation of all elements of the heating system ensures uniform heating of the entire line.

During the installation of the circulation pump, the following rules must be observed:

It is allowed to install the device on any section of the pipe. The pipeline can be positioned horizontally, vertically or inclined. However, the rotary axis must be in a horizontal position. Therefore, installation "head down" or, conversely, up is not possible.
It is worth paying attention to the location of the plastic box where the power contacts are located - they will be on top of the case. Otherwise, they may be flooded with water in an emergency. To do this, unscrew the fixing screws on the casing and turn it in the required direction.
Observe the direction of flow. It is indicated by an arrow on the body of the device.

With all its weight, the pump presses on the body of ball valves located nearby. This should be taken into account when choosing fittings. High-quality parts are equipped with a powerful body, which during operation will not be covered with cracks from daily loads.

Installation of additional equipment

Regardless of the type of heating circuit used, where one boiler serves as a heat producer, it will be enough to install a single pumping device.

If the system is structurally more complex, it is possible to use additional devices that provide forced circulation of the liquid.

The need for this appears in the following cases:

when heating a house, more than one boiler unit is involved;
if there is a buffer capacity in the strapping scheme;
the heating system diverges into several branches, for example, maintenance of an indirect boiler, several floors, etc.;
when using a hydraulic separator;
when the length of the pipeline is more than 80 meters;
when organizing the movement of water in the floor heating circuits.

To perform the correct piping of several boilers operating on different fuels, it is necessary to install backup pumps.

For scheme c, it is also necessary to install an additional circulation pump. In this case, the line consists of two circuits - heating and boiler.

A more complex heating scheme is implemented in large houses on 2-3 floors. Due to the branching of the system into several lines, pumps for pumping coolant are used from 2 or more.

They are responsible for supplying the coolant to each of the floors to various heating devices.

Regardless of the number of pumping devices, they are installed on the bypass. In the off-season, the heating system can operate without a pump, which is closed using ball valves

If it is planned to organize heated floors in the house, then it is advisable to install two circulation pumps.

In the complex, the pumping and mixing unit is responsible for preparing the coolant, i.e. keeping the temperature at 30-40 ° C.

In order for the power of the main pumping device to be enough to overcome the local hydraulic resistance of the floor contours, the length of the line should not exceed 50 m. Otherwise, the heating of the floors will become uneven, respectively, and the premises

In some cases, the installation of pumping units is not required at all. Many models of wall-mounted electric and gas generators already have built-in circulation devices.

Rules for connecting to the power supply

The circulation pump is powered by electricity. The connection is standard. It is recommended to run a separate power supply line with a surge protector.

To connect, you need to prepare 3 wires - phase, zero and ground.

You can choose any of the connection methods:

through the device
connection to the network along with an uninterruptible power supply;
pump power supply from the boiler automation system;
with thermostat control.

Many are wondering why complicate, because the connection of the pump can be done by connecting the plug to the wire. This is how the pumping device is plugged into a regular outlet.

The circuit with a differential automaton is used for the so-called wet groups. The heating system built in this way provides a high degree of safety for wiring, equipment and people.

The first option is not difficult to self-assemble. It is necessary to install a differential machine for 8 A. The wire cross section is selected based on the rating of the device.

In the standard scheme, power is supplied to the upper sockets - they are marked with odd numbers, the load - to the lower ones (even numbers). Both phase and zero will be connected to the machine, so the connectors for the latter are denoted by the letter N.

To automate the process of stopping the circulation of the heat carrier when it cools to a certain temperature, an electrical circuit for connecting a pump and a thermostat is used. The second is mounted in the supply line.

At the moment when the water temperature drops to the specified value, the device disconnects the power supply circuit.

In order for the thermostat to turn off the circulation process at the right time, it is installed on the metal section of the pipeline line. Due to the poor conduction of heat by polymers, mounting on a plastic pipe will cause incorrect operation of the device

There are no difficulties in supplying electricity through an uninterruptible power supply, for this it has special connectors. A heat generator is also connected to them when there is a need to provide electricity.

If you choose the method of connecting the pump to the boiler control panel or automation, you will need good knowledge in the power supply system or the help of a professional.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Rules for installing heating equipment in the video:

The video explains the features of a two-pipe heating system and demonstrates different installation schemes for devices:

Features of connecting the heat accumulator to the heating system in the video:

If you know all the connection rules, there will be no difficulties with the installation of the circulation pump, as well as when connecting it to the power supply at home.

The most difficult task is to insert a pumping device into a steel pipeline. However, using a set of lerok for creating threads on pipes, you can independently equip the pumping unit.

Do you want to supplement the information presented in the article with recommendations from personal experience? Or maybe you saw inaccuracies or errors in the reviewed material? Please write to us about it in the comments block.