Collector for heating: principle of operation, installation and connection rules. Why do we need a heating distribution manifold What does the manifold consist of

In plumbing, a collector is a section of a pipe with an enlarged cross section that collects (or distributes) water from several branches of a smaller diameter. In the heating systems of administrative, residential and industrial buildings, this element is found under the name "distribution comb". Our task is to consider a heating collector for a private house, talk about the principle of operation, application options and installation methods.

Why do we need a collector, the principle of operation

The device of this plumbing fixture is very simple. In fact, this is a piece of large diameter pipe, equipped with threaded fittings for connecting the water system circuits. The length of the heating comb depends on the number of connections, the main line is usually connected to the end.

Reference. As a rule, collectors are supplied with branch pipes of the same diameter, which is 0.5 ... 0.75 of the section of the main chamber. The distance between the fittings can be different - depending on the flow rate of the coolant in the circuits and the purpose of the comb.

What happens in the collector, where water enters from 2 ... 10 parallel branches:

From several lines, a coolant with different parameters enters the collection pipeline - temperature, flow rate, flow rate per unit of time.
In a large cross section of the comb, the speed of water movement decreases, and the hydraulic resistance decreases.
Mixing in the main chamber, different streams acquire the same temperature and speed at the outlet.

Scheme of operation of the collector pipe for collecting coolant

So, the task of the collector is to collect the coolant, equalize its parameters and send it back to the boiler along the main line. You can’t do without a comb when you need to bring several highways into one pipeline with different water flow rates, hydraulic resistance and length. Try to connect such branches on tees - 2-3 circuits will immediately stop working normally.

The heating distribution manifold works in the same way, only in the opposite direction. Water from the boiler, slowly flowing through the main chamber, diverges in the required amount along the secondary lines.

One bare pipe with branches is of little use without accompanying fittings - taps, valves and other elements. The manifold assembly helps to solve several important tasks:

regulate the amount of coolant for each branch, between them;
by mixing, reduce the temperature of the supplied water and maintain it at a given level;
empty the system, bleed air;
automatically control the microclimate of each room using room thermostats.

Types of collector nodes

Before considering the types of combs, we will indicate how they can be used in water heating systems for private houses and apartments:

distribution and regulation of water temperature in the contours of underfloor heating, abbreviated as TP;
distribution of coolant to radiators (collector) circuit;
overall heat distribution in a large residential building with a complex heat supply system.

On the left in the photo - a coplanar collector for distributing the coolant along the branches, on the right - a finished collector module with a hydraulic arrow

In country cottages with branched heating, the collector group includes the so-called hydraulic arrow (in other words, a thermo-hydraulic separator). In fact, this is a vertical collector with 6 outlets: 2 - from the boiler, two - to the comb, one top to remove air, water is discharged from the bottom.

Addition. There are cascade hydraulic arrows with a large number of fittings, where heating circuits are connected directly. Then the collector type distributor is not used.

Now about the types of distribution combs:

To limit the water temperature, regulate the flow and balance the contours of the warm floor, special collector blocks made of brass, stainless steel or plastic are used. The size of the connecting hole of the main heating main (at the end of the pipe) is ¾ or 1 inch (DN 20-25), branches - ½ or ¾, respectively (DN 15-20).
In radiator beam schemes, the same combs of floor heating systems are used, but with reduced functionality. We will explain the difference below.
Large-sized steel collectors are used for the general house distribution of the heat carrier, the connection diameter is over 1” (DN 25).

Factory collector groups are not cheap. For the sake of economy, homeowners often use combs made of polypropylene, or take cheap distributors for water systems. Next, we will indicate the problems associated with the installation of homemade and plumbing collectors.

Combs for radiator and floor systems - stainless steel, brass and plastic

Comb device for underfloor heating

The temperature of the heat carrier supplied to the underfloor heating circuits must not exceed 50 °C, the optimum temperature curve is 40/30 °C. If the floor surface heats up more than 30 degrees, the room will become stuffy and uncomfortable.

Only gas boilers are capable of keeping 40–50 ° C on the supply, and even then, with a loss of efficiency. In order to efficiently consume gas or another energy carrier, water must be heated to 60 degrees, and then the temperature at the entrance to the TP loops should be reduced. This is one of the main tasks of the collector block, which consists of the following elements:

the collector itself - 2 separate tubes (supply and return) with wall mounting brackets;
push acting thermostatic valves with Eurocone pipe connection;
flowmeters (rotameters) with a scale of 0.5…5 l/min;
end blocks with automatic air and drain valves;
blocks of pointer thermometers;
shut-off ball valves;
bypass line with bypass valve.

Distributor design for underfloor heating systems

Rotameters and pressure valves are screwed into special sockets on the comb, the latter are closed with plastic caps. Air vents with drain valves are screwed into the ends of the collector tubes on one side, blocks of thermometers and taps on the other. The bypass is installed depending on the design of the comb.

Note. Typically, flow meters are on the supply line, thermal valves - on the "return". But there are other models of collectors with rotameters on the return line. If you confuse the distributor tubes, then you will not be able to twist the valves instead of the flow meters - the internal shape of the bushings is different.

Behind the thermometers are ball valves, followed by a circulation pump and a mixing unit. Let's consider each element of the collector group separately.

Design and purpose of flowmeters

Rotameters are designed to control and regulate the maximum fluid flow through the loops. The elements are screwed into special nozzles on the collector without winding materials - the seal is a gasket made of EPDM rubber.

A spring-loaded rod with a working plate at one end and a control washer at the other is installed in the flowmeter body. How a rotameter works:

Reference. On collectors of some manufacturers unregulated rotameters are installed. Separate valves built into the pipe body are used to limit the flow. See how these elements look like in the video below.

Flow meters installed on the return line are similar, only the spring is on the other side of the control washer. The coolant enters from below and pushes the plate up, the rod and washer rise. How to distinguish between different types of rotameters:

if, in the absence of a flow, the washer is at the top of the flask, then the flow meter is placed on the supply;
if at zero water flow the washer is at the bottom of the scale, the element is intended for “return”;
the scale on the flask is graduated in the corresponding direction, in the first case the reading is from top to bottom, in the second - from bottom to top.

During operation, rotameters must be serviced - cleaned as they become dirty. A transparent flask serves as an indicator, when it is covered with a coating from the inside, the element should be unscrewed, disassembled and dirt removed from the working surfaces.

How a thermostatic valve works

Structurally, the product does not differ from other similar thermal valves - radiator or two-way. When the spring-loaded rod is pressed, the plate descends into the saddle, blocking the passage of the coolant. There is a possibility of presetting: the maximum flow is limited by the rotation of the valve core with a hex key.

Clarification. There are 2 types of valves - normally open and normally closed. The first ones are described above - when you press the stem, the passage closes. The latter are used less frequently, where the channel is initially closed, when the stem is lowered, the hole opens.

The purpose of the thermostatic valve is to regulate the flow of the coolant during operation (not balancing!). Management is implemented in 3 ways:

Manual. The position of the stem is regulated by a plastic handle, which is screwed onto the valve from above.
Automatic RTL thermal heads that press the stem when the return temperature rises. Do not confuse them with conventional radiator heads that respond to air temperature.
Electric servo drives associated with room thermostats or weather-compensated automation.

Manual control requires constant attention from the user - when the ambient temperature changes, you will have to tighten or release the stem. RTL-type thermal heads automate the process, but work well only on short loops - up to 60 m. Servo drives plus thermostats are applicable everywhere.

Other comb accessories

At the beginning of the publication, we listed the tasks that the collector group of underfloor heating should solve. With balancing and flow control, it is clear - these functions are performed by rotameters and valves. Let's move on to the rest of the accessories:

Terminal unit for emptying and automatic removal of air bubbles. The element consists of a housing with a drain cock and a float air vent. The fitting is closed with a stopper, which is also a lamb for opening the valve.
Blocks of pointer thermometers marked up to 80–90 °С. The purpose is clear - measuring the temperature at the inlet and outlet of the comb.
Ball valves. Depending on the way the collector is connected to the heating, taps are used straight, angled, with an American and internal / external thread.
A bypass jumper with a bypass valve is used in systems with automatic control. If, due to warm weather, all circuits close, the coolant goes through the bypass in a circle, the pump will not work “for itself”. In normal mode, the valve will not allow water to circulate directly, it will make it move along the loops.

From left to right: end fitting for emptying with manual air cock, block with automatic air vent, ball valves and thermometers

Note. Through the terminal node, you can not only drain the coolant, but also pump it in in case of repair. The collector is cut off by taps from the main line, the TP circuits are emptied or replenished through the side fitting.

The number and variety of additional fittings depends on the manufacturer of the comb. These accessories are basic, in addition to them, various plugs, adapters and valves are also used.

A mixing unit is located in front of the collector block, its composition depends on the method of preparation of the coolant for the TP. There are 3 ways to bring water in underfloor heating to the desired temperature:

Mixing into the hot water circuits with a two-way thermostatic valve. The element launches portions of the coolant at the command of a thermal head with an external temperature sensor in the form of a copper bulb. The latter is attached to the metal wall of the collector and is connected to the head through a capillary tube.
Mixing of cooled and heated coolant with a three-way valve. The principle is as follows: the pump drives water through the bypass along the circuits, when it does not cool, the valve opens the supply of heated water from the boiler line. The difference from the previous method is a smoother feed, mixing quality.
Restriction of the return flow with RTL thermal heads installed on the comb's thermal valves. Here the pump module is not needed at all.

There are three ways to control a two- or three-way valve: manually, using a thermal head with a remote flask and an electric actuator. The latter is controlled by a controller that receives signals from room or weather sensors.

Distributor for radiant heating system

Recall: beam wiring provides for an individual two-pipe connection of each radiator to a common distribution manifold located in a convenient place (usually closer to the center of the building).

An example of radiant heating in a one-story house

For mounting the collector assembly, the following combs are used:

factory for TP (described above), made of stainless steel, brass or plastic;
factory for water supply with built-in shut-off valves, made of polypropylene or metal;
homemade manifolds twisted from brass fittings, polypropylene tees.

The choice of comb type depends on your budget and requirements for the radiator system. If each battery is equipped with its own balancing valve and thermal head, then a clean manifold without valves and flow meters is sufficient. Leave the air and water bleed module.

Advice. With a limited budget, you can choose an inexpensive water manifold with taps shown in the photo. Many homeowners do this and balance the system with radiator valves.

If you want to automate the operation of heating and reduce all adjustments to a collector cabinet, buy a comb for underfloor heating. Install all accessories - rotameters, valves with servomotors, air vents, room regulators. The mixer is still not needed, the coolant is supplied to the batteries directly from the boiler room.

The video below shows a combined heating manifold distributing heat to radiator wiring and floor circuits. Both parts of the comb are installed in parallel. Note that the master used water distributors to distribute the coolant.

Common house collector group

The main comb performs the same functions as the TP collector - it distributes the coolant along the branches of the heating network of various loads and lengths. The element is made of steel - stainless or black, the profile of the main chamber - round or square.

Reference. Factory-made main collectors are called coplanar. This buzzword means that all parts of the comb lie in the same plane - the vertical supply pipes cross the “return” chamber through and through and vice versa. The goal is to reduce the weight and dimensions of the structure.

There are compact models of distributors for 3-5 circuits, made in the form of one pipe. What's the trick: the "return" collector is placed inside the supply chamber. As a result, we get 1 common building with 2 cameras of the same capacity.

In the vast majority of country houses up to 300 m², distribution collectors are not needed. For several heat consumers, it is used, described in a separate article. When should you think about buying a common house heating comb:

the number of floors of the cottage - at least two, the total area - over 300 squares;
for heating, at least 2 heat sources are involved - a gas, solid fuel, electric boiler, and so on;
the number of individual branches of radiator heating - 3 or more;
there is an indirect heating boiler, heating circuits for auxiliary buildings, pool heating.

These factors must be considered separately and in combination, and in order to select a model of specific sizes, calculate the load on each branch. Hence the conclusion: it is better not to buy a collector without consulting an expert.

Drawing of a coplanar manifold and a photo of the finished product with pump groups

Installation nuances

The technology for attaching the collector to the wall is quite simple: the comb of the TS and beam wiring is suspended on mounting brackets, the hinges are connected with Eurocone fittings. Pipes going to the top of the collector (usually a "return") are passed under the bottom.

Advice. No one is forcing you to mount the distributor on brackets. If necessary, the tubes can be spread apart and mounted on the wall separately. The collector box is used in the premises of the residential area, when installing the collector in the boiler cabinet is not needed.

Let's briefly list the main points:

The size of the comb is selected according to the diameter of the pipes used in the heating loops - Ø16 or Ø20 mm. Accordingly, we take a distributor for ¾ or 1 inch. The material of the product does not play a role, stainless steel wins in terms of price / quality ratio.
If the number of comb outlets exceeds 12, assemble the manifold assembly in 2 sections. When installing accessories, winding materials are not used, since the parts are equipped with rubber seals.
A heavier common house collector is hung on hooks, reinforced brackets or installed on the floor. Pumps, pipes and other piping elements must not load the distributor with their own weight.
The hottest coolant receives an indirect heating boiler. The coil and the circulation pump of the water heater are connected directly to the comb, usually from the end.
Branches of radiator heating and TP are connected to the collector through mixing units with three-way valves. Each line is equipped with a separate pump, selected according to pressure and capacity.
Heavy coplanar comb can be placed on the floor - weld metal supports

An important point. The mixing unit for underfloor heating can be placed in the boiler room, near the main comb. Then water of the required temperature will go to the TP distributor.

Finally, about homemade collectors

Above in the text, we mentioned budget options for combs - plumbing, polypropylene and home-made. Such distributors are used without problems in radiator beam circuits. To balance and regulate the flow, a balance valve and a valve with a thermal head are installed on each battery. We supply the collector with “air vents” + drain taps.

If you put the specified combs on the TP, then you will encounter such nuances:

the distributor cannot be equipped with rotameters;
without flowmeters, it is difficult to balance circuits of different lengths;
there are stopcocks on the factory plastic collectors, which means there is nothing to regulate the flow;
combs assembled from polypropylene or brass tees have many joints;
it is worth noting that homemade distributors do not look too good.

A self-made underfloor heating collector can still be brought to mind. We assemble the distributor from tees, and on the return pipes we mount thermostatic radiator valves with RTL thermal heads, as shown in the photo.

A skilled owner will calmly manufacture a coplanar common house collector - weld it from a round or profile pipe. But here there is a snag in the calculations: you need to know the cross section of the chambers and pipes for a particular heating system. If a specialist calculates these parameters, use the experience of the wizard from the video:

The main task of the heating system of an apartment or a private house is the competently organized heating of all rooms and the normal functioning of each highway. The functionality of each node, uniform distribution of heat, the possibility of repairing individual blocks are provided by special boiler manifolds installed in multi-room residential and industrial buildings.

With this device, you can evenly distribute heat in the room

Design features

The country house looks like a simple horizontal pipe with upper and lower outlets. Often such products are made of steel or brass alloys. The collector pipe is equipped with shut-off valves, which allow you to cut off the supply of hot media in time in case of a malfunction or adjust the water pressure. Numerous outlets act as distributors, through which the boiler is connected to heating radiators, swimming pools and other objects to which heat is supplied.

This design consists of 8 elements

To other main and additional structural elements of distribution manifolds include:

Shut-off valves responsible for shutting off the flow of water on any circuit without stopping the supply of coolant to other radiators and other sources of heating.
Control valves, which can be manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic.
Auxiliary thermal sensors and regulators mounted on taps.
Valves for draining the coolant and venting air from pipes.
A supply pipe that transports the coolant from the boiler (boiler) to the heating circuits.
Return pipe designed to pass cooled water.
Thermal heads responsible for regulating the degree of heating of the carrier.
A hydraulic arrow that acts as a water distributor as it heats up.

A feature of collectors for heating boilers is the possibility of "building up" the design. If the number of radiators or other heating sources increases, then you can buy and install thermal heads, flow meters, etc. on your own.

In this video you will learn the specifics of the collector:

Purpose and advantages of the distributor

The name of this element of the heating system indicates that high-quality fittings guarantee safety and help regulate the flow of coolant for each circuit. Thanks to the thoughtfulness of the design and variations in its execution, it is possible to maintain normal temperature conditions in all rooms of a country house.

Other advantages of heating collectors for a boiler room include:

Efficiency of heat carrier distribution between various heating elements with various heat loads.
Versatility of design, which is suitable for transporting hot water to radiators, underfloor heating, swimming pools, baths, indirect heating boilers, plate heat exchangers.
Setting and adjusting the media without having to turn off the entire heating system at home.
Compact placement of distribution plumbing equipment in one place.
Quick and easy installation and dismantling.
The possibility of installing a boiler manifold in one-story houses, cottages, apartments, cottages, offices, as well as in production.
The strength and durability of the structure, which is made of brass or steel.
A variety of types of products that differ in size, configuration, direction of outlets for connection lines.

In addition, the boiler collector helps to avoid emergency situations (leakage of pipes, batteries, etc.) during the heating season. This allows timely repair work, troubleshooting, without shutting down the entire system.

Cost of equipment

Many homeowners are mistaken, believing that a distribution manifold for a boiler room costs fabulous money. In plumbing stores you can find many models without much frills, which will cost only 200-500 rubles. Such equipment will not have regulation mechanisms, thermal heads and other additional elements, and they are designed for a maximum of 2-3 circuits.

Models with extended functionality will cost the owner of a house or industrial building who wants to organize a competent heating system, approximately 4-5 thousand rubles. A long pipe with several upper and lower outlets will be equipped with thermal heads, flow meters, arrows and other details. Such designs are often produced by Russian manufacturers or trademarks of neighboring countries. The most expensive is imported equipment with automatic adjustment, which will cost 10-16 thousand rubles.

Manifold block installation

Installation of the heating collector is carried out close to the boiler. Radiator pipes from the heater are often laid on the floor, after which the structure is concreted and insulated, which minimizes heat loss. The collector block itself is mounted in a shield or wall niche specially prepared for this. A special shield can be mounted or built-in, equipped with a door and side stamping or open. If there is no possibility of mounting the cabinet, then the collector block is fixed on the wall at a small height from the floor.

If the building is multi-storey, then the distributor will be installed on each floor of the house, which will allow heating any room. Such a system will allow you to regulate, connect and disconnect one or more heating radiators, the entire room, a full-fledged circuit. This eliminates the need to turn off the coolant supply to other heating sources. Storerooms, hallways, corridors, wardrobes are used as premises for the installation of a distribution manifold.

Mounting Features

When organizing a collector block of a country house, difficulties may arise during the installation of a distributor for a boiler room. Installing a collector requires the homeowner compliance with certain rules and requirements:

Installation of a circulation pump, which is necessary for a system with several circuits.
Installation of an expansion tank located in front of the pumping station on the return water supply line.
Acquisition of additional elements of the pipeline, valves, automation (if necessary).
Installation of collector groups in special boxes made of metal (mounting type can be mortise or hinged).
Decorating a box with a collector, which will make the design more aesthetic.
Selection of the premises where the distribution element and accessories will be installed, in which there must always be normal humidity (corridor, pantry, dressing room, etc.).
Pipes leading through special holes in the side walls of the collector box.

Don't forget about installation rules

Despite the simplicity of the process, the design and installation should be carried out by professionals who can correctly position the shield with the collector, connect it to the boiler room and heating sources. The high professionalism of the installers will reduce the time of installation work, increase the efficiency of using the collector for the boiler, and reduce the vulnerability of the expansion tank to turbulence in water flows.

Economical and reliable boiler collectors are devices without which it is difficult to imagine a normally functioning heating system for a private house or a country cottage. Functional equipment allows you to precisely control the heating of each room and the entire residential or industrial building. Thanks to a well-thought-out design and ease of use, emergency repairs can be carried out with minimal damage, without turning off the entire heating system. In addition, distribution manifolds are relatively inexpensive.

A cozy home is determined primarily by the presence of heat, especially in the cold season. To do this, it installs an uninterrupted heating system. A common option is to connect radiators in series to a coolant source. For this, tees are used, which reduces the reliability of the network, increasing the risk of leaks.

It is important to consider this situation in new buildings. Often the developer rents out housing in a draft version, but with a heating system of the usual type installed and ready for operation. When laying the flooring, the connecting nodes are covered with a concrete screed, which sometimes leads to unpleasant consequences:

microscopic damage to the joints when pouring with a sand-concrete mixture will further provoke the appearance of holes and leakage;
restriction of access to the heating system interferes with preventive inspection and prevention of emergencies;
couplings and tees located under the floor covering will loosen over time, hot water will flood the neighbors from below and cause damage to the owners, as the floor will have to be opened to eliminate the accident.

Knowing about the problem, the OlimpStroyService company recommends that the owners of new apartments first replace the heating system with a collector one, and then start finishing work. In this case, a separate pipe is laid to each radiator, which minimizes the risk of leakage and makes heating safe.

Collector system device

From the name of the equipment it is clear that initially the coolant enters a single container, from where it is then simultaneously sent to each parallel-connected heater.

These are two pipe sections, each of which has several outlets for connecting radiators or closed circuits. Tanks are called distributors (colloquially combs) and are designed to supply heat to the system and remove the waste coolant back to the boiler.
The end part of the collector pipe is connected to a direct or return line, on the side surface of each of them there are fittings for connection with heating devices.
Radiators and underfloor heating circuits are connected to the collector in parallel, therefore they have the same heating temperature and, accordingly, comfortable stable heat at each point of the heated room.

The distribution comb is often equipped with additional devices that help achieve high-quality heating. These are various sensors that control the pressure and temperature level of the coolant in the system, flow meters. Valves for draining water and releasing air accumulated in the pipes are also installed here.

To equalize the pressure and temperature indicators of the coolant circulating between several heating circuits, a hydraulic arrow is installed. This device creates a balanced system, in which a heating boiler is connected on the one hand, and on the other hand, the heat flow is distributed between radiators, underfloor heating, and hot water supply.

For the constant movement of the coolant through the pipes, the existing pressure is not enough, so the collector system is supplemented with circulation pumps. They are especially necessary when installing underfloor heating, when the small diameter of the pipe used to create the circuit reduces the flow rate.

It is very convenient when the collector is equipped with regulating and shut-off valves. With their help, it is possible to maintain the optimum temperature in the room, preventing excessive consumption of the coolant, and, if necessary, shut off the heat supply to a separate radiator, while maintaining heat exchange with other devices. This design facilitates the repair and maintenance of the entire heating system.

How to choose a distribution manifold

Manufacturers offer a fairly diverse range of collector systems, and craftsmen assemble such a device from improvised means. The choice depends on the place of operation, the cost of the product, the availability of automation, reliability and efficiency.

The simplest option is a stainless steel pipe, to which outlets for connecting radiators are welded. Despite the apparent simplicity, such a distribution comb will cost a substantial amount, because for ease of use it will be necessary to install additional elements.
A more reliable and inexpensive option is a manifold assembled from polypropylene pipes, connecting tees, the necessary valves and stopcocks.
If full automation in control is required, then it is better to choose a device with the maximum possible set of control elements. Flow meters, temperature sensors will help to evenly distribute the heat flow between radiators and underfloor heating circuits. True, the cost of such a model will be quite high.

In addition to economic factors, the choice of a collector can be influenced by the technical operating conditions: the maximum pressure of the system, the electrical energy consumption of the device, the number of connected circuits and the potential for adding them. A collector heating system is possible only in modern new buildings, where additional valves are installed in each apartment to connect devices of various configurations.

Basic rules for installing a collector system

An automatic air vent is installed on the supply and return combs.
The closed circuit includes an expansion tank, the capacity of which must be at least 10% of the total volume of the coolant. The optimal location of the tank is in the return manifold in front of the pump, in the direction of the liquid.
Pressure and temperature control devices when laying a warm floor are installed on the manifold for each circuit. The radiator is controlled directly on the battery.
Circulation pumps can be installed anywhere in each circuit, but their placement on the return line is the most optimal. The reduced operating temperature of the coolant will help extend the smooth operation of the entire system. Important note: the shaft of each pump is located strictly horizontally.
Collector equipment is installed in a room with a normal level of humidity - in the corridor, pantry. This may be a special niche in the wall or a wall cabinet with holes for pipes not high above the floor.

What material to prefer

To select a suitable collector system, it is necessary to determine the material from which the combs and heating circuits will be made.

The stainless steel manifold housing is reliable and durable, but it is also the most expensive of the entire line of models. Such a comb will last almost forever, withstanding changes in pressure and temperature. Installing it in a city apartment is not economically feasible. But it is perfect for installing a collector heating system for an apartment building.
The most popular among consumers are brass combs. Possessing high performance, they belong to the budget class of models in terms of cost.
When installing a collector heating system, you should not save on materials, so polypropylene combs, which have a low margin of safety, are not in demand, despite the affordable price. In addition, having certain skills, you can independently assemble a decent collector from plastic pipes and tees.

When choosing a housing for a distribution manifold, one should not forget about the requirements for pipes through which the coolant circulates in the system. Here, too, there are nuances and features.

Most importantly, the pipe is sold in coils. The main difference between the collector heating system is the absence of connections during wiring.
High thermal strength, anti-corrosion coating, long-term service - these qualities also attract buyers in the first place.
The flexibility of the material also matters. The laying of pipes from the collector to the heating devices has an arbitrary geometry, and in the underfloor heating system a serpentine or spiral circuit is used at all.

Corrugated stainless steel pipes meet the necessary requirements, but are not very popular due to the high cost. But plastic pipes have the best combination of "price-quality" and are used everywhere.

The OlimpStroyService company recommends using pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene for the heating system in the apartment. They are, of course, more expensive than cast-iron or ordinary polyethylene pipes, but still quite affordable, however, you will also have to spend money on the corresponding fittings. Installation is carried out using a special hand tool. In this case, it is very, very important not to damage the protective layer. We can say that the durability of the pipeline will depend on the care during work, which is why it makes sense to entrust the installation to certified craftsmen.

Pros and cons of a collector heating system in an apartment

Ideal devices do not exist, but there are objective criteria for evaluating their work. Ease of use, financial costs for installation, and the period of uninterrupted operation play a role.

Each element connected to the distribution manifold is controlled independently of the others. If it is necessary to inspect or replace it, it turns off without disturbing the operation of the collector. Each room maintains the optimum comfortable temperature.
When devices are connected in parallel, pipes of a smaller diameter are used than with a series circuit. This creates some savings during installation.
The amount of heat loss is reduced, respectively, the efficiency of the system is increased. Automatic regulation of the coolant supply reduces fuel consumption in the heating boiler.
One-piece tube eliminates leaks. For greater safety, the plastic heating circuit is wrapped with a protective film before pouring with concrete mixture. Connections to radiators are made above floor level to provide direct access for routine maintenance or troubleshooting.

Of the relative disadvantages of the collector system, the following points stand out:

Mandatory presence in the apartment of additional valves for connecting this type of heating.
Increasing the cost of installation due to the greater consumption of pipes. When connected in parallel, the footage increases by two to three times compared to serial, especially if underfloor heating is involved.
Mandatory installation of circulation pumps, which also leads to an increase in the cost of the project.
The stability of the power supply in the area is taken into account, because the collector heating system is completely volatile.

Despite the problems, independent control of the heat level in the apartment makes you put up with these shortcomings. In modern new buildings, traditional heating systems are easily replaced by collector equipment. Given the specifics of installing combs and laying a large number of pipes, it is better to contact specialists. Installation is carried out before pouring the concrete screed and laying the floor covering.

What is it needed for

When installing water pressure systems, there is a rule: the total diameter of all branches should not exceed the diameter of the supply pipe. With regard to heating equipment, this rule looks like this: if the diameter of the boiler outlet fitting is 1 inch, then two circuits with a pipe diameter of ½ inch are allowed in the system. For a small house heated only with radiators, such a system will work effectively.

In fact, there are more heating circuits in a private house or cottage: warm floors. heating of several floors, utility rooms, garage. When they are connected through a branch system, the pressure in each circuit will be insufficient to effectively heat the radiators, and the temperature in the house will not be comfortable.

Therefore, branched heating systems are performed by collectors, this technique allows you to adjust each circuit separately and set the desired temperature in each room. So, for a garage, plus 10-15ºС is enough, and for a nursery, a temperature of about plus 23-25ºС is required. In addition, warm floors should not heat up more than 35-37 degrees, otherwise it will be unpleasant to walk on them, and the floor covering may be deformed. With the help of a collector and a shut-off temperature, this problem can also be solved.

Video: using a collector system for heating a house.

Collector groups for heating systems are sold ready-made, while they may have different configurations and the number of taps. You can choose a suitable collector assembly and install it yourself or with the help of specialists.

However, most industrial models are universal and do not always fit the needs of a particular home. Their alteration or refinement can significantly increase costs. Therefore, in most cases it is easier to assemble it from separate blocks with your own hands, taking into account the features of a particular heating system.

Collector group for heating system assy

The design of the universal manifold group is shown in the figure. It consists of two blocks for direct and reverse flow of the coolant, equipped with the required number of taps. Flowmeters are installed on the supply (direct) manifold, and thermal heads are located on the return manifold to control the temperature of the return water in each circuit. With their help, you can set the required flow rate of the coolant, which will determine the temperature in the heating radiators.

The manifold distribution unit is equipped with a pressure gauge, circulation pump and air valves. The supply and return manifolds are combined into one unit with brackets, which also serve to fix the unit to a wall or cabinet. The price of such a block is from 15 to 20 thousand rubles. and if some of the taps are not involved, installing it will be clearly inappropriate.

The rules for mounting the finished block are shown in the video.

Comb - manifold assembly

The most expensive elements in the manifold distribution block are flow meters and thermal heads. To avoid overpaying for extra elements, you can buy a collector assembly, the so-called "comb", and install the necessary control devices with your own hands only where necessary.

The comb is a brass tube with a diameter of 1 or ¾ inches with a certain number of branches with a diameter for heating pipes ½ inch. They are also connected to each other by a bracket. The outlets on the return manifold are equipped with plugs that allow you to install thermal heads on all or part of the circuits.

Some models can be equipped with taps, with their help you can adjust the flow manually. Such combs have a cast body and are equipped with a fitting / nut thread at the ends, which allows you to quickly and easily assemble a manifold from the required number of taps.

In order to save money, the collector for heating systems can be assembled from individual elements on your own or completely done by yourself.

Features of the installation of the collector system

Installation of heating systems is carried out before finishing work on laying floor and wall coverings, the pipeline passing through the floor is tied to a strong metal mesh and poured with a screed located on the insulation layer.

Apartment house

The implementation of collector heating in a residential apartment building is practically not used in everyday life, this is primarily due to the presence of radiator heating in buildings, in which all rooms in the apartment are heated by batteries. Laying circuits for space heating through floors is associated with significant financial costs and is inefficient, besides, a comb is not required for laying a small number and small lengths of loops. A significant factor that makes the installation of collector heating in an apartment building useless is the imbalance and violation of the temperature regime of the entire house system, as a result of which penalties and dismantling of the laid warm floor are possible.

Cottage

Collector combs are the main elements in organizing the heating of country houses and cottages, they are usually placed in the wall of rooms located in the center of the house on each floor, attached to the riser built into them.

To do this, a recess is placed in the wall at the construction stage, in which a comb is placed, to increase the aesthetic appearance, a collector cabinet with closing doors is placed in the place of the insert.

One circuit is used for each room, if there are several radiators in the room, they are connected in series according to a single-pipe passing or through circuit (Leningrad). Several small circuits are mounted if the area of \u200b\u200bthe premises is large and the maximum length of the pipeline does not provide coverage with a given step.

Rice. 14 Combined heating system

Advantages and disadvantages of radiant heating systems

Positive sides

The main advantage of the beam scheme is ease of use.

Special equipment makes climate network management as ergonomic and convenient as possible:

You can set the temperature of each heating radiator in the house without leaving the manifold cabinet. In addition, if necessary, you can completely shut off the water supply to any element of the system without disrupting the operation of the entire heating network.
Each pair of pipes connects the collector to only one radiator. Therefore, small diameter pipelines can be used, which are easy to disguise under the floor covering. Among other things, this allows you to partially warm the floor surface.

Pipes of the radiant heating system are laid before the floor is poured

Thanks to the use of special devices (the so-called hydraulic arrows - collectors with a large diameter), it is possible to form several heating zones in the house with different coolant temperatures.

In this case, a short circuit is organized between the supply and return pipes. Heated water constantly circulates in the hydraulic arrow, and its intake can be made at different distances (the temperature will also depend on this).

Negative sides

To complete the picture, it should be said about the disadvantages of using a radiant heating system.

It is because of them, despite all the advantages, it is not very common:

Greatly increased consumption of supply and discharge pipes. The more spacious the house and the more complex the geometry of the rooms, the more details you will need. In addition, the complexity of installation increases, which cannot but affect the estimated cost of construction.

The radiant heating system requires the use of a huge number of pipes and collectors

The need for hidden installation. If the traditional tee system can be mounted along the walls, then you cannot place a huge number of pipes this way. They must be hidden under the floor. You can wall up in the walls, but in this case, the consumption of material will increase even more.
No joints. When designing pipelines, care must be taken to ensure that the pipe under the floor does not contain a single joint. In this place, gusts most often occur, and the cost of repairing the breakdown will be far from low and very laborious.
If the system design provides for several circuits with different coolant temperatures, then each of them must be equipped with a circulation pump.

Self-assembly of the heating manifold

Heating manifolds are usually supplied by the manufacturer in assembled form, a standard-length circulation pump is installed later on an American-type threaded connection. Sometimes components are delivered to consumers separately, the assembly order consists of the following operations:

Flow meters are installed on the supply comb and the end air outlet is screwed into the right end.
A valve is connected to the return manifold with previously installed caps on the shut-off valves through the American on the right side.
On both combs on the left, through the American, they install the drives for connecting the compression electric pump, while they are arranged in such a way that the fitting for installing the thermometer is on the front side.
A tee is screwed into the return manifold, to which the thermostatic head is attached.
Using a threaded connection (American) for mounting electric circulation pumps and gaskets from the kit, the pump is connected to the upper and lower combs.
At the end of the work, pipes of standard diameter are connected to the collector block using the Eurocones included in the kit.

All main connections are sealed with rubber gaskets that come with the unit and the electric pump, sometimes there are no seals in the tap and tee of the supply comb, then linen tow or other plumbing materials are used for sealing

To carry out the work, one adjustable wrench is enough, while it is important not to pinch the nuts - this can lead to rupture of the gaskets

Rice. 18 PEX and PE-RT pipes

The nuances of homemade work

The main condition for the correct operation of heating is the creation of a hydraulic balance in the system. The ring collector for heating must have the same capacity of the inlet pipe (section of the main pipe connected to the supply line) as the sum of the same indicators in all circuits. For example, for a system with 4 circuits, it looks like this:

D = D1 + D2 + D3 + D4

When making a heating manifold with your own hands, remember that the distance between the supply and return sections of the pipe must be at least six comb diameters.

When installing the device, the following nuances are taken into account:

an electric boiler or a gas boiler is connected to the upper or lower nozzles
the circulation pump cuts only from the end side of the comb
heating circuits lead to the upper or lower part of the collector.

For heating a house with a large area, circulation pumps are installed on each circuit. In addition, to select the optimal volume of the coolant, additional equipment is installed on each inlet and outlet pipe - balancing flow meters and valves for adjustment. These devices limit the flow of hot liquid to a single nozzle.

In order for the boiler wiring collector to perform its functions in full, it is necessary that the length of all circuits connected to it be approximately the same length.

It is possible to additionally (but not necessarily) equip a mixing unit in the manufacture of heating collectors. It consists of pipes that connect the inlet and return combs. In this case, to regulate the amount of cold and hot water as a percentage, a two or three-way valve is mounted. It is controlled by a closed-type servo drive, which receives a signal from a temperature sensor installed in the heating circuit.

All this design allows you to adjust the heating temperature of a room or a separate circuit. If too hot water enters the collector in the boiler room, then the flow of cold liquid into the system increases.

For a complex heating system in which several collectors are installed, a hydraulic arrow is installed. It improves the performance of the distribution combs.

The collector for the boiler room, which you make yourself, will ensure the normal functioning of the heating only if the parameters of the system stroke are accurately selected. Therefore, you first need to entrust the calculations to a professional, and then get to work.

Remember that the comfortable temperature in the house depends on many factors. Only a fully balanced system will ensure correct heating operation.

Definitions

A collector (comb) is a type of sanitary fittings that distributes a coolant along the contours of consumers. Simply put, this is a section of a thick pipe with one inlet and several outlets. Its appearance was facilitated by the complication of heating systems, the spread of flooring and radiant radiator wiring, and an increase in the number of heat consumption points in the house.

Heating collector. Click on the photo to enlarge.

The heat carrier on the main line comes from the boiler room to the floor collectors. They have a number of inputs / outputs that corresponds to the number of thermal energy consumers (radiators, convectors, etc.) on the floor.
Unlike a serial connection (using tees), the collector heating system has an independent connection to each heater. Such a scheme makes it possible to control the temperature regime of each radiator, if necessary, allowing you to turn it off without prejudice to other thermal devices. To do this, each outlet of the collector is supplied with its own shutoff valves.

Mixed wiring is possible when several small circuits with independent control are connected to the collector. In this case, a serial system for connecting heating devices is used inside each circuit. In the presence of a collector, the heating circuit becomes simpler, allowing you to abandon seals, additional shut-off and control valves. Using collectors and collector units, you can significantly reduce the cost of designing, installing and commissioning a heating system.

Is it possible to make a heating collector with your own hands

Sometimes it happens that autonomous heating in your own house does not work very efficiently. It seems that the power of the boiler was chosen correctly, and the piping was made correctly, and all installation work was carried out at a professional level, and the temperature in the house is not as you would like. What to do in this case? There is only one way out - to install a distribution manifold. By the way, there is no need to buy it ready-made, the design of the collector is not very complicated, so making it yourself is not the biggest problem. So, in this article we will answer one question, how to make a distribution manifold with your own hands?

Collector types

From two to twelve circuits can be connected to the collector, and the number of involved circuits may vary during the operation of the system.

At the moment, the distribution manifold for heating can be made of the following materials:

polymers;
copper;
brass;
steel.

For ease of use, the basic types of collectors can be equipped with additional options, among them:

thermostat;
circuit pressure control detector;
automation for protection against emergencies;
air release valves;
programmable mixers;
electronic valves.

How to design a collector

Designing a heating manifold is not so difficult. The device is simple, and you do not need to have special knowledge in plumbing to create a sketch and subsequent drawing. Let's break down what you need to consider when creating:

What material are you planning to use?

Collector System Diagram

Remember! Metal is considered the best option for a heating manifold, because this material has a high resistance to high temperatures, is durable and reliable in operation, fairly easy to install, and also unpretentious in maintenance.

how many branches you need - how many consumers of the coolant the heating collector should provide.

Having calculated all this, you can begin to create a sketch of the future product.

Take a sheet of paper and draw two rectangles parallel to each other - this will be the basis for the heating manifold.
Draw on the ends of the base the connection for the boiler and the boiler.
Draw the number of pipes that will fit the hot and cold tanks.
Then remove from the hot tank the required number of pipes for all elements that need a coolant.

This completes the creation of the project, now transfer the drawing under the heating manifold of a private house to a blank sheet of paper and mark the diameter of your pipes there. After that, you can begin to select materials in order to mount a collector for heating with your own hands in your own home.

Pipe selection

The collector heating system must be equipped with pipes selected in accordance with certain requirements:

It is best if the pipe is in a bay, since the best choice for collector wiring is the absence of connections.
The material must be resistant to corrosion, the pipes must serve for many years. The reason for this requirement is the same as in the first paragraph: the possibility of premature intervention in the monolithic screed should be minimized.
The material must be sufficiently flexible, as the pipes are not always laid in a perfectly straight line.
The characteristics of thermal stability and tensile strength are dictated by the environment in which the heating system operates. For a private house, the recommended figures are approximately as follows: pressure - up to 1.5 atmospheres, temperature - up to 75 degrees for batteries and up to 40 degrees for a system of underfloor heating. If we are talking about an apartment building, the maximum possible indicators should be higher: pressure - up to 15 atmospheres, temperature - up to 110-120 degrees above zero.

multistory building

In this case, the best choice is corrugated stainless steel pipe. The technical capabilities of this material make it possible to successfully cope with loads: coolant temperature up to 110 degrees above zero, pressure level up to 15 atmospheres, destruction pressure up to 210 kilogram-force per square centimeter.

The stainless steel pipe has good flexibility, as the bending radius can reach the diameter of the product. Installation work is carried out according to a simple algorithm: the pipe is sent to the fitting and secured with a nut.

A private house

The use of stainless steel is expensive. Since the autonomous heating system has predictable performance, it is possible to go the more affordable route using cross-linked polyethylene. Polyethylene pipes are sold in coils of 200 meters. The material is able to withstand temperatures up to 95 degrees, and in the short term up to 110 degrees above zero. The permissible level of pressure for destruction is 10 kilogram-force per square centimeter.

Polyethylene pipe fittings are made of plastic or brass. Each fitting is equipped with a retaining ring that is threaded onto the pipe. A feature of cross-linked polyethylene is the memory for mechanical effects: if the material is stretched with the help of an extender, and a fitting is installed in the clearance, after a short time the pipe will tightly compress this part. The fixation of the connection is carried out by a retaining ring.

What is a heating manifold

A heating collector is a device whose task is the correct distribution of the coolant throughout the heating system of a private house. The collector helps to rationalize the heating of the home, allowing you to spend less on fuel consumption, and therefore save money. He is:

two pipes for hot and waste coolant;
pipes through which liquid will be distributed to all elements of the heating system;
pipes designed to return the cooled coolant back to the boiler;
pumps;
regulators.

Such a device is usually made of metal pipes, but the price of such products will be quite high, because if your room is large, you will need a lot of material.

Collector for heating system

Tip: If your budget does not allow you to connect each element to the manifold for heating, there is an option to use polypropylene pipes.

The advantages of such a device are:

uniform distribution of the coolant in the pipeline;
full heating of the entire room, and not just certain places;
improving the efficiency of the hydraulic heating system;
reduced fuel consumption;
the ability to install additional pipe bends on the manifold if you want to add elements to the wiring.

It is best to mount the collector on the heating system in a special cabinet that will protect and hide the system from dust or other influences. It is desirable that such a unit be mounted in a boiler room or a separate room, but nothing bad will happen if you simply fix the collector on the wall near the heating boiler.

Collectors for radiators and underfloor heating

The difference between a floor collector and a radiator collector is in the design associated with the difference in operating temperatures and lower hydraulic resistance of the radiator elements. The design of the block for connecting underfloor heating is much more complicated, it includes a large number of control valves and a circulation pump for multi-circuit systems.

The standard manifold block for household radiators has a simple design: it consists of a large-section supply and return manifolds, from which fittings for connecting pipes leading to radiators come out. The device usually does not have any regulating, tuning valves and other complex devices, so its connection and installation does not cause difficulties for most homeowners. Heating radiators are connected to the unit through pipes running in the floor and connected from below at one point; it is not necessary to make a screed to place a direct pipeline, it can be laid in a strobe cut or knocked out in a slab.

A typical collector block is a technically complex element with a large number of adjustments and settings, often a circular electric pump is mounted in the system. When installing the block, one should distinguish between forward and reverse feed combs; for convenience, they are marked with red and blue paints, respectively. Also, in a straight line, adjustable flow meters with a transparent cap and applied divisions are most often placed, indicating the volume of liquid passing through them, it is marked with a red internal indicator head.

Usually the maximum value of the passed flow does not exceed 5 cubic meters per hour (corresponds to division 5 on the cap), the minimum mark is 0.5. If the indicator heads are in the upper part, then when the water flow passes through the feed comb, the indicator lowers and shows the volume of liquid passing through. Sometimes the heads are located at the bottom, in this case the flow moves in the opposite direction from the heating circuit to the comb and, accordingly, the flow meters are installed in the return bar.

The standard unit provides a place for the location of the temperature controller sensor, there are exhaust valves for bleeding air in the supply and return combs, valves are installed, in place of which there are seats for servo drives that perform automatic control of operating modes.

Rice. 11 Hydro gun - installation and connection diagram

Why do you need a distribution manifold for a heating system

A complex and branched heating system with a liquid heat carrier implies the correct organization of the movement of flows along numerous circuits. Only in this case the heating of the house will be efficient and manageable. But do not put a separate boiler in each room - it is much easier to use collectors in the circuit that will distribute the heated flow with the required indicators to the heating devices. They will not only be able to control the temperature of the circulating fluid, but also ensure its uniform supply to all connected branches.

The distribution manifold outwardly resembles a hollow volumetric comb, at the base of which the total coolant flow enters, and then it is divided into separate sleeves in the side pipes and sent through all active channels. Exactly the same unit collects back all the waste liquid and supplies it to the boiler, closing the cycle. Thanks to this scheme, one water heater can be connected to heating devices with different characteristics: to a DHW storage tank, underfloor heating, classic radiators.

Each branch pipe of the collector is equipped with valves with thermostatic heads. Depending on the set heating values, they dose hot and cold water in those systems where its pre-mixing is required. For example, a warm floor works at only + 40-50 ° C, and wall-mounted radiators need a temperature of at least +80 ° C. The heating collector must pass the hot flow to the batteries without changes, and in the sections for floor threads, dilute it with cold water. To do this, the supply valve in its section partially overlaps the "red" pipe, reducing its cross section.

Tricky meter that saves electricity Pays for itself in 2 months!

The use of a comb simplifies the design of a branched system, eliminating the need for additional pumps and thermostatic valves. Everything that is necessary for the normal operation of the heating is collected in one place - this makes it easier to set up and maintain a complex circuit. In addition, almost any distribution manifold has a built-in end air vent, which allows you to remove bubbles from pipes that reduce heating efficiency.

Collector-beam heating system

Collector in a beam-type heating system.

The heating collector should be considered together with the consideration of the radiant heat carrier wiring diagram, so it will be easier to understand its main functions and advantages.

As you know, there are three main types of piping.

One-pipe scheme. Here, the radiators are connected in series, that is, the coolant is supplied to the first device, then passes through the battery and enters the next one, gradually passing through the entire circuit and returning to the boiler. Obviously, after each radiator, the water cools down, and the heating of the batteries occurs unevenly;
Two-pipe scheme. This solution provides for the supply of water through one pipe, and the outlet - through the second, that is, the circuit consists of two lines, between which radiators are connected in parallel. This scheme allows you to warm up the devices more evenly;
Beam scheme. The coolant is supplied to the distribution unit (collector of the heating system), from where it goes to each radiator through a separate pipe, and then returns back through the return pipes, is collected by a comb and enters the boiler. Thus, it is possible to achieve the most even distribution of heat in the room.

One-pipe and two-pipe wiring diagrams.

Beam wiring diagram.

Important! As you can see, there are many circuits in the beam circuit, one for each battery. Therefore, for the normal operation of the system, a circulation pump is required, which can provide the necessary parameters for the pressure and circulation rate of the coolant.

The beam scheme allows you to warm up each individual radiator as evenly as possible, moreover, it makes it possible to regulate the intensity of heat supply to each battery.

Manifold cabinet for radiator heating with supply and return combs.

Also, in such a scheme, you can turn off any device without changing the operation of the entire system, and in multi-storey buildings, you can turn off entire floors without interrupting the supply of coolant to other sections of the building.

To realize these advantages, heating collectors are used, which are included in the distribution unit in the form of a pair of devices - the supply and return combs. Tying the heating manifold with shutoff valves, air and drain valves, flow meters and thermostatic heads allows automatic control of temperature conditions on each individual heater.

The use of flow meters makes it possible to regulate the supply.

Important! Most often, such wiring is used in the construction of heating systems for private houses and cottages, however, this scheme can also be applied in an apartment with a centralized supply of coolant. It should be remembered that pipes are best carried out under the floor.

Another advantage of beam wiring is the ability to hide the pipeline under the plinth or in the thickness of the floor. Often it is this feature that influences the choice of wiring diagram.

In the "warm floor" system, a collector for floor heating systems is necessarily used.

It is also impossible not to mention such a system as a "warm floor". Here, the circuits are not connected to radiators, but are laid in a special way in the floor screed in order to warm it up.

The only significant drawback of this solution is the high price of materials and work.

Pipe selection

Although pipes of various materials can be used for water supply and circuits, polymers are mainly used in everyday life, which are supplied in coils of various lengths and are easily bent when laying loops.

The main materials of heating pipelines are: cross-linked PEX polyethylene with an aluminum layer between the inner and outer shells, cross-linked PEX and heat-resistant PE-RT polyethylene.

It should be noted that the metal-layer is not very practical as a material for underfloor heating - due to its high rigidity, it is difficult to bend with a small radius, and mechanical impact on the surface during installation or before laying the screed leads to bends and breaks. It is possible to repair a pipeline made of metal-plastic by inserting a section connected using compression or crimp fittings - this leads to a decrease in the passage channel and an increase in hydraulic resistance.

Pipes made of cross-linked and heat-resistant polyethylene have the same service life of about 50 years, it is believed that PE-RT piping is easier to install in rooms with low temperatures, and if damaged, it can be easily repaired by soldering, although the technology is not very well known. Also, the cost of PE-RT is lower than PEX, although there are enough products of both categories on the construction market at a relatively low price.

Rice. 19 Basic pipe laying schemes for underfloor heating

Ready-made designs of collectors for heating

The construction market presents products from various manufacturers of collector heating equipment, among them such popular brands as ProfLine, Valtec, Luxor, Rehay, Shout can be distinguished.

The most commonly used materials in the manufacture of manifolds are stainless steel and chrome-plated brass, much less often in domestic heating equipment is selected from budget polymers (polypropylene), which do not provide for the installation of flow meters and valves for servo drives.

Rice. 16 Audytor C.O. 4.0

The principle of operation of the collector system

The collector system works according to the following principle: the coolant heated by the boiler with the help of a circulation electric pump installed between the supply and return lines enters the collector distribution manifold, to the outlet fittings of which the heating circuits are connected. The total temperature of the heat carrier in all circuits is set by a temperature controller located on the inlet fitting of the supply manifold, and each outlet to the loop is equipped with a flow meter, with which the volume of the heat carrier passing through the circuit is manually set.

After passing through the circuits, the cooled coolant enters the return line and is pushed by the electric pump to the boiler, in which it is heated. Circulating in a circle, the heated liquid returns to the supply manifold, which distributes it to individual heating circuits.

In most designs, the return distribution units are equipped with shut-off valves - this allows them to be equipped with electric servomotors to automatically adjust the flow passing through the circuits.

Rice. 2 The principle of the collector heating device

Calculation of collector heating

The homeowner does not need to calculate the parameters of the collector (its passage diameter, length, cross section of the outlet fittings) and the diameter of the pipes when purchasing a standard product. If you want to make such calculations, you can find the necessary formulas on the network, although in this case it is easier to focus on the standard dimensional parameters of manufactured factory products.

The main task of the calculations is to determine the length of the pipes to ensure the required temperature in the room with known temperature characteristics of the coolant. To do this, there is no need to resort to complex engineering calculations, which can only be done by narrow specialists in the field of heating; for an ordinary layman, it is easier to use an online calculator or a computer program.

To obtain the desired result, the initial data on the required temperature in the room and its area, the diameter and spacing of the pipes, and the carrier temperature are entered into the program or calculator. On the Internet, you can find reviews of Audytor CO calculation programs from Sankom, Valtek Complex from the company of the same name, Raucad / Rauwin 7.0 from Rehau.

The most important condition for the proper functioning of the heating system is the full heating of all rooms in the house. It is much easier to divert water flows from one boiler to different rooms than to install a new boiler in each. It is for the distribution of heat that the collector serves, with which you can also control the temperature.

Device and purpose

The collector is a bulk comb.

It works like this:

water enters;
through special outlets, it is carried through the pipes.

A collector works in a similar way, collecting chilled water from several pipes into one and then redirecting it to a common boiler. It is possible to connect various heating devices to such an assembly group, regardless of their technical parameters.

The size of the distribution manifold depends on the number of circuits - pipes connected to it. In the vast majority of cases, the largest number of circuits is 12. The collector then does not consist of one comb, but of two - 6 circuits each. If you need to get more circuits or a single rather than a paired comb, then some manufacturers are engaged in the manufacture of collectors to order.

Principle of operation

The heating unit can be connected both to classic radiators and to “warm floors”. The difference will be only in the location of the collector, and not in the principle of operation. So, in any case, the collector system serves to distribute water flows to all heating devices, and this is achieved by a peculiar structure of the collector and connecting pipes to it in the future.

An important limitation is the need to be able to maintain the temperature. It should not change significantly when it enters the pipes. For example, for a "warm floor" system, a temperature of 40-50 degrees will be sufficient, and for radiators - 70-80 degrees. The collector must be designed for a temperature not lower than suitable. When connected to both a radiator and underfloor heating at the same time, it should be possible to dilute hot water with cold water or otherwise reduce the temperature below without affecting the overall flow.

Advantages

The collector method has its fans both among professionals and among the inhabitants.

This is due to the positive features that this method of heating guarantees.

Heat is distributed evenly. A priori, it is supposed that the temperature, entering the pipes from the collector, does not fall. In this regard, uniform heating and maintaining the temperature in all devices connected to the system is achieved. It is always possible to lower the temperature if necessary.
Possibility of customization. If desired, you can not only adjust the temperature, but also completely turn off any of the branches. For example, if one of the rooms does not need heating, then you can simply turn off the radiator, thereby preventing idle heat transfer. This is especially convenient if you live in a large house, such as a 3-story mansion, and do not always use all the rooms. Adjustment is carried out from the manifold cabinet.

Ease of repair. If any of the parts of the system breaks, you do not have to turn off the entire system (we are not talking about the breakdown of the collector itself). It will be enough to cut off the heat supply to the damaged branch.
aesthetic appeal. By connecting a collector, you get the opportunity to place pipes anywhere, and not just above the radiator. Many take advantage of this circumstance and make the pipes hidden, hiding them under the plinth or behind a false wall.

Flaws

In addition to all these advantages, the hydrocollector also has disadvantages.

High price. Even choosing a model from a not very famous manufacturer, you will still spend a lot of money, since thermal collectors are made of high-strength steel. Installing conventional pipes is many times cheaper. But it is also worth remembering that you will have to purchase additional accessories, which are also quite expensive.
A prerequisite is the presence of a circulation pump. Any collector systems work only with him. This greatly increases the cost of electricity.
Lots of pipes. The collector system implies the presence of branches for each heater. Therefore, the number of pipes will increase according to the number of heating appliances. For many, it turns out to be difficult to install such a system, not to mention the fact that this is a rather time-consuming task.

All of the above nuances are a reasonable reason to think about the validity of installing a collector for heating, especially when it comes to an apartment building.

Kinds

Today there is a large selection of all kinds of collectors. They differ not only in technical features, but also in the type of wiring and materials. Each modern device is equipped with an air vent designed to bleed air bubbles, due to which the heating efficiency is greatly reduced.

According to technical characteristics, thermal collectors are divided into five types, and some of them are suitable only for installation by specialists. It is necessary to take this fact into account before choosing any of the varieties. And you also need to remember that combined options are possible that combine two or more types. In this case, we are talking about hydraulic systems.

Solar

Interestingly, solar collectors, which save significant amounts of money on electricity, work not only on fine, clear days, but also on rainy, cloudy days. Under the open sun, they can heat up to 80-90 degrees - a temperature almost equal to the temperature of the supply boiler.

With proper skill, a solar collector can be made independently, armed with tools and materials. Ready-made models powered by solar heat are rarely offered for purchase. Not a single eminent company has such models in its arsenal.

Such collectors are vacuum.

Heat is transferred not through water, but through antifreeze.

Hydrogun

When talking about collectors with a hydraulic arrow, they mean a flow distributor. Such additions are needed if a large number of branches and circuits are implied. Basically, such situations occur on large objects.

A hydraulic arrow, also called a hydraulic separator, is needed to balance the entire system. With its help, it is possible to equalize pressure and temperature, thereby guaranteeing a suitable temperature between supply and return. With the help of a hydraulic arrow, it is even possible to mix the flows, if necessary.

It is irrational to use a hydraulic separator in simple systems. It is needed only for complex ones. If we are talking about factory collectors of this type, then they are additionally equipped with a special branch for debris and air, thereby increasing the efficiency of the entire heating system.

distribution

Actually, each of the described collectors, which serves to distribute water flows, is distributive. This is a generic name for everyone, however, you can often see the "distribution manifold" as a separate species.

There are two combs here. One is connected to a boiler or other heat source, and the second water is fed back. It should be noted that the connection scheme here is parallel, not serial, so that a change in temperature in one of the branches does not affect the temperature in the others.

A coplanar collector is also a subspecies of a distribution collector, however, coplanarity is achieved simply by installing two independent units next to each other.

Simple

Simple systems are not supplied with additional controls or adjustments. In the most primitive version, one can imagine a simple system using the example of a tube with several branch holes. There is no way to monitor the temperature, but if necessary, you can completely turn off each of the branches.

advanced

Such systems are fully equipped with everything necessary: a temperature and pressure regulator, automatic sensors, additional fittings.

If we talk about additional elements, then the most popular are:

sensors for pressure and temperature control;
supply water control units;
thermostats for automatic pressure adjustment;
electronic valves and mixers for regulating the supply of cold and hot water, whereby it is possible to control the set temperature;
air vents to release air bubbles from pipes.

The complete set of collector systems can vary, which affects the price and functionality.

Types of wiring

To begin with, it should be said that the collector wiring is already significantly different from all classical types. It guarantees the maintenance of the same temperature in all pipes, while there is no heat loss, and if necessary, the temperature can be artificially lowered, or even completely turned off the heating.

Radiator heating

According to the architecture of the building, pipes can be laid at the bottom or at the top of the room. The most preferred option is to lay pipes from below, since in this case they can be hidden under the baseboard or under the floor.

Radiator heating of any type is the main source of heat in the house, and therefore you need to be aware of the temperature limits. It is 90 degrees. In this case, the recommended temperature should be at least 70 degrees.

If a large area is being heated, then it is additionally recommended to introduce a hydraulic arrow. This is due to the need to adjust the pressure, since strong drops appear. By equalizing the pressure, it will be possible to extend the service life of the pipes many times over.

Below is a diagram of the radiator decoupling.

Underfloor heating system

This variety is almost never used as an independent source of heating, which is the reason for the temperature standards. So, for a warm floor it is acceptable if the temperature is 40-50 degrees. Of course, this is not enough for full-fledged heating, so it is necessary to establish radiator heating. However, both systems can be fed from the same collector.

There are several restrictions.

The collector must be mixed or universal. Only such models are suitable for connecting both a “warm floor” and a radiator to them.
Thermoregulation is a must. In this case, it will turn out to set different temperatures for the floor and for the radiator.

In connection with the listed parameters, it is best to choose distribution manifolds.

materials

Collectors are made from different materials, but it is important that they all have increased strength, whether it be brass or polymers. Each material is good in its own way and can be used in some special area. Some materials have a limited range of use, for example, if they do not tolerate high temperatures.

To date, the most popular are brass, steel and polymer manifolds. Let's take a closer look at each of the varieties.

Steel

Collectors made of high-strength steel are in great demand. This is due to the fact that steel is suitable for the manufacture of both central and local elements. Steel does not warp under the influence of high temperature. Special alloys are not subject to corrosion, as a result of which their service life increases significantly.

It should be borne in mind that steel products have their drawbacks. Many note that the price of such models is quite high due to the high material consumption and unattractive cost of the upgraded steel.

There are also more democratic options - from "stainless steel", but they are not suitable for the central collector, since the temperature here is much higher. When heated, such pipes are easy to deform.

Brass

Brass collectors are in demand on a par with steel. Even experts find it difficult to point out the obvious differences between them, citing that it's all about appearance and cost. Indeed, in terms of physical characteristics, brass is close to "stainless steel", so there is no significant difference which manifold to choose.

Like steel, brass is suitable for central and local nodes, as it tolerates high temperatures and pressures very well. Nevertheless, it is preferable to use it specifically for the central node, since brass manifolds are expensive, and in the case of local options, this will turn out to be an unreasonable waste of money.

If we talk about metal options, then there are also copper counterparts. They are more expensive than others, although they do not differ in characteristics, and sometimes even slightly inferior to steel and brass collectors.

Polymers

The range of application of polymer systems is narrower than that of metal systems. Plastic models cannot withstand the high temperatures of the central node, so they can only be used for local options. So, local collectors are connected to the central one, and not to the boiler itself, therefore the temperature in them is slightly lower.

Otherwise, polymers are in no way inferior to metal. In terms of service life, they sometimes even outstrip metal counterparts, not to mention hygiene. Now most craftsmen are trying to use plastic collectors, as they are easier to work with, they have less weight. Mounting them is also much easier, the main thing is to follow the connection rules.

Before you opt for any particular option, you need to pay attention to several important characteristics. The ease of installation, quality and service life of the collector depend on them.

Price

It is logical to conclude that a quality thing cannot be cheap. In the case of collectors, it is the high cost that shows the good quality of the product. This is due to the fact that the production uses more modern and durable materials, and the production itself is carried out in factories equipped with the latest equipment. Chinese clandestine factories mainly use low-quality polymers and cheap manual labor.

Availability of other parts

The entire collector system can fully function only if there are such components as a water circulation pump, fittings, plugs, taps. Pay attention to how the selected model correlates with third-party equipment available in the house.

Difficulty of installation

Modern high-end collectors can be easily mounted on your own, but this will require some experience. And also installation takes a lot of time, especially when it comes to "warm floor" systems. If you are unsure that you will be able to carry out the installation yourself, it is strongly recommended that you also include money in the estimate for hiring a team of specialists. But you should also keep in mind that it is much easier to install a collector when the house is being built, and not being finished.

Technical specifications

Of course, the characteristics of the collector have a huge impact on the purchase decision. Despite the fact that the calculation can only be done by professionals, even an amateur will be able to roughly assess the acceptability of a particular model for his case.

It is necessary to consider where the collector will be installed: in an apartment or in a private house. This affects the pressure in the system.
Estimate how much the collector will absorb electricity. Usually this information is available on the packaging.
It is necessary to take into account the number of circuits: 2, 3 or 4.
Among other things, the throughput of the device is important. Remember that it varies depending on the area: for example, for a two-story house and for Khrushchev, the throughput will not be the same.
Find out if you can add contours if you need to increase the number of heaters.

Company manufacturer

The reputation of the company, the guarantee that it provides is important. Look at how many years the company has been on the market. Those who provide a quality product hardly appeared only yesterday, as a rule, they have their own history and temporary baggage.

Manufacturers

The fact that you won’t be able to save money on buying a collector does not mean that you can choose it thoughtlessly, guided only by the rule “expensive means good”. It is important to pay attention to the country to which the manufacturing company belongs, as well as its history.

Today, there are practically no companies on the market offering high-quality collectors. You can look at the products made in Italy and Germany. Firms from these countries lead in terms of the number of worthy firms. If we make a comparison, then, of course, Germany is in the lead. The most noteworthy are the two brands: Oventrop and Rehau. They provide the best guarantees. Among other things, buyers give excellent reviews about the collectors of these particular brands, saying that they are relatively easy to install and repair, last a long time and fully pay off their cost.

Oventrop

This company offers to the attention of customers a number of universal models suitable for both radiator heating and systems of “warm” and “cold floors”. All samples are made of stainless steel of different composition depending on the application. The most popular are manifolds for heating Multidis SF and Multidis SH, which can withstand temperatures up to 70 degrees and up to 120 degrees, respectively. But it is also recommended to pay attention to related parts of the same brand.

The cost of collectors varies from 2,699 rubles for a comb for 2 circuits to 28,312 rubles for a hydraulic combination for 3 heating circuits. As for the combs, the maximum cost of the option for 12 circuits is 10,023 rubles. Prices for end plugs start at 649 rubles.

rehau

Many users note one minor detail: from an aesthetic point of view, Rehau products look more attractive than Oventrop. Here, the collectors are not made of "stainless steel", but of brass. The company offers models HKV and HKV-D, which differ from each other only in the presence of additional functionality in the form of flow meters, taps and valves for regulation. The number of circuits is limited to twelve.

Prices range from 1,343 rubles for a double-circuit comb to 31,335 rubles for a 12-circuit stainless steel collector for a "warm floor".

The maximum cost of a distribution manifold for radiator heating is 12,172 rubles.

In addition to German and Italian brands, the Russian company Sever deserves attention. offering hydraulic manifolds. Most of the mixed-use models are therefore suitable for both radiators and underfloor heating. All models are steel, and the composition of the steel depends on the chosen configuration.

The cost starts from 2,140 rubles for a three-circuit model and ends at 23,130 rubles for a 12-circuit stainless steel manifold. Additional products can also be purchased here.

Manufacturing methods

Before you start making a homemade collector, you need to select the material and prepare the necessary equipment. For example, to make a model out of steel, you will need a welding machine. But do not rush to choose polypropylene. In order to connect polypropylene parts, you will need a special device with which they weld such pipes. Sometimes it's easier to get an ordinary welding machine than for plastic.

Calculation and distribution of contours

From the very beginning, you need to understand how many heating circuits you will need. You need to take into account each available heater, so you will have to evaluate each room according to the list below.

In order not to forget anything, use the following list:

the presence of a "warm floor" system;
rooms in which there should be a higher or lower temperature compared to other rooms;
floor heating;
heating of each wing.

The rules for manufacturing a collector for heating are as follows: the distance between the layers is 10-15 mm, the distance between the supply and return collectors is 25-30 cm.

The diameter of the pipes should be 12.7 mm. The collector itself is made with a diameter of 25.4-38.1 mm, depending on which boiler is installed.

Made of polypropylene

To make a polypropylene collector assembly with your own hands, you will have to use the remains of pipes and fittings.

You will need:

pipe with a diameter of 32 mm;
tees 32/32/16 mm.

A tee must be installed on one side. An air vent must be connected to it from above, and a drain valve from below. On the other hand, a valve and a pipe are attached. The pipe can be inlet or outlet, depending on the purpose of the collector. The supply pipe goes to the boiler.

The remaining outlet with a diameter of 16 mm must be equipped with a valve or flow meter, depending on which collector is for water supply or drainage. This completes the work, and it remains only to fix the received collector systems on the wall using brackets.

Knot of brass fittings

If a ready-made brass collector is quite expensive, then it will be possible to spend much less money on a home-made one. For the construction of such a design, you will need tees and fittings. They are connected to each other using linen tow or a liquid fixative as a cushioning material. Parts must be connected, guided by the assembly diagram. An example can be seen in the picture below.

After the collector is assembled, it must be tested. Making the connection correctly is difficult, so the likelihood of leaks is high.

From a profile pipe

It is most difficult to make a collector from pipes with different sections, since welding work will be required here. This model can be called the most "fancy". It is suitable for heating large areas, it can have many wiring for pipes. Often, such samples are supplied with a hydraulic arrow.

You will need the following samples:

profile pipe 8x8 cm or 10x10 cm;
round pipe.

The calculation of the pipe section is performed in special programs. It is necessary to set the required heating output, water speed, temperature difference between supply and return.

In this case, you will need to build a circuit, given the number of circuits. Remember that the distance between the wiring should be about 15 cm, and between the collectors - at least 20 cm. A typical circuit looks like this.

Next, you need to mark the pipe with a rectangular cross section according to the scheme, and then make holes for the wiring using a gas cutter. Weld pre-prepared small pieces of threaded pipes to the holes. The block is ready, it remains to weld brackets to it, prepare and paint.

Installation

Before carrying out installation work, it is necessary to check the place of future installation for the presence of any interference. Nothing should impede the operation of the collector.

Next, take into account which collector you are attaching: a radiator or for a “warm floor”. A definite plus is that the installation height does not play any role: in the case of a collector, this is not critical. On the other hand, some restrictions are imposed by the strapping scheme. For example, with classic beam piping, you need to remember that it works most efficiently only in houses with a large number of rooms or floors.

The temperature is adjusted after the installation of the collector unit and the heating pipes from the collector. The easiest way to regulate the temperature is with a thermostatic head. Even at the construction stage, you need to attend to the installation of such additional equipment.

The option with the installation of a light drive and a thermostat is equally well suited for both adjusting the radiator and adjusting the “warm floors”.

Installation of such equipment requires special knowledge and skills, so it is better to entrust it to professionals.

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