The main advantage of steam heating is its low cost. The efficiency of such systems is almost 2 times higher than that of water systems. Consequently, less fuel has to be spent on heating premises when using communications of this type.
Things to know
Despite the high efficiency and low cost, in industrial construction, steam heating systems are installed exclusively in enterprises. Existing standards do not allow their use for heating residential premises in multi-storey buildings.
This ban is primarily due to the fact that the steam circulating through the pipes in systems of this type is heated to enormous temperatures, significantly exceeding 100 °C. Consequently, the operation of steam heating in homes can be dangerous. That is, owners of private residential buildings can arrange such communications with their own hands solely at their own peril and risk.
Types of steam heating systems
There are only two main types of such systems installed in country houses. Depending on the type of coolant circulation, such communications can be closed or open. In systems of the first type, the condensate formed when the steam cools is returned to the boiler by gravity. To do this, the exhaust pipe inserted into the unit is simply installed with a downward slope. In open circuits, condensate is first collected through a drain into a separate container, and then pumped into the boiler via a pump.
Gravity steam heating systems are most often installed in private residential buildings. After all, the main advantage of this type of communications is their low cost. The electricity required to operate the pump is expensive.
Boiler selection rules
First of all, if you want to install steam heating in your house, you should, of course, decide on the type and power of the heating unit. Boilers in such systems can operate on any type of fuel - electricity, gas, wood, diesel fuel, etc.
Very often, the most economical solid fuel equipment of this type is used to install steam heating. However, such boilers, unfortunately, are quite inconvenient to use.
Electric steam heating units are cheaper than gas ones. But their subsequent operation is much more expensive. Therefore, the best option for installing steam heating, as when installing a conventional water heating system, is to use a boiler that runs on natural gas.
The required power of the heating unit is calculated taking into account, first of all, the size of the house itself. It is believed that 25 kW steam boilers are suitable for buildings with an area of less than 200 m². It is this type of equipment that is most often purchased for heating dachas and country houses. For private cottages with an area of 200-300 m², in most cases you have to buy 30 kW units.
When choosing such equipment, among other things, you should take into account the fact that it is prohibited to use domestic steam boilers with a pressure above 6 atm in private residential buildings.
Requirements for pipes
The steam pressure in the lines of such systems can actually be very strong. Therefore, ordinary plumbing polypropylene or plastic pipes cannot be used when installing steam heating. Only the strongest pipes made from:
- become;
- galvanized steel;
- copper
Regular steel is a durable material. Pipes made from it can withstand enormous pressure. However, this metal, unfortunately, rusts very quickly in an aggressive humid environment. In addition, when assembling a circuit from such pipes, welding must be used.
Copper lines do not rust, are durable and can last for many years. But they are also very expensive.
The advantages of galvanized pipes, among other things, include the fact that they:
- not subject to corrosion;
- are cheaper than copper ones;
- They are assembled into a pipeline using not welding, but threaded connections.
It is these easy-to-install and durable pipes that are most often used by country house owners when assembling steam heating systems with their own hands.
Purchasing radiators
When installing such systems, batteries can be installed in the same way as when installing conventional water systems. But it is believed that the most reliable cast iron radiators are best suited for assembling a steam heating system. The worst option for such communications, according to the owners of country houses, are steel panel batteries.
Boiler installation
When installing a steam heating system with your own hands, at the first stage the boiler itself is installed. In this case, it is advisable to locate the heating unit in a room specially designated for this purpose. You can even install the boiler in a separate building, for example, in a garage. This will not affect the heating efficiency in any way.
Steam units are installed, like conventional ones, in accordance with their design features. The boiler can be mounted on the wall or installed on the floor. A chimney must be connected to solid fuel, diesel or gas steam heating equipment.
Assembling an open system: main steps
After the boiler is installed, work on installing the single-pipe steam system continues in the following order:
- Heating radiators are hung on the walls. It is recommended to place them under windows. In this case, the batteries will create a reliable thermal curtain in the premises.
- They are extending the highway. It can be installed in open steam systems both on top of walls and in their thickness. However, the second method is allowed to be used only if heat-resistant materials are used for the manufacture of the building envelope.
- Radiators are connected in series to the main line. Insertion in single-pipe systems is made through the lower pipes.
- Install a pipe for removing air, a water drain/fill unit, an expansion tank, automatic control devices, a fuse, and a filter.
- Close the circuit to the boiler.
How to make a two-pipe wiring
When installing closed steam heating systems, the upper wiring diagram is used. In this case:
- the steam line is passed under the ceiling;
- pipes are laid from it down to the radiators;
- A condensate line is stretched from below.
When assembling communications of this type, the supply pipe is laid with a slope in the direction of steam movement. The outlet line is mounted at a slight angle in the direction of condensate movement.
Intermediate wiring
Sometimes private houses use a slightly different route for laying highways. In this case, the steam line is not laid under the ceiling, but just above the radiators. The pipes in such a system are pulled approximately at the level of the window sills.
The layout of pipelines of this type has almost all the same advantages that the upper two-pipe provides. However, like open wiring, this type of wiring also has one rather serious drawback. In this case, the pipes pass within the reach of humans and domestic animals. Accordingly, the likelihood of accidental burns increases.
The final stage
After the boiler and radiators are connected by lines, and all the necessary regulating and monitoring equipment is installed, a test run of the system is performed. If problems are detected, corrective work is carried out.
Radiators in a steam system, like pipes, get very hot. Therefore, at the final stage they must be covered with protective grilles or some other heat-resistant decorative elements.
If a private house is intended for permanent year-round living, then the issue should be taken seriously. Of course, we are not talking about individual heating devices, but about the heating system. You need to accurately calculate everything and draw up a work plan.
Installation of heating systems
Consider the following questions: a steam heating diagram for a private house and a water heating diagram for a house.
The water heating scheme for a private house provides that water or antifreeze will act as a coolant. Initially, the water is heated inside the boiler and then flows to the radiators, which provide heat to the air in the room. The cooled water re-enters the boiler and the process is repeated again.
The water heating system for a private home is the most popular, because water is an excellent coolant and when the system is turned off, it retains heat for a long time and heats the room.
The scheme for heating a residential building with air is less known. The coolant is heated air. Air, just like water, is heated in the boiler and moves through air ducts into the room, heating it. The cooled air is taken back through the air ducts to be heated. When using air for heating, heating drawings for a private house and accurate calculations are required. This is due to the fact that air, unlike water, can react to possible obstacles.
- This is a kind of intermediate option between air and water heating. Heating of the room with steam occurs as follows. The water in the boiler is heated, evaporates, and the steam goes into the pipes and is supplied to the radiators. After cooling, the steam condenses and flows again through the pipes to the boiler.
The steam heating circuit of a private house ensures quick heating of the radiator, and therefore quick heating of the room.
Photos of each of the schemes and types of heating can be seen on the Internet by entering the query into the search engine: “heating scheme for a private house, photo.”
Steam heating. Work principles
The main advantages of steam heating are efficiency and warm-up speed, which is higher than that of a water system. But there are certain disadvantages of the steam heating system:
- The surface of the radiator becomes very hot;
- rapid wear of pipelines and boiler;
- The biggest drawback is that it is impossible to regulate the heating mode.
The main part of this type of heating system is the place where the water boils - the boiler. Fuel is supplied to the boiler, thanks to which the water boils and turns into steam. Pressure is created in the supply manifold and steam enters, and through pipes to the radiator. Condensing, the steam again enters the boiler.
Depending on the method of entry of condensed steam into the boiler, the heating circuit is divided into open and closed. The open system includes a condensate storage tank.
The closed heating scheme of a private house provides for the presence of a wide pipe for condensed steam.
Independent installation of such a heating system is a very complex process and requires preliminary preparation of all the necessary calculations: boiler power, amount of fuel.
Structure of water heating with steam and types of fuel
The steam heating system includes the necessary components:
- boiler for heating water;
- Exhaust valve;
- pipes;
- radiators;
- firebox and pump.
In turn, they are divided into two types: double-pipe and single-pipe. In single-pipe systems, steam and condensate pass to the radiators and back to the boiler through one pipe. The two-pipe heating scheme of a private house provides that one of the pipes passes steam to the radiators, and the other returns condensate to the boiler.
A two-pipe system is the best heating scheme for a private house, because in this case it is possible to regulate the temperature using a valve.
So, let's look at the types of fuel:
- solid fuel;
- liquid fuel;
- gaseous.
A forced heating scheme for a private house is often used.
With the help of forced circulation of coolant, you can create comfortable conditions in a room of any size.
To implement forced heating, you can use any pipes and any method of connecting heating devices.
The best option for heating a house with massandra is a water heating system. This could be hydronic underfloor heating or other types of heating such as electricity or infrared heating.
Water heating at home
The basis of the building's heating system is the boiler. Water heating is the most affordable and budget heating option.
The water heating system has a very simple operating principle. The water heats up and boils in the boiler, then rises through the pipes into the radiator, gradually heating it. The cooled water is returned to the boiler, which generates heat. Pipes need to be laid with a slight slope. If this is not ensured, the system may not work well.
Autonomous heating systems allow you to feel independent from the centralized heat supply. Most often they operate on the basis of a liquid coolant, but there are also steam systems where the coolant is steam heated to a high temperature. Steam heating in a private house, the scheme of which will be described in this article, is not without certain disadvantages, but it also has some advantages.
Scheme of steam heating in a private house
When considering a steam heating scheme in a private house, the following elements that make up its design should be highlighted:
A simple steam heating scheme used in private homes and industrial buildings.
- Steam boiler - special boilers are used here to heat water to a high temperature;
- Expansion tank - it is used to generate steam from the water supplied from the boiler;
- Radiators - they provide heat generation and heating of rooms;
- Pipes – provide steam supply and remove the condensate formed as a result of its cooling;
- Pumps – provide steam injection into the heating system (installed in large buildings);
- Steam regulator – provides regulation of the amount of steam supplied to the heating system.
Thus, the steam heating circuit is extremely simple - it is not much different from the conventional water heating circuit. Another thing is that The use of steam systems in private homes is prohibited, which is related to human safety issues. But this does not prevent the use of steam for heating industrial buildings and premises.
Very often people confuse steam heating systems with water heating systems, calling the latter steam. Today this word has become firmly established in everyday life, despite the fact that it means something completely different.
Steam heating works according to a simple scheme. The boiler heats the water in the system to a high temperature, after which it enters the expansion tank. Here it turns into steam, the temperature of which can reach +120-130 degrees. Next, the steam enters the pipes and is supplied to radiators, where it is converted into heat that warms the rooms. The condensed steam is sent back to the steam boiler. Then the process is repeated.
Diagram of water movement in a house with steam heating.
Naturally, modern steam boilers have safety systems to relieve pressure. This ensures a low accident rate of steam systems. Gas, coal or wood are used as sources for powering boilers. Steam heating in a private house using coal will provide the rooms with heat even in the absence of a centralized gas supply - this is a solid plus for country houses.
Advantages and disadvantages of steam heating
Like any other heating system, steam heating has its advantages and disadvantages. Let's look at them in more detail and start with the advantages:
- The low cost of equipment is the most obvious advantage for any consumer;
- Low heat loss – high efficiency allows you to reduce the cost of heating rooms;
- High heat transfer – this ensures quick heating of the premises.
Not without its drawbacks:
- Increased noise level - remember how noisy steam engines and locomotives are. Therefore, when filling pipes and radiators with steam, you will hear noise;
- High temperature of pipes and radiators – Due to the high temperature of the steam, burns may occur;
- High level of corrosion of individual elements - can be solved by using more expensive components;
- There is no smooth temperature control - there is only steam supply control. Sometimes the temperature in the house is reduced by turning off the system, which will be difficult when it runs on coal or wood;
- Low level of safety - due to possible accidents, steam heating systems are not used for heating residential premises.
Naturally, individual shortcomings can be dealt with, but this is fraught with additional costs.
Installation principle and choice of materials
Wood boiler. The principle of its operation is quite simple: burning wood heats water, turning it into steam.
When creating steam heating for a private home with your own hands, you need to select equipment more carefully. First you need to decide on the type of heating boiler. If the house has gas, you should choose a gas boiler. The absence of a centralized gas supply will require the choice of a coal or wood boiler. Coal models have good performance and do not require frequent fuel loading.
When installing a heating system, it is advisable to use copper pipes. They are durable and very durable, easy to install and connect, and do not require frequent replacement. Alternatively, you can choose galvanized pipes or stainless steel pipes. If copper is connected by soldering, then threaded connections are used to connect these pipes. The most budget option is to use steel pipes. They are low in cost, but quickly deteriorate due to corrosion.
Special attention is paid to the high quality of the connecting elements used. They must provide a high-quality and reliable connection - the safety of the entire system and the safety of users depend on this (steam burns are excluded).
Installation work is limited to laying pipes and installing radiators. Pipes must be laid so as to ensure gravity flow of condensate into the boiler. Steam is most often supplied through the top of the radiators, and condensate is taken from below. If you need to heat a two-story building, it is advisable to use a pump that will circulate water and steam.
There are many ways to heat your home. You can use a Russian stove and fireplace, solar collectors, steam and heated water. But those who decide to live in a private house permanently often choose water or steam heating systems. And there is a reasonable explanation for this.
When heating rooms using water and steam, a stronger and more uniform heating of the air, as well as the walls and floor, occurs. In addition, such a wide distribution of these types of heating systems is affected by the peculiarities of our harsh climate, as well as the affordable (for example, in comparison with EU member countries) prices for the average citizen for gas and electricity - the main resources used for heating water.
Steam heating has been known and successfully used for more than 100 years.
What is it?
Steam heating is steam heating system, which is formed when water boils in the boiler, and then flows through pipes into radiators installed around the entire perimeter of the premises.
Required components of a steam heating system:
- boiler - heats and stores water;
- Exhaust valve;
- radiators;
- pipes;
- pump;
- firebox
It is not recommended to install a steam heating system only for those people who are afraid of such equipment due to explosion risks, and who's in the house Small children- due to possible burns due to high temperatures of heating devices (but even in this case there is a way out - installing protection systems within the reach of children).
The main competitor of steam is a water heating system. But the last one is different the highest costs for materials.
Steam heating has fallen out of favor due to high emergency hazard. These structures are no longer installed in public places.
However, in private homes this heating option is often used. Homeowners choose to use steam for many reasons. One of them - opportunity to save, having done the installation work yourself.
Steam heating is an efficient heat source
This is a type of structure that heats a room, in which the coolant is steam. The difference between this type of heating is unusually high efficiency, which exceeds, for example, a water system 23 times.
The heat source is steam boiler. The design also includes heating devices: radiators, pipes (smooth and finned).
Principle of operation
Forms in the boiler hot steam that moves along the thermal circuit.
As the steam cools, it turns into water, releasing a large amount of heat.
The cooling liquid is gradually collected in a container, from where it is supplied to the boiler by a pump for subsequent cycle of heating and vaporization.
There are schemes in which condensate simply flows to the boiler without additional devices and containers.
Features of heating a private house with steam
The heat delivered by steam has a number of advantages, which attract the attention of zealous owners:
- installation of the structure will cost relatively inexpensive, repair and maintenance also do not require a lot of money and time;
- equipment does not take up large spaces;
- the room is heating up in a matter of minutes;
- practically absent heat loss;
- heat is transferred through the pipes and distributed not only by convection, but also radiation;
- due to efficiency they install small number of radiators and even make do with just pipes.
Due to high heat transfer, they reduce radiator area and pipe diameter.
When choosing a heating design, you should know not only the advantages.
There are a number cons:
- the equipment itself noisy;
- you will have to be careful as the temperature of the pipes varies more than 100 degrees;
- surfaces heating mains must be closed, especially if there are children in the family - to avoid serious burns;
- there will be high air circulation, a low level of humidity is established, which will require measures to purify and humidify the air;
- occurs during an accident risk of serious injury- hot steam will erupt.
How to do it yourself
If you have plumbing knowledge and skills, as well as confident handling of power tools, you can provide steam heating for your home yourself.
To complete the work you will need:
- pipes for heating mains;
- fittings, adapters, Mayevsky taps;
- heating device;
- steam generator;
- control devices.
The process consists of several stages. In order to start work correctly, and most importantly, to complete it safely, you should design the structure. It means think over every meter of heating circuit taking into account high pipe temperatures.
Boiler
First, the power of the steam boiler is calculated. For a small house take a container at 25 kW, square more than 200 squares will require already 30 .
If the heated area 300 sq. m and more, then you should choose tanks from 35 kW. The boiler power ratio is on average 1 kW per 10 sq. m, if the ceiling no higher than 2.7 m.
In addition to power, attention is paid to the possibility of heating water for home use.
Important! The boiler must be tested and have certificate. This is necessary to reduce the risk of accidents.
Heating scheme
After determining the type of boiler, the design operation schemes are selected:
- two-wire with top wiring(the equipment warms up more evenly, condensate goes into the boiler through a separate pipe installed with a slope);
- single-wire with bottom wiring(the part of the line distant from the tank will be heated with hot water).
The choice of scheme is determined by several factors:
- heated square;
- boiler installation location;
- number of installed pipes and radiators;
- convenient and safe location pipes and heat exchanger installation.
This is a complex process that will require time and careful analysis of the existing conditions.
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Materials for lines and radiators
Conventional pipes that are used to supply water will not work. Consumers are offered the following options:
- steel- withstands high temperatures, however, they rust over time;
- copper— good thermal conductivity, durability and cost;
- galvanized steel- not subject to corrosion, inexpensive.
The last option is considered optimal.
For radiators, they are primarily considered cast iron products. They are durable, resistant to aggressive environments and corrosion. Also suitable steel with ribs- for increased heat transfer.
Photo 1. Cast iron radiator with fins, model Prince 640, heat output - 399 W, manufacturer - Exemet.
Control devices
Control block- a necessary element, since hot steam is a poorly controlled element. Gearbox regulates the pressure; when it increases, the valve is activated.
The project should have:
- total length of pipes;
- radiator installation locations;
- pipeline branch points;
- necessary adapters.
This is put on paper, a diagram is drawn taking into account the characteristics of the home. All details and dimensions are written directly on the drawing. With the finished model of the future design, they plan and carry out the purchase of the necessary equipment and tools.
Homemade schemes that are easy to repeat
If we consider in detail the materials on the installation of steam heating, it becomes clear that it is quite possible to make a house warm on one's own.
Monotube
The simplest scheme is series connection of radiators, which are connected to the output and input of the boiler. The steam, gradually cooling, moves from the beginning of the circuit back into the boiler. Part of the mechanism is no longer heated by steam, but hot water.
Reference! The pipes are located low, and the temperature in the first and last radiators is equalized by connecting circulation pump.
Horizontal
This simple circuit is suitable for small house. If there are many rooms, you will have to speed up the flow of coolant pump. To turn on radiators variably, they complicate the circuit by building into it bypasses(adapters that exclude some sections).
Vertical version of a single-pipe scheme
Provides warmth house with two or more floors. For a small home with a heated attic or a warm underground floor, this is a suitable type of circuit. Few materials are required, and the design itself is inexpensive.
For each floor they think through chain of radiators, calculate the required amount of material, taking into account jumpers with bypasses (this will help make the temperature in the rooms more even).
Leningradka
This is a complicated previous scheme, providing maximum temperature equalization coolant along the entire length of the circuit.
The principle of operation is to distribute the coolant in such a way that it part moves, bypassing radiators(using bypasses). To do this, a pipe is laid under them, from which there are branches to the inlet and outlet of the battery. The segment between the taps is jumper, which will help control the temperature in the room. The coolant goes directly to the next part of the circuit without cooling down.
