Choosing a heating device is a serious matter; not only the temperature in the room during winter depends on it, but also the reliability and long-term use of batteries under different conditions. You need to know the technicians. capabilities of heating products produced various materials and their main differences affecting the validity of the choice in any given case.
At the moment, according to the responses of professionals and users, two types of batteries are considered more effective - bimetallic and aluminum.
These products have many similar features, but they also differ. Therefore, almost all buyers of this category of products are concerned about which ones. the data is considered to characterize the selection of batteries of these types and what characteristics should be focused on in order to make the right selection in favor of this or that product.
Before making comparisons, you need to better understand the performance capabilities of aluminum and bimetallic batteries
Those. individuality of aluminum batteries
The body of such products is made of aluminum or its alloys. To produce products, they use the casting method or a press at high temperatures. Cast sections are the highest quality and most reliable. Aluminum batteries are equipped with ribs between sections and vertical panels in front, this allows achieving the highest thermal output, while thermal energy comes both in the form of radiation and in convection. 
Aluminum radiators are not large and have many shapes. Traditionally, the segments are packaged in 2-3 sections and assembled into a heating battery of suitable volumes. Silicone or paronite gaskets are installed at the joints to isolate the joints. To connect the individual parts, bronze or brass nipples are used. 
Those. The characteristics of aluminum radiators are good and not quite. The advantages of such products are:
- Highest thermal output (up to 250 W per section).
- Low thermal inertia.
- The batteries are compact and not heavy.
The disadvantages of aluminum batteries include:
- Inability to withstand high pressure in the heating network (no more than 10 Atm);
- Chemical instability of the material.
- Short shelf life (10 years).
- Demanding on the quality of the coolant.
Analyzing the properties listed above, it is clear that these radiators should not be used for central heating, since aluminum devices are in no way adapted to work at high pressure and poor quality coolant.
Bimetallic heating radiators, properties
The name of these products says that their main highlight, in comparison with other batteries, is contained in the use of two various metals in frame production. Radiators of this type are iron pipes, according to which heated liquid circulates, they are pressed with external components made from aluminum or its alloy. Due to this unique individuality, bimetallic products retain excellent heat transfer characteristics due to aluminum and increased strength to iron parts.
The use of a steel core will reduce to a minimum the number of defects in a heating battery made from only aluminum.
Here are the main characteristics of batteries made using two metals:
- Excellent heat dissipation (200 W from one section).
- Fast heating speed.
- The devices are small-sized and not heavy.
- They do not hold a large volume of coolant.
- Withstand high pressure (20 atm working)
- The metal core is inert; modification of the reaction of the coolant medium affects it.
- Reliable (20 years of operation or more).
Poor qualities of bimetallic devices. The narrow clearance of the iron core can lead to rapid contamination and the high price of the products (on average thirty percent more expensive than similar aluminum ones). Bimetallic radiators are similar in appearance to aluminum radiators; their outer part is made of the same material.
It can be seen from the features of aluminum batteries and those made from 2 alloys, their constant use in the same criteria is not possible. Particularly for aluminum products, they are not suitable for use under centralized heat supply conditions due to their inability to tolerate dangerous jumps pressure and sensitivity to water quality. 
This means that of these two radiators, only bimetallic devices are suitable for central heating. Aluminum products are suitable for the infirm heating systems and good in criteria independent systems heating, in which place the temperature of the circulating water is comparatively low.
Bimetallic system radiators are also quite good in individual building heating systems, especially if there are solid fuel boilers; these batteries have greater solar inertia compared to aluminum ones, and therefore can smooth out fluctuations in temperature. heat carrier.
When choosing a suitable device in the presence of an autonomous boiler, it is necessary to take into account the differences between aluminum radiators and bimetallic ones, taking into account not just one characteristic, but their complex. Devices made from two metals are more expensive and have lower heat transfer, but they are 2 times more durable.
In Russia today there are many types of heating equipment. When choosing radiators (batteries) for heating your residential or non-residential space, the first argument should be the type of heating at home:
Autonomous heating of a private house up to 500 m2
Autonomous heating of premises over 500 m2 (roof boiler rooms)
Central heating in apartment buildings or non-residential premises of any size.
Why these three types?
Each version of this type of heating operates according to different parameters and the composition of the coolant in the pipeline and radiators. Autonomous systems up to 500 m2 - the pressure in the system cannot be more than 3 Bar (kilogram) and the coolant, if desired, can be filled without unnecessary chemicals that accelerate the aging process of equipment.
Autonomous systems over 500 m2 - roof boiler room for residential apartments in a multi-storey building, the pressure depends on the height of the building, but not more than 6 bar (kilogram) with a regular coolant (tap water).
Central heating apartment buildings And non-residential premises the most problematic heating system throughout our homeland, the pressure in such systems reaches 9 Bar (kilogram) with a coolant that contains chemical reagents and a lot of dirt.
All of the above affect the durability of your batteries and the connections (pipes and taps) to them. Knowing the system and the factors of their problems, consider the heating devices themselves, and in the next article we will decide which pipes and taps to install. These devices are available to choose from: Cast iron - irrelevant, ugly and ineffective in terms of heat transfer 160 W per 1 m2. Aluminum - modern, beautiful, efficient 199 W per 1 m2 for a burst of up to 25 Bar. Bimetallic - modern, beautiful, 187 W per 1 m2, but with a burst power reserve of up to 40 Bar. A steel panel radiator is modern, efficient, reliable, but not always affordable. Cast iron batteries do not need discussion!
Aluminum radiators: The most common type of heating equipment today, so much has already been said and written about them, but aluminum radiators are still worthy of attention. Their technical data for all manufacturers is almost the same if we consider the 500/100 model, since the properties of aluminum are unchanged. Good manufacturer improves the design and convection of the device for greater heat transfer to each section. The working pressure of the radiators is 16 Bar (kilogram), the burst pressure is 25 Bar.
The heat dissipation of the battery and the price depend on three factors:
- Manufacturer.
- Model.
- Weight of one section.
The price is most influenced by the manufacturer, since goods from Europe are more expensive than ours or from China. The radiator model comes in 500/100, 500/85, 500/80, 500/70, also 350/100 and 350/80, and the smallest 200/80.
What does 500/100 mean - these are dimensions where 500 is the axial distance, and 100 is the depth of the product. Look Dimensions in millimeters from photo:
- Total height under the letter, A
- Distance between the axes of the connection holes, B
- Section depth, C
- Front section width, D
The standard in our country is 500/100, cast iron batteries 500 mm along the axes of the pipeline connections. Other models 500/85 and so on are made mainly to reduce the cost per section, due to less aluminum in it, and appearance They look exactly the same, the manufacturer is being disingenuous by visually passing them off as a standard radiator.
And so we know that we need 500/100 with a heat output of 199 W per meter of heating area, with ceilings in the house no more than three meters high and it is suitable for replacement in an apartment without additional details, and then also models 500/85, 500/80 and 500/70 are suitable for us, but their heat transfer is much less due to the reduced area of the radiator section, we need to look at the product data sheet, the price of such sections is cheaper than that of a standard 500/100 radiator. An important factor when choosing a heating radiator is production, cast aluminum radiator or extrusion. Cast radiators naturally pour into molds under high pressure and are a single piece, which means maximum reliability. Extrusion - the radiator is welded by welding in three parts, which reduces the cost of the production process, degrades the quality of reliability, and this type will definitely not withstand pressure testing of the system in apartment buildings. Today, extrusion is quite rarely found in stores. The third factor is the weight of one section; good and real Italian or, so to speak, real 500/100 aluminum radiators have a weight in one section from 1.2 to 1.4 kg. Less weight affects heat transfer, service life, and can withstand lower operating pressure.
Every person wants to buy at a lower price and sell at a higher price; look at the product passport; it shows the manufacturer, model, power and all other technical data for the heating equipment you want to purchase. For example, you need a heating device for an apartment where there is high operating and pressure pressure and the coolant does not always match standard temperature, it is preferable to purchase a real heavy radiator with standard size. It's another matter if you need to heat a private house with the existing minimum pressure and constant heat flow from your own boiler, here you can save on the quality of appliances; in a private house there are practically no factors for the rapid destruction of sections of the appliance. I hope you can choose the most profitable heating device option for yourself.
Bimetallic radiators - This is an ordinary aluminum battery in appearance, the difference is in the inner steel tube through which the heating fluid flows, that is, water, the tube consists of three parts, welded together to form a passage channel and is filled with aluminum on top using a special technology.
The coolant flows through the steel tube without coming into contact with the aluminum and without producing a chemical reaction that destroys the aluminum. All chemical reactions in pipelines occur very slowly, the time of destruction by a harmful chemical reaction for aluminum has not been studied and the service life can be 20 or 30 years. Bimetallic batteries very good, have a huge margin of safety in terms of burst pressure of 40 Bar and a constant working pressure of 25 Bar. Reliability of such radiators in heating systems of apartment buildings indisputable, but all these data refer to radiators produced at a plant in Europe, and their cost is two or three times higher than that of an aluminum radiator of the same brand (brand), for example GLOBAL.
The heat output of a bimetallic radiator is up to 180 W and aluminum radiator is up to 199 W. With all the praise about bimetallic radiators the feasibility of installing it is money down the drain or full awareness of an impenetrable heating device in the form of a battery. Most likely the pipes will burst. Let's compare the parameters of heating systems and radiators:
Autonomous heating system:
|
Technical data |
Aluminum |
Bimetallic |
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Operating pressure in heating systems 3 - 6 Bar (kilogram) |
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System pressure test max. 12 bar |
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Temperature maximum 85 degrees |
Centralized heating in apartment buildings:
|
Technical data |
Aluminum |
Bimetallic |
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Operating pressure in heating systems 14 Bar (kilogram) |
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System pressure test maximum 9 bar |
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Temperature maximum 90 degrees |
Coolant water, chemical reaction unknown.
Upon check-in new apartment or home, during the overhaul Many owners are faced with the issue of heating the premises. Over time, radiators wear out and you have to replace the equipment with new ones. It is very important to choose the most suitable type of battery. After all, it depends on how comfortable the living conditions in the apartment or house will be.
But which heater should you choose? Today, the most popular are aluminum and bimetallic units. To understand which heating radiators are better, aluminum or bimetallic, you need to consider the features of each type of battery, the main positive and negative aspects. This is what this article will be devoted to.
Considering aluminum and bimetallic radiators, the difference between them, as it turns out, is very large. After all, for their production they are used different materials: the former are made of aluminum, the latter are made of an alloy of aluminum and steel (copper). Aluminum and bimetal have different characteristics. Which has a significant impact on technical and operational parameters finished product. Let's look at each type of heating device in more detail.
Aluminum batteries: characteristics and advantages
Produced using the casting method. Therefore, the design of the unit is monolithic. This is the main advantage of products of this type. After all, a solid battery will not leak. Having studied the reviews, aluminum heating radiators can be called wear-resistant and durable devices. Many consumers prefer this species heaters precisely due to the presence of the above positive features.
In addition, aluminum batteries are characterized by the following advantages:
True, all these positive features are characteristic only of high-quality models. And it is very easy to find fakes on the market. Therefore, purchases must be made from trusted and reliable companies. Don't go after cheap prices. After all, a radiator is not purchased for one year. A low-quality fake will bring more problems than benefits: the product will require frequent repairs and will not be able to heat the house at the proper level.
Aluminum radiators: review of models
Today, heating systems are of particular interest to buyers. Russian production, since such products have good technical characteristics and affordable price. It must be said that all models are produced using imported, high-quality equipment. Therefore, in many respects they are not inferior to foreign heaters. Russian aluminum heating radiators are produced by different companies. But the products of Prado and Thermal have earned the greatest trust among consumers.
Manufacturer "Prado"
Units under the Prado brand are distinguished by a wide range. The manufacturer offers models that differ in design and size. What makes it possible to use such heaters in different types of rooms. Prado heating radiators are successfully used not only in residential buildings, but also in industrial and office buildings. The quality is at the proper level and meets all existing standards and norms.
All Prado products have good aesthetic characteristics, are characterized by high strength, thermal conductivity and low weight.
Prado produces heating radiators taking into account the needs and wishes of consumers. Constant improvement of products allows the company to occupy a leading position in the market.
Manufacturer: Termal
Thermal batteries are also in demand. Thermal company produces heating radiators using the extrusion method. Thanks to this, the surface of the device is mirror-like, without any defects. The products can be classified as “thin”. Since their thickness is only 5.5 cm. Foreign analogues are 2 times thicker. Such thin units can be installed in rooms with a narrow window sill.
Reviews for Thermal heating radiators are mostly positive. Many users note the durability and reliability of the design. Such products are equipped with double blocking of leaks: the fittings of each section are pressed in, rubber gaskets are used. All models are made of aluminum alloy, which is resistant to corrosion. And this significantly extends the service life of the devices.
Bimetallic radiators: characteristics and advantages
Before answering the question, which is better, aluminum or bimetal radiators, it is worth considering. These devices can be called a type of aluminum units. After all, they are made from aluminum and steel. But they have some differences. The design of such batteries is prefabricated. Therefore, if installed incorrectly or not comply with operating conditions, the product may leak. Bimetal is also susceptible to corrosion. Especially if the water is characterized by high hardness.
But, nevertheless, bimetallic heaters also have their advantages:
Bimetal radiators: review of models
Among domestic producers bimetallic radiators, the company Rifar can be distinguished. The products are characterized by high heat transfer and are designed for pressures up to 20 atmospheres. The lineup wide enough. We have already written in more detail about Rifar bimetallic radiators.
Regulus units are also in demand. Distinctive feature The difference between batteries from this manufacturer is that the core is made not of steel, but of copper. If the coolant freezes, there will be no harm to the heater.
Which radiators to choose: aluminum or bimetallic?
So, which is aluminum or what is better in terms of reliability and durability? Having studied the characteristics of both types of batteries, this question is now much easier to answer. Thermal performance is higher for batteries made of aluminum. But the crimping pressure is higher for bimetal. This indicator is extremely important for the tightness of the structure. Aluminum products are not subject to corrosion. Unlike bimetallic analogues.
Both types of batteries can be equipped with a thermostat.
Is it true, aluminum systems warm up faster desired temperature, rather than bimetallic. Aluminum radiators have a longer service life - from 25 years, and bimetallic radiators - no more than 20 years. So aluminum radiators are considered more reliable and durable. Therefore, they are often preferred by users when choosing.
Cost of aluminum radiators
There is no clear answer to the question of how much an aluminum heating radiator costs. Since the price depends largely on the manufacturer. Affects its size and quality characteristics. But on average, one section of an aluminum battery will cost from 540 rubles. By the way, bimetallic products are somewhat more expensive. Their price per section can reach up to 8,000 rubles.
The total cost of an aluminum radiator depends on how many sections are needed to heat the house. If you can’t afford to buy a new battery, you can buy used heating radiators, which will be much cheaper. Even a previously used aluminum model can serve well for many years.
Thus, the most popular today are heaters made of aluminum and bimetal. Which products to purchase, bimetallic or aluminum radiators, it all depends on preferences and financial situation homeowner. But many experts advise installing aluminum units. Because they have high specifications and more durable.
When choosing heating devices, it is important not to make a mistake and purchase equipment that has optimal technical and operational characteristics. The main aspects that influence product selection are battery design features, build quality, heat dissipation and resistance to mechanical and chemical influences.
If we take these criteria into account, then it won’t be difficult to choose which heating radiators are better, aluminum or bimetallic?
What is the difference between bimetallic radiators and aluminum ones?
When determining which is better, an aluminum or bimetallic heating radiator, you should first pay attention to the design features. The way the battery is designed affects performance and heat dissipation.
Bimetallic batteries
Bimetal is a structure made of two different metals. The core is made of copper or steel, and the shell aluminum alloy. The design feature does not make it possible to use pipes as a core large diameter, so there is a high probability of battery clogging during operation. It is recommended to wash the sections regularly.
Aluminum batteries
Consist of stacked sections manufactured by casting or extrusion. The latter method is not used in EU countries. Extrusion-type batteries are produced by Chinese and several domestic manufacturers.The design includes convection fins that increase heat transfer. The battery consists exclusively of aluminum, which affects the longevity of operation.
Which radiators are of better quality, bimetal or aluminum?
The fundamental difference between aluminum heating radiators from bimetallic ones is that the design of the latter includes a core made of a metal different from that used for the shell. This affects the parameters and performance of the battery:- Heat dissipation of radiators - for aluminum batteries, one section has a capacity of 200 W. The power of bimetallic equipment with a steel core is no more than 180 W. The performance of the aluminum-copper radiator section is also 200 W.
- Maximum pressure– water hammer and pressure surges are weak point aluminum models. The maximum pressure is only 16 atm, which is often not enough to connect to a central heating system.
Bimetallic heating devices with a steel core can easily withstand pressure surges of 20 atm, and some manufacturers produce a core capable of withstanding a water hammer with a power of 40 atm. - The quality of the coolant - the difference between bimetal radiators and aluminum products is the use of steel as the core, a material that practically does not enter into a chemical reaction.
Aluminum reacts to any impurities, so the walls of sections when connected to central heating quickly become thinner and leaks appear. In this case, the choice of a heating radiator between aluminum or bimetal is clearly in favor of the latter. - Battery life – bimetal is guaranteed to last at least 15-20 years. Aluminum batteries are approximately 5 years shorter. The service life can be significantly affected by the quality of the coolant and the heating intensity. The maximum operating temperature for aluminum equipment is 110°C, bimetal 130°C.
- Cost - aluminum batteries cost about a third less than bimetal.
When choosing heating equipment, you should pay attention to the heating source. The central system uses an aggressive coolant and pressure unfavorable for aluminum. IN autonomous heating There are much fewer negative factors affecting the operation of devices.
Which radiator to choose, aluminum or bimetal?
The decisive role in the determination is played by the structural difference between aluminum and bimetal radiators. It is better to install aluminum sections for private heating systems. The pressure in the pipeline, even when using circulation equipment, rarely exceeds several atmospheres, and the owner of the house will be able to monitor the quality of the coolant and thus extend its service life.Bimetallic radiators, without contact of the coolant with aluminum, are recommended for use in multi-storey buildings. But this applies exclusively to models whose core is made of steel; the copper core can withstand a load of no more than 16 atm.
The difference between bimetallic and aluminum heating radiators lies not only in the design features, but also in the operational characteristics that they influence. If we take into account all the indicators and parameters, then bimetallic heating devices remain of higher quality.