Manual balancing valves: types, purpose, installation

The heating system must be set up, it is possible to carry out these works in different ways. This need arises to achieve operational efficiency, when at each section of the network the parameters are as close as possible to the calculated ones. Today, several means of regulating the system are known, but the most modern are the hand balancing valves.

The purpose of the balancing valve

The heating circuit necessarily requires a hydraulic adjustment. The purpose of this manipulation is to bring the coolant flow to the calculated value, this allows you to ensure that each battery is delivered the right amount of heat.

At the simplest schemes the expense is provided with correctly picked up diameters of pipes. When the system is more complex, adjustments can be made with washers, which ensure the flow of the required volume of water. However, these methods can be called obsolete, today more and more often a balancing valve is installed.

In appearance, it is a manual valve, which allows you to regulate the volume of the coolant. As a complement to it, two chutes are built in, they are necessary for:

• Interaction and connection of the capillary tube to other controls;
• Changes in the value of pressure in different places with respect to the regulating mechanism.

You can find out the value of the differential on the regulators by measuring the pressure in the fittings, this allows you to determine the coolant flow in the area. After reading the instructions to the valve, you can determine the number of revolutions of the handle for the required flow rate.

Additionally about the appointment

On sale you can find products of some manufacturers, this includes the Danfoss hand balancing valve, which allows measuring the amount of flowing water using instruments of the same brand. This helps make the process easier, because you do not need to perform calculations, but you will have to spend money to purchase such equipment.

By appointment, such devices should be divided into manual valves and automatic controllers. In the second variant, two devices are included in the delivery set, among them one can also isolate the differential pressure regulator.

Types of balancing crane

Manual balancing valves are available in different versions. Models can have their own design features of shutoff and balancing valves. The valves can be subdivided according to the location of the rod, which can be:

• Direct;
• Beveled.

In the first case, the rod is at right angles to the body. The beveled position of the stem provides the element with high hydraulic characteristics. Manual balancing valves are also classified according to the shape of the saddle, it can be:

• Cylindrical;
• straight;
• Conical.

Prices for manual balancing valves

The manual balancing valve MSV can have different cost depending on the characteristics, among them the diameter, connection parameters and throughput should be distinguished. If the first parameter is 15 mm and the second parameter is equal to Rp 1/2, while the third parameter is equivalent to 3 m ³ / h, then for such an item it is necessary to pay 1000 rubles. When the diameter increases to 32 mm, and the throughput becomes 18 m ³ / h, the cost will increase to 2205 rubles.

Valve balancing manual flanged will be much more expensive. The product labeled MSV-F2 and 15 mm in diameter costs 5,950 rubles, with a throughput of 3.1 m ³ / h. With an increase in diameter to 32 mm and a throughput capacity of 15.5 m ³ / h, the price is 8100 rubles.

Mounting

In order to achieve the accuracy of the measurements, the valve should be installed on a flat section that does not have bends. The length of such a zone will depend on the diameter of the pipe. For example, before the valve, the length should be 5 pipe diameters, after it - 2 diameters or more. If these recommendations are ignored, then the error can reach a limit of 15 to 20%.

A manual balancing valve, the price of which is very high, still will not provide efficiency if you do not follow the rules under which the element should be mounted with a distance of up to 10 pipe diameters to the pump. This is true when the valve is located after the circulation pump. This node should be in the place where it is convenient to configure, dismantle and operate it.

Water should move in the direction indicated by the arrow on the body. The device can be installed vertically or horizontally, for this there are no special restrictions. The housing must not be subjected to external pressure. A screen filter should be installed in the system , otherwise the valve clogs quickly.

Recommendations of a specialist

The filling of the system on which the balancing valve is installed must be carried out in a special way. In the case of a dynamic valve, provision should be made for filling connections, they should be close to the valve, they must be installed on the return line.

If manual balancing valves are installed on the supply line, they should be closed. To adjust, you need to use a flowmeter or a table of flow and pressure drop. But the initial calculation must be carried out at the planning stage of the heating system.

The scheme of installation of the balancing valve

The balancing valve can be installed according to one of the existing schemes. The first involves the use of outdoor networks, in which case a throttle network should be used. It is able to limit the overrun of water and pressure. If there are devices in the heating network that are responsible for regulating the water supply, then the manual valve should not be installed.

The balancing crane can be mounted also on the branched out system of cooling, water supply and heating. With the help of these schemes it is possible to solve the problem of excess head. When branching is used, you may run into the problem of overspending in one direction and a small expense in the other. To equalize the pressure, the described device is installed. In the end, it is possible to obtain an average flow at all points. The balancing valve should not be used if the circuit has a small circuit.

Conclusion

Even if the heating or plumbing system has been correctly designed and installed, it requires initial adjustment. In further operation, the distribution of temperature and pressure can be regulated by means of a control valve; among these elements, not only balancing valves, but also pressure reducers, as well as bypass screens should be distinguished.