How to choose bimetallic heating radiators

With the onset of cold weather, each of us thinks more and more about how important a properly selected and configured heating system plays. Its main criteria are the maximum allowable thermal conductivity, the ability to withstand significant pressure drops, as well as structural strength and reliability – no one wants to 'flood' neighbors from below. Having analyzed a great variety of models currently on sale, we can conclude that modern bimetallic radiators – models based on a combination of two dissimilar metals – meet this requirement most fully.

How to choose bimetallic heating radiators – which company is better?

Given the popularity of such devices, their release has now been mastered by many manufacturers, one way or another involved in the production of plumbing equipment and heating appliances. However, not all of them can be recommended for purchase – a lack of experience, multiplied by a low manufacturing culture and a large number of rejects, does its job. This is evidenced by the many negative customer reviews on the Internet, which must be taken into account. The best products are rightfully considered to be the products of those manufacturers who have been working in this field for a long time and have managed to save their products from most of the mistakes and 'sores':

1. Global Style

2. Rifar Zin

3. SkyProfil

4. TenRad

5. Royal Thermo

Main selection criteria

When choosing bimetallic heating radiators, it is necessary to pay attention to a number of technical features that directly affect the general functionality and resource of a particular device.

Heat dissipation

A parameter that displays the amount of heat dissipated per unit of time. The outer aluminum jacket is responsible for the most efficient functioning; it is this metal that is characterized by the maximum heat dissipation coefficient. Most of the standard models of radiators equipped with a standard inlet diameter have a heat transfer rate of 170-200 kW, which is 30-50% higher than standard steel or cast iron radiators.

Reliability

An extremely important parameter that directly affects the overall performance of the heating system, as well as the absence of problems with neighbors due to flooding of their apartment. The key parameter is the strength and thickness of the inner steel jacket. For purchase, you can recommend models with a shell thickness of at least 2-2.5 millimeters. This is quite enough to withstand the operating pressure in the system up to 40-45 atmospheres, and the pressure test – about 55-60 atmospheres.

Working and pressure test

Parameters indicating at what maximum pressure the heating system is capable of operating. A distinction is made between operating pressure – a value that constantly operates in the cooling system, as well as pressure pressure – a parameter indicating the peak load required for the final installation of the heating system. Practice shows that the value of the pressure test is almost always 25-30% higher than the working pressure.

Connection method

Any heating system and its radiators in particular have two openings – inlet and outlet. Their location depends on the specific model, and also directly affects the specific method of connecting the device. Depending on this parameter, the following methods are distinguished:

1. Top connection – both system pipes are connected at the top of the radiator;

2. Bottom connections – inlet and outlet are located at the bottom;

3. Side connection – both inlet and outlet are located on the same side, top and bottom, respectively;

4. Diagonal connection – the entrance to the radiator is located at the bottom left, the exit is at the top right, or vice versa;

Radiator type

All models of radiators currently on sale can be divided into several conditional groups:

Panel radiators

They are one of the most budgetary options, and therefore are highly popular among buyers. The efficiency of devices of this class is relatively high – it reaches 75-78% in the best models.

Advantages

• Low inertia;

• High environmental friendliness;

• Democratic cost;

• High efficiency;

• Excellent heat dissipation;

disadvantages

• Are susceptible to the formation of corrosion on surfaces in contact with water;

• Steel models are afraid of water hammer;

Sectional radiators

Models, which are a kind of designer, the performance and heat transfer of which is controlled by adding or excluding individual sections of the device. They have high efficiency (at the level of 85%), as well as excellent heat dissipation, and therefore are one of the best solutions for installation in multi-apartment buildings.

Advantages

• Low inertia;

• High environmental friendliness;

• High efficiency;

• Excellent heat dissipation;

disadvantages

• Are susceptible to the formation of corrosion on surfaces in contact with water;

• Quite high cost;

Tubular radiators

They are a structure of metal pipes, inside of which a coolant passes (usually hot water). They are distinguished by a peculiar design that is not suitable for every room, as well as high thermal conductivity and the ability to withstand significant operating and pressure pressures.

Advantages

• Ability to withstand significant working pressure without the risk of leakage;

• Extravagant appearance;

• High efficiency and heat transfer;

disadvantages

• High price;

• Labor intensity of the installation;

Calculation of the required number of sections

Devices of this class are a kind of constructor consisting of many panels. Their number is selected depending on the area of ​​the room, as well as on the mode of its operation. The formula designed to calculate the required number of sections for a particular room has the following appearance:

1. The area of ​​the heated room is calculated;

2. The resulting value is multiplied by the standard indicator – 100W;

3. The calculated value is divided by the heat output of one heater section. You can find this parameter in the instructions;

The resulting value is the number of sections that is necessary for the correct functioning of the heating system. It is required to round up the value. An alternative calculation method is the banal division of the area of ​​the room into 2 – this is the number of square meters that one section of the radiator heats.

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Heating radiator selection video

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.