Central heating system of an apartment building

Few things are more essential to keeping our homes warm and comfortable than a dependable heating system. This requirement becomes even more crucial in apartment buildings because it is essential to the comfort and welfare of numerous households. Let us introduce the central heating system, an intricate system of radiators, boilers, and pipes that effectively distributes heat throughout a building. This article will examine the inner workings of apartment building central heating systems, including how they function and the significance of regular maintenance.

The boiler is the main component of a central heating system and is the engine that produces heat. Usually, natural gas, oil, electricity, or even renewable energy sources like solar power are used to power these boilers. The building’s plumbing system circulates heated water or, occasionally, steam that has been heated by the boiler. The system’s main support structure is this network, which branches out to reach each apartment and heats baseboard or individual radiators.

The efficiency and convenience of central heating are two of its main benefits in apartment buildings. Central systems enable centralized control and maintenance, which can result in more consistent heating and potentially lower energy costs than standalone heating units in individual apartments. Furthermore, central heating removes the requirement for residents to control their own heating systems, which lowers the possibility of malfunctions and guarantees a comfortable living environment for all.

Nevertheless, even though central heating systems have many advantages, they also need routine maintenance to perform at their best. Checking for leaks in the piping system, cleaning and inspecting the boiler, and making sure each heating unit is operating properly are examples of maintenance tasks. Ignoring these maintenance responsibilities can result in reduced effectiveness, increased energy costs, and even system failures, which can cause residents’ discomfort and necessitate expensive repairs.

In summary, an apartment building’s central heating system is essential to preserving its occupants’ ability to live comfortably. Both tenants and building managers may guarantee dependable heating throughout the winter months while simultaneously optimizing energy efficiency and cutting costs by being aware of how these systems work and the significance of regular maintenance.

Providing the heat of apartment buildings: a centralized heating system

As you are aware, a sizable portion of the housing stock has central heating and cooling. Furthermore, central heating is still preferred by apartment building developers, if not by apartment building owners themselves, even in spite of the appearance and introduction of more contemporary heat supply schemes in recent years. It should be mentioned, though, that extensive experience both domestically and abroad with this type of heating option has demonstrated its efficacy and right to continue existing as long as all components are performed with high quality and without incident.

One characteristic that sets this scheme apart is the generation of heat outside the buildings that are being heated, with pipelines being used to transport the heat from the source. Stated differently, centralized heating refers to a sophisticated engineering system that is dispersed over a sizable area and serves to simultaneously heat numerous objects.

Central heating system structure

The central heating system’s primary structural components are:

1. The source of thermal energy. which can be large boiler rooms or heat -power centers (CHP); They are heated by the coolant through the use of any type of energy source.
   In the boiler rooms to transfer thermal energy to consumers, water is used, then, as at the CHPP, it first heats up to a steam state that has higher energy indicators and heading to steam turbines to generate electricity. And already worked steam is used to heat the water that enters the heating system of an apartment building.

Heat nets – a complex, branched, extended system of pipelines designed to transport heat to objects.
They are two heat pipes-supply (hot) and reverse (with a waste coolant), usually made of steel pipes with a diameter of 1000-1400 mm. The laying of the heating systems can be carried out both by the ground and underground method with mandatory thermal insulation in both cases. It should be noted that large centralized heat supply schemes have, as a rule, several heat sources associated with reserve highways and ensure the reliability and maneuverability of their functioning.

Consumers of heat – heating equipment installed directly in an apartment building or another facility. Figure 1 – General scheme of central heating

In our article about the central heating system of an apartment building, we"ll delve into the essential aspects of keeping multiple units warm efficiently. We"ll explore how central heating works, from the boiler or furnace to the distribution system of pipes and radiators, highlighting its benefits in terms of energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness. We"ll discuss common types of central heating systems, such as hot water and steam systems, and their respective pros and cons. Additionally, we"ll touch upon the importance of proper maintenance to ensure the system operates smoothly and safely. By the end, readers will have a clear understanding of how central heating keeps apartment buildings cozy and comfortable, even during the coldest months.

Classification of centralized heating systems

They are able to rank them based on certain classification features because of the diversity of central heating organization schemes that are currently in use.

According to the heat consumption regime

• seasonal. heat provision is required only in the cold season;
• year -round. in need of constant heat supply.

By type of coolant used

• Water – This is the most common heating option used to heat an apartment building; Such systems are easy to operate, allow you to transport the coolant over long distances without worsening quality indicators and adjust the temperature at the centralized level, and are also characterized by good sanitary-hygienic qualities.
• Air – These systems allow not only heating, but also the ventilation of buildings; However, due to the high cost, such a scheme does not find wide application;

Figure 2: Building air heating and ventilation

• steam – are considered the most economical, t.To. For heating the house, small diameter pipes are used, and hydrostatic pressure in the system is not enough, which facilitates its operation. But such a heat supply scheme is recommended for those objects that, in addition to heat, requires water vapor (mainly industrial enterprises).

By the method of connecting the heating system to the heat supply

• Independent. in which the coolant circulating along the heating networks (water or steam) heats the coolant (water) supplied to the heating system in the heat exchanger;

Diagram 3: Self-contained central heating system

• dependent. in which the coolant heated in the heat generator is supplied directly to the heat consumers through the networks (see. picture 1).

By the method of joining the heat supply system of hot water supply

• Open. Hot water is taken directly from the heating system;

The open heating system in Figure 4.

• Closed. In such systems, the water fence is provided from the general water supply, and its heating is carried out in the network heat exchanger of the central.

Figure 5: A central heating system that is closed

The device of a centralized heating system and the principle of operation of its components in an apartment building

It is evident that an apartment building needs to be connected to a heating network that originates from a thermal power plant or boiler room in order to provide warmth. For these reasons, they set input valves in the building’s pipes, where one or two thermal nodes are recorded.

Gryazer valves are typically installed after the pipeline has been exposed to hot water for an extended period of time, causing oxides and salts of metals to deposit. By the way, you can prolong the heating system’s terminal operation with these devices.

Inserts for hot water supplies are located further down the house circuit. first on the return, and the second on the feed. As you are aware, overheated water is used for central heating (the coolant temperature with the CHP is between 130 and 150 0C, and a system pressure of 6 to 10 kgf is created to prevent the liquid from turning to steam). Hence, during the winter months, DHW is connected from the return, where the water temperature typically stays below 70°C. The hot water supply is connected to the supply during the summer, when the coolant temperature in the heating system is comparatively low.

The heating elevator is the system’s most crucial component, right after the DHW valves. Its primary goal is to reduce the overheated (incoming from the thermal power plant) material to the acceptable levels required for direct supply to the apartment building’s heating systems.

This device is made up of a steel case with a nozzle that allows water from a heat-power center to exit at a high speed and low pressure. This leads to the creation of a rarefaction, which causes the coolant to leak from the return to the elevator, changing its temperature due to water mixing.

Figure 6: Elevator device with heating

It should be mentioned that altering the elevator nozzle’s diameter controls the heating system’s regulation, i.e., the real temperature difference within the system, the degree of heating of the working water mixture, and the heating devices themselves.

Typically, apartment buildings or heating valve entrances are situated behind the elevator.

House valves are used to connect and disconnect the heating center circuit. They overlap in the summer and are open in the winter.

Moreover, the installation of the so-called discharges is made possible by central heating. serving as the system’s release or drainage valves. In order to supply water to the radiators during the summer, they are occasionally connected to the cold water supply pipeline.

There have been established heating sequences at the entrance to the house or entrances in recent years in compliance with the requirements for the mandatory installation of metering devices.

Figure 7: Diagram of the central heating system’s thermal unit device

Risers and outlines of a centralized heating system

The layout of an apartment building’s water circulation system is typically a one-to-one replica of the heat carrier with an upper or lower outlet. Concurrently, the supply and return pipes can be diluted in the attic or technical story, the return in the basement, and the pipe in the attic.

Risers, on the other hand, have:

• the passing movement of the coolant;
• the movement of the water to the top down;
• oncoming movement from the bottom up.

Employing Schemes with Reduced Output Jumpers, which can be found in attics or upper-floor apartments, are used to connect each pair of risers. In this instance, the air vent (air tank) needs to be mounted at the top of the jumper.

The Maevsky crane is the most basic, yet it can withstand errors in flight design.

This option’s primary drawback is having to remove the system after every water discharge, which necessitates air suffering from every jumper.

Potential layouts for the central heating system with a lower outlet are shown in Figure 8.

Upper outlet heating system It allows for the installation of separate valves that enable each riser to cut off, as well as an expansion tank with a valve and an aircraft wizard on a hardware house.

When opening aerialists, the proper bias during roser laying allows for a quick and full drainage of the system’s water supply. However, there are a lot of features with this option that need to be considered when designing.

1. The temperature of heating devices decreases as the coolant is moved down. It is clear that on the lower floors it will be significantly lower than on the upper ones, which is usually compensated by an increase in the number of sections of radiators or the area of convectors.
2. The heating launch process is quite simple. For this, you need to fill out the system, open the existing house valves and for a short time airborne on the expansion tank. After that, central heating and the entire system begin to function in full.
3. The discharge of the coolant from a particular riser, on the contrary, has some difficulties. To do this, you first need to find and block the desired riser on the technical story of a multi -storey building, then find and turn off its valve in the basement, and only after that it will be possible to open a reset.

Diagram of a single-pipe heating system with an upper outlet is shown in Figure 9.

Advantages and disadvantages of the central heating system

The following are some advantages of the central heating system:

• the possibility of using inexpensive types of fuel;
• reliability provided by regular control of performance and technical condition from special services;
• use of environmentally friendly equipment;
• Simplicity in operation.

A few drawbacks It is important to take note of this apartment building heating scheme:

• The system operates according to a strict seasonal graphics;
• the impossibility of individual control of the temperature of the heating devices;
• frequent pressure drops in the system;
• significant heat loss in the process of transportation and heating in an apartment building;
• High cost of equipment and its installation.

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What residents need to know about heating in an apartment building

Most city apartment dwellers have little interest in the operation of their heating system. Such information might be required if the owners want to improve the engineering equipment’s aesthetics or boost comfort levels within the home. We’ll give you a quick rundown of apartment building heating systems for those who plan to begin repairs.

Types of heating systems of apartment buildings

Apartment building heating is classified into three categories based on pipeline wiring circuits, coolant properties, and building structure:

By the location of the heat source

• The heating system in which the gas boiler is installed in the kitchen or separate room. Some inconvenience and investments in equipment are more than compensated by the ability to include and regulate heating at their discretion, as well as low operating costs due to the lack of losses in the heating mains. In the presence of its own boiler, there are practically no restrictions on the reconstruction of the system. If, for example, the owners wish to replace the batteries with warm water floors, there are no technical obstacles to this.
• Individual heating, in which its own boiler room serves one house or residential complex. Such decisions are found both in the old housing stock (stoker) and in the new elite housing, where the residents" community decides to start when starting the heating season.
• Central heating in an apartment building is most common in typical housing.

Heat transfer from the CHP is accomplished through the local heat station, which is the apartment building’s central heating device.

According to the characteristics of the coolant

• Water heating, water is used as a coolant. In modern housing with apartment or individual heating, economical low -temperature (low -potential) systems are found, where the temperature of the coolant does not exceed 65 ºС. But in most cases, in all typical houses, the coolant has a calculated temperature within 85-105 ºС.
• The steam heating of the apartment in an apartment building (water vapor circulates in the system) has a number of significant drawbacks, it has not been used in new houses for a long time, the old housing stock is everywhere transferred to water systems.

According to the wiring scheme

The primary heating systems in residential buildings are:

• One -pipe – both the supply and the reverse selection of the coolant to heating devices are carried out along one highway. Such a system is found in Stalinks and Khrushchevs. It has a serious drawback: the radiators are located sequentially and due to cooling the coolant in them, the heating temperature of the batteries drops as they remove them from the heating center. In order to maintain heat transfer, the number of sections increases in the course of the movement of the coolant. In a clean one -pipe scheme, it is impossible to install regulation devices. It is not recommended to change the configuration of pipes, install radiators of a different type and dimensions, otherwise the operation of the system can be seriously disturbed.
• "Leningradka" is an improved version of a single -pipe system, which, thanks to the connection of thermal devices through the bypass, reduces their mutual influence. You can install regulatory (non -automatic) devices on radiators, replace the radiator with a different type, but similar capacity and power.

The typical one-pipe system on the left is one that we do not advise changing. "Leningradka" is to the right, where manual regulatory valve installation and radiator replacement are feasible.

• The two -pipe heating scheme of an apartment building has begun to be widely used in Brezhnevki, and to this day. The supply and reverse highways in it are divided, therefore the coolant at the entrances to all apartments and radiators has almost the same temperature, replacement of radiators with a different type and even volume does not have a significant impact on the operation of other devices. On batteries, you can install regulation devices, including automatic.

On the left is a better single-pipe scheme (the Leningradka analogue); on the right is a two-pipe option. The latter offers more precise regulation, more comfortable surroundings, and more options for radiator replacement.

• The radiation scheme is used in modern non -spine housing. Connection of devices parallel, mutual influence of their minimum. Wiring, as a rule, is performed in the floor, which allows you to free the walls from the pipes. When installing regulation devices, including automatic ones, an accurate dosing of the amount of heat by rooms is provided. Technically, both partial and complete replacement of the heating system in an apartment building with a radial scheme within the apartment with a significant change in its configuration is possible.

The apartment has a radial scheme with feed and reverse highways, and separate contours carry the wiring through the collector in parallel. Radiators are usually neatly and barely noticeable connected from below, and pipes are typically installed in the floor.

Replacement, transfer and selection of radiators in an apartment building

We make a reservation that what changes to apartment heating in an apartment building must be coordinated with executive bodies and operating organizations.

It is advised to connect the new radiator through shut-off valves so that maintenance can be performed without having to turn off the heating system.

As we have already indicated, the scheme is fundamentally responsible for the possibility of radiator replacement and transfer. How can I pick the ideal radiator for an apartment complex? It is essential to consider the following:

• First of all, the radiator must withstand the pressure, which in an apartment building is higher than in a private. The larger the number of floors, the higher the test pressure can be, it can reach 10 atm, and even 15 atm in high -rise buildings. The exact value can be found in the local operating service. Not all radiators sold in the market have the corresponding characteristics. A significant part of aluminum and many steel radiators are not suitable for an apartment building.
• Is it possible and how much to change the thermal power of the radiator depends on the applied scheme. But in any case, the heat transfer of the device must be calculated. In one typical section of the cast -iron battery, heat transfer is 0.16 kW at a coolant temperature of 85 ºС. Multiplying the number of sections by this value, we get the thermal power of the existing battery. The characteristics of the new heating device can be found in its technical passport. Panel radiators are not typed from sections, have fixed dimensions and power.

Depending on the particular model, different types of radiators may have different average heat transfer data.

• The material also matters. Central heating in an apartment building is often characterized by low quality coolant quality. Traditional cast -iron batteries are least sensitive to pollution, aluminum react worst of all to the aggressive environment. Bimetallic radiators showed themselves well.

Installation of a heat meter

The apartment’s radiation wiring scheme allows the heat meter to be installed without any issues. Modern homes typically already have registration devices installed. Regarding the current housing stock that has conventional heating systems, this is not always the case. The exact plan and arrangement of the pipelines will determine this; local operating organizations can provide consultation.

The apartment meter meter can be installed with a radial and two -pipe wiring scheme if a separate branch goes to the apartment

You can attach small heat meters to each radiator if you are unable to install the device throughout the apartment.

Heat meters mounted directly on each radiator serve as an alternative to the apartment counter.

It should be noted that installing metering devices, changing out radiators, and making other modifications to the heating system in an apartment building need prior approval and need to be completed by experts representing a company that is authorized to perform the necessary work.

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Heating system in an apartment building: connection scheme and features

Centralized heat supply systems are an excellent choice for meeting the heating requirements of tenants in high-rise buildings. A heated coolant is transferred from the boiler room to a multi-story building via a network of isolated pipes as part of a centralized heat supply system. The efficiency of centralized boiler houses is high enough to combine low running costs with respectable measures of multi-story building heat supply efficiency.

Nonetheless, the heating plan of an apartment building is created by experts in their field—business engineers and engineers—to ensure that the efficiency of the central heat supply is at the appropriate level. the essential ideas that guide the design of the heating scheme, which aims to maximize heating efficiency at the lowest possible resource cost.

The heating scheme of a multi-story building is developed with consideration for the energy efficiency of the heating devices, the thermal return of the devices, the best order of connection to the contour, and the current cost of heat resources. This is because contractors and builders want to give apartment owners a dependable and efficient heat supply system.

Features of heating of multi -storey buildings

The arrangement of heating systems in apartment buildings differs significantly from the method and order in which individual homes connect their heating devices. It has a more intricate structure and ensures that residents of apartments on all floors will have heat even during extreme frosts and won’t experience issues like flooded radiators, cold spots, leaks, hydraulic shots, and scared walls.

Appropriate conditions within the apartments are ensured by a skillfully assembled multi-apartment building heating system, each of which is designed separately.

In particular, wintertime temperatures will range from 20 to 22 degrees with a relative humidity of roughly 40%. In order to attain these indicators, the basic heating plan must also be complemented by well-executed apartment insulation, which stops heat from escaping to the street through gaps in the walls, roofs, and window openings.

Development of a scheme

Traffic specialists work on the development of the heating scheme in its early stages. They perform various calculations and arrive at the same indicators of the heating system’s effectiveness on all floors of the building. They create an axonometric heating system diagram, which the installers then utilize. Correctly performed calculations by professionals ensure that the ideal coolant pressure in the designed heating system will prevent hydraulic boards and work stoppages.

Inclusion in the heating circuit of the elevator node

The central heating plan created by heating apparatuses presumes that coolant at a suitable temperature will reach the apartment’s radiators. On the other hand, the water temperature may be higher than 100 degrees at the boiler room exit. An elevator node is connected to the line’s supplier and return in order to cool the coolant by combining cold water.

The heating elevator’s reasonable circuitry enables the node to carry out a variety of tasks. Since the hot coolant that falls into the node is dosed and combined with the injective coolant from the return, the node’s primary purpose is to directly participate in the heat transfer process. Consequently, the node makes it possible for you to mix hot coolant from the boiler room and cooled water from the return with the best possible results. Subsequently, the apartments receive the prepared coolant at the ideal temperature.

Design features of the scheme

A proficient heating system in an apartment building necessitates the utilization of numerous additional structural components. The heating system incorporates unique valves to control the coolant supply right after the elevator node. These devices assist in regulating the heating process for the entire house as well as individual entrances, but they are only accessible by service utility employees.

The heating scheme makes use of more sensitive devices for regulating and fine-tuning heating in addition to thermal valves.

We are referring to gadgets that optimize the efficiency of the heating system and enable complete automation of the home heating process. These include appliances like heat meters, automation, thermostats, collectors, and so forth.

Pipping pipeline

As heat engineers debate the best heating plan for the House of Central Heating, the question of skillfully wiring the pipeline within the house comes up. One of two likely templates can be used to implement a heating wiring scheme in modern multi-story buildings.

One -pipe connection

When multi-story buildings are equipped with heating devices, the first template is the most commonly used option as it allows for a single-pipe connection with either the upper or lower wiring. Simultaneously, the return and filing location is not tightly regulated and is subject to change based on external factors such as the area in which the house is constructed, its layout, number of stories, and design. Additionally, there is a possibility of a change in the coolant’s direct path through the risers. There is a choice between the heated water moving from above-down or from the bottom-up.

One-pipe connections have several drawbacks despite being easy to install, reasonably priced, dependable, and having a long service life. Low performance indicators and the coolant’s temperature loss during contour movement are two of them.

In actuality, a number of tools can be employed to make up for the drawbacks of a single-pipe heating scheme; among these, the radial system may prove to be a useful fix. It is intended to be used with a collector to assist in regulating the temperature regimes.

Two -pipe connection

The second template option is the two-pipe connection. For instance, a five-story building’s two-pipe heating system has none of the drawbacks mentioned above and is entirely different in design from a single-pipe system. In order to carry out this plan, heated water from the radiator is sent straight through the check valve and into the boiler room instead of being transferred to the next heating device in the circuit. As a result, it is possible to prevent the coolant circulating along a multi-story building’s contour from losing temperature.

Due to the intricate nature of the connection—which calls for a two-pipe connection of the apartment’s heating battery—the installation of this kind of heating is a labor- and material-intensive procedure that takes a lot of money. The low cost of system maintenance is likewise the same, but the high cost is offset by the house’s uniform and high-quality heating throughout all floors.

One benefit of using a two-pipe connection diagram for heating batteries is that it can be installed on each radiator and used as part of a special heat meter circuit. By using it in the apartment, the owner will see a significant reduction in the amount of money needed to pay for utilities because he will be able to independently regulate the heating system if needed. It also lets you control the temperature of the coolant in the battery.

Connecting radiators to the system

The scheme controls the connection process and the kind of radiators used once the pipe wiring method has been selected and the heating batteries have been connected to the contour. At this point, there won’t be any significant differences between the skyscraper’s heating circuit and the three-story building’s heating scheme.

Given the central heat supply system’s reliable operation, adaptability, and suitable coolant pressure to temperature ratio, the apartment’s heating radiator connection diagram may suggest the use of batteries made of different metals. In multi-story buildings, radiators made of cast iron, bimetallic, aluminum, or steel can be employed to supplement the central heating system and give apartment owners the chance to live in comfortable temperatures.

Component	Description
Boiler	The central heating system"s heart, heats water to distribute throughout the building.
Radiators	Devices in each apartment that emit heat from hot water circulated by the boiler.
Pipes	Network of pipes carrying hot water from the boiler to radiators, and back for reheating.
Thermostat	Controls temperature, regulating when the boiler turns on and off to maintain desired warmth.

For apartment buildings, having an effective central heating system is essential for both cost-effectiveness and comfort. In addition to providing residents with warmth during the colder months, a well-designed system also helps save energy and promotes environmental sustainability.

The choice of fuel is one of the most important factors to take into account when designing a central heating system. Whatever the fuel—natural gas, oil, electricity, or renewable sources like solar or biomass—choosing the appropriate one can have a big impact on the environmental impact and overall efficiency of the system. Every option has pros and cons of its own, ranging from availability to affordability to environmental effect.

The building’s distribution system is equally crucial. By minimizing heat loss during transmission, properly insulated pipes and ducts help guarantee that the warmth produced by the heating system effectively reaches every corner of the building. Zoning and control systems also enable the customization of temperature in distinct sections of the building, maximizing energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

Maintaining optimal performance of the central heating system requires routine servicing and maintenance. In addition to extending the system’s lifespan, routine maintenance and repairs guarantee dependability and safety. Timely resolution of problems can reduce energy waste and avert expensive malfunctions.

In addition, technological developments present chances to improve the effectiveness and functionality of central heating systems. Integrating contemporary solutions can result in notable improvements in comfort, convenience, and energy savings. Examples of these solutions include energy-efficient boilers and heat pumps, as well as smart thermostats that learn residents’ preferences.

To sum up, the comfort, economy, and sustainability of apartment buildings depend on a well-planned and maintained central heating system. Property owners and managers can contribute to energy conservation and environmental protection while simultaneously creating a cozy and welcoming living space by carefully evaluating elements like fuel selection, distribution system design, maintenance procedures, and technological advancements.

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