Two-pipe heating system of a private house: device diagrams + overview of the advantages

Providing heat in the house is the most important task for its owner. It can be solved in various ways, but according to statistics, most of the buildings in our country are heated using a water heating system.

It is the water version that is most effective and practical in our rather harsh climatic conditions. The two-pipe heating system of a private house is considered one of its most popular varieties.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the options and technologies for assembling heating with a supply and exhaust coolant line. Information is based on building codes and requirements. For completeness of perception of a difficult topic, the information presented is supplemented by photo selections, visual diagrams, and videos.

Features of two-pipe heating

Any heating system with liquid coolant includes a closed loop connecting radiators that heat the room and a boiler that heats the coolant.

Everything happens as follows: the liquid, moving through the heat exchanger of the heating device, is heated to a high temperature, after which it enters the radiators, the number of which is determined by the needs of the building.

Here, the liquid gives off heat to the air and gradually cools. Then it returns to the heat exchanger of the heater and the cycle repeats.

As simple as possible, the circulation takes place in a single-tube system, where only one pipe is suitable for each battery. However, in this case, each subsequent battery will receive a coolant that has left the previous one, and, therefore, is cooler.

A distinctive feature of the two-pipe system is the presence of a supply and return pipe, suitable for each radiator

To eliminate this significant drawback, a more complex two-pipe system was developed.

In this embodiment, two pipes are connected to each radiator:

• The first is the supply through which the coolant enters the battery.
• The second is the “return” discharge or, as the masters say, through which the cooled liquid leaves the device.

Thus, each radiator is equipped with an individually controlled supply of coolant, which makes it possible to organize heating as efficiently as possible.

Since the supply of heated coolant to the devices is carried out almost simultaneously by one pipe, and the cooling water is collected by another, the two-pipe systems are characterized by an optimal heat engineering balance - all the batteries of the system and the circuits connected to it work with almost equal heat transfer

Why choose such a system?

Two-pipe water heating is gradually replacing traditional single pipe designs, since its advantages are obvious and very significant:

• Each of the radiators included in the system receives a coolant with a certain temperature, and for all it is the same.
• Ability to make adjustments for each battery. If desired, the owner can put a thermostat on each of the heating devices, which will allow him to get the desired temperature in the room. At the same time, the heat transfer of the remaining radiators in the building will remain the same.
• Relatively small pressure loss in the system. This makes it possible to use an economical circulating pump of relatively low power for operation in the system.
• If one or even several radiators breaks down, the system can continue to operate. The presence of valves on the supply pipes allows for repair and installation work without stopping it.
• Possibility of installation in a building of any number of floors and area. You only need to choose the best type of two-pipe system.

The disadvantages of such systems are usually attributed to the complexity of installation and the large, in comparison with single-tube structures, cost. This is due to the double number of pipes that have to be installed.

However, it should be borne in mind that for the arrangement of a two-pipe system, pipes and accessories of a small diameter are used, which gives a certain cost savings.As a result, the cost of the system is not much higher than that of a single-tube analogue, and it gives much more advantages.

One of the significant advantages of a two-pipe heating system is the ability to effectively control the temperature in the room

Types of systems with feed and return

The two-pipe design is characterized by many varieties, which can be classified according to various criteria. Consider the main ones.

Open heating

Any hydraulic heating system is a closed circuit, which includes an expansion tank. This element is necessary as the heating fluid increases in volume.

For open wiring a tank is selected that allows the fluid to communicate with the atmosphere. In this case, its part inevitably evaporates, which leads to the need to constantly monitor its level.

An open-type two-pipe heating circuit is the simplest and cheapest option for constructing a system. A significant minus of it is that during the frosty period the coolant that directly contacts the atmosphere cools quickly

This is a very important nuance, which must be treated very responsibly. Insufficient liquid level in the system leads to the "boiling" of the boiler and its failure. In addition, an open system involves the use of only water as a coolant.

Compounds of glycols or antifreezes, which are more practical in this regard, form toxic fumes during evaporation, therefore they are used only in closed structures.

Closed Circulation System

It differs from the open one by the presence of a closed expansion tank. Does not need constant monitoring by the owner. The design involves installation expansion tank membrane type, which is designed to compensate for a sudden decrease or increase in pressure in the system. Thus, it prevents equipment breakdowns as a result of sudden overloads.

In a closed circuit, an expansion tank of a membrane type is mounted, which does not communicate with the environment, so the coolant does not evaporate from the system

The membrane tank makes it possible to keep the pressure optimal for the pump and boiler in the system. In addition, the closed design allows the use of any suitable fluid in its parameters as a heat carrier.

This makes it possible to obtain the most efficient and economical system with the necessary parameters. For example, not afraid of freezing if it uses antifreeze.

According to the method of circulating the liquid coolant, two-pipe heating systems are divided into two large groups.

Natural circulation design

The basic principle of the system is as follows: the boiler heats the coolant, which expands with increasing temperature. The density of the liquid decreases.

Due to this, colder and therefore dense water gradually displaces the heated liquid up. It rises to the highest point of the system, where it begins to cool down a little and gravity moves into radiators.

In batteries, water gives off the accumulated heat and, cooling further and increasing its density, moves to the boiler. It is obvious that the coolant goes through the whole cycle by gravity, without the use of additional equipment.

Due to the fact that this happens rather slowly, the air displaced by the water manages to move to the peak upper point of the system, which allows you to get rid of excessive airing.

The figure shows a simple diagram of a two-pipe heating system with natural circulation of the coolant. Its characteristic features include a pipeline of large diameters, due to which the hydraulic resistance is reduced, and the mandatory slope in the direction of the coolant is of the order of 2 - 3 mm per linear meter

Indisputable advantage natural type constructions considered the long life of her. The absence of moving elements and a circulation pump, as well as the closed loop of the system with a finite amount of mineral salts and suspensions significantly prolongs its operation time.

Experts say that the service life of structures with natural circulation, equipped with polymer pipes and bimetallic radiators can be about fifty years.

The disadvantage of such schemes is considered to be a relatively low pressure drop. It is also necessary to take into account the specific resistance that radiators and pipes exert to the movement of the coolant. Therefore, the radius of action of such a system will be limited. It is recommended that building codes use heating with natural circulation in a radius of no more than 30 m.

In addition, such a system has a fairly high inertia, so a fairly large amount of time passes from the kindling of the boiler and until the temperature stabilizes in the heated building.

A negative point can also be considered that all pipes must be laid under a certain slope so that the fluid can move in the right direction. The natural circulation heating system is capable of self-regulation.

A two-pipe system with natural circulation is capable of self-regulation: the lower the temperature drops in a heated room, the higher the speed of the coolant

The lower the ambient temperature, the higher the circulation rate of the coolant. In addition, several factors affect the flow of liquid along the heating circuit: the cross-section and material of the wiring pipes, the radius and number of turns in the two-pipe heating scheme of a private house, as well as the presence and type of installed shutoff valves.

By acting on these factors, you can achieve the greatest efficiency of the heating system.

Wiring with forced circulation of the coolant

Included in the above scheme circulation pumpmoving coolant in a closed heating circuit. This provides significant benefits. First of all, the speed of fluid movement increases, due to which the building warms up much faster.

In this case, all radiators connected to the system receive a coolant of approximately the same temperature. This allows them to warm up as evenly as possible.

When using a circuit with natural circulation, this is impossible, since the temperature of the liquid entering the radiator depends on the distance by which it is removed from the boiler. The farther the battery, the colder the coolant. Forced circulation makes it possible to adjust the level of heating of individual network elements. In addition, if necessary, you can overlap its individual sections.

Using a circulation pump allows you to include in the system a membrane expansion tank, that is, to perform it in a closed version. Thus, the amount of vaporized liquid is significantly reduced.

In addition, the installation of the structure is greatly simplified, since there is no need to lay pipes strictly at a certain angle, and accurately calculate their diameter and height.

The figure shows a diagram of a two-pipe heating system with forced circulation. There is a pump that moves the fluid along the circuit

Another advantage forced circulation designs - the ability to quite painlessly make the necessary changes to its layout and layout. To equip such a design, pipes and components of a smaller diameter are used, which significantly reduces its cost.

In addition, such systems are more economical due to the fact that the temperature difference of the liquid coolant at the inlet and at the outlet of the boiler is much smaller than that of the analog with natural circulation.

The presence in the pump circuit prevents the air supply of the heating line. In general, circuits using forced circulation are considered more effective, but they also have drawbacks.

The most significant of these is volatility. The pump cannot operate without being connected to a power source. During power outages, such a heating system stops. With frequent blackouts, it is advisable to have an uninterrupted power source.

The disadvantages usually include financial costs. Some of them are the price of the circulation pump, as well as the cost of fittings, which is necessary for its normal functioning. Which generally increases the cost of installing the system. In addition, monthly bills will be required to pay for electricity, which ensures the operation of the circulation pump.

The efficiency of the functioning of the forced circulation heating system largely depends on the correct choice of the pump

The heating circuit can be arranged in two different ways, which determine the location of the risers and pipelines in space.

Horizontal and vertical layout type

It involves the connection of heating appliances to a horizontal highway. Predominantly mounted in one-story buildings a large area. The risers in this case should be optimally located in the corridors or utility rooms.

The advantage of this type of layout is the lower cost of the system itself and its installation. The main disadvantage is the design's tendency to airing, so the installation of Mayevsky cranes is necessary.

Horizontal wiring differs from the vertical version in that the number of vertical lines in it is minimal.Its plus is that the supply and return lines can be laid under the floor, the minus is that for hidden laying it is undesirable to use polymer pipes and it is necessary to install a circulation pump on the circuit

Radiators are connected to vertically located risers. This option is especially good for buildings with several floors, because it makes it possible to connect each floor separately to the heating riser. The main advantage of the system is the absence of air jams. At the same time, arranging a heating circuit with a vertical layout will cost more than for a horizontal analogue.

The vertical layout of the system allows you to connect each floor separately to the heating, which is very convenient

Top-pipe double pipe heating system

The main distinguishing feature of this design is the laying of the supply pipe along the upper part of the room, the return is discharged along its lower part.

An important advantage of such a system is the high pressure in the line, which is due to a significant difference in the levels of the return and supply pipes. Due to this circumstance, their diameter can be the same even when arranging a circuit with natural circulation.

But at the same time, the expansion tank, which is located at the highest point of the circuit, most often ends up in an unheated attic, which can cause problems. Alternatively, you can consider arranging the tank inside the ceiling when its lower half remains in the heated room, and the upper part is displayed in the attic and insulated as much as possible.

If the owner is not particularly concerned about the presence of pipes under the ceiling of the room, it is advisable to place the supply line above the level of the windows.

In this case, the expansion tank can be located under the ceiling, provided that the riser height is sufficient to ensure the normal speed of the coolant. The return line will need to be mounted as close to the floor level as possible or even lowered under it. True, in the latter case, when arranging the highway, it will not be possible to use connecting elements to exclude the appearance of a leak.

The figure shows the upper wiring diagrams with associated and oncoming natural movement of the coolant. The options for dual-circuit and single-circuit wiring

The appearance of the room with pipes laid under the ceiling is not aesthetically pleasing. In addition, part of the heat goes up, which makes the heating system with the upper wiring not efficient enough.

Therefore, you can try to assemble a circuit with a supply line passing under the radiators, but this will only improve the appearance of the system and will not affect its shortcomings.

Connecting the pump allows you to easily achieve optimal pressure in the system, even when using pipes of minimum diameter. The maximum effect of a heating system with a wiring of the upper type can be obtained in a two-story private house, since natural circulation is stimulated by a large difference in the installation height of the boiler in the basement and the batteries of the second floor.

Once again preheated coolant will be sent to the expansion tank, which is placed in the attic or on the second floor. From where on the inclined line the liquid begins to flow into the radiators.

In this case, you can even combine the distribution tank responsible for the availability of hot water and the expansion tank. If a non-volatile boiler is installed in the house, a completely autonomous heating system will be obtained.

Another very successful option for a two-story house is a combined system that combines two and one-pipe sections. For example, a one-pipe construction is mounted on the second floor in the form of a water heated floor, and a two-pipe construction is installed on the first.The ability to control the temperature in all rooms is fully preserved.

The two-pipe heating system with the upper wiring does not decorate the room. The feed pipe must be placed above the window if the building is not equipped with a heated attic

The main advantage of a two-pipe heating system with an upper wiring is considered to be a high speed of advancement of the coolant and the absence of airing of the main.

That is why it is used quite often, without paying attention to significant disadvantages:

• unaesthetic appearance of rooms;
• high consumption of pipes and components;
• the inability to heat large areas;
• problems with the placement of the expansion tank, which can not always be combined with the distribution tank;
• additional decoration costs so that pipes can be masked.

In general, the system with the top wiring is quite viable, and with correctly performed calculations it is also very effective.

Two-pipe design with bottom wiring

The scheme involves mounting the supply and return from the bottom of the batteries. Unlike the system with the upper type of wiring, the direction of movement of the coolant is changed here. It starts moving from the bottom up, passes through the batteries and is sent along the return to the boiler.

Bottom wiring systems may include one or more loops. In addition, it is possible to arrange a dead-end wiring and circuits with the associated movement of a liquid coolant.

The figure shows a two-pipe heating system with a lower wiring. The lower scheme of laying the supply line is advantageous in that it does not require the same powerful insulation of the pipeline as when laying it within the unheated attic. Heat loss is also significantly lower.

The main drawback of the design is airing. To get rid of him, Maevsky cranes are used. Moreover, if the system is installed in two or more storey buildings, it is assumed that such a crane will have to stand on each battery. This, of course, is not very convenient, therefore, it is recommended to lay special overhead lines that are included in the system.

Such air vents collect air from the heating main and direct it to the central riser. Further, air enters the expansion tank, from where it is removed. Heating circuits with lower wiring and natural circulation are rarely used, because they have a number of limitations. First of all, it is that most of the batteries included in the circuit are finite.

For this reason, they have to be equipped with descenders. If the system has an open expansion tank, then you will have to bleed air almost daily. Installation of air lines looping in the supply pipes makes it possible to level this disadvantage. However, they significantly complicate the scheme and make it more cumbersome. Moreover, the "air" is laid on top of the room.

A significant advantage of the lower wiring, consisting in the absence of a laid main line, is lost. The number of pipes used for installation in this case is quite comparable with the number of parts required for the upper wiring. Therefore, to equip a two-pipe system with a lower wiring, the forced circulation option is most often used.

Externally, systems with lower wiring look much more attractive. The pipelines are made of pipes of small diameter, pass under the radiator and are almost invisible

Significant advantages of such a system include:

• Compact placement of the control section of the entire system. Most often it is installed in the basement.
• Reducing heat loss, which gives the laying of pipes on the bottom of the room.
• The ability to connect and operate the heating system until the completion of construction or repair work.For example, the first floor can be heated, and the second will be the necessary work.
• Significant heat savings due to the ability to distribute it in heated rooms.

The disadvantages of the lower wiring include a large number of pipes and accessories required for installation and low fluid pressure in the supply line. In addition, the need for installation can be considered a negative point. Mayevsky cranes heating radiators, as well as the constant removal of air congestion from the system.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Video # 1. Review and assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of heating systems with natural and forced circulation:

Video # 2. A detailed analysis of the two-pipe heating scheme for a three-story country house:

Video # 3. How to independently equip a two-pipe heating system in a country house:

The two-pipe type heating system is a widespread method for practical and efficient heating of homes. There are many modifications to this scheme. It is important to choose the best option for your home and make a competent calculation of all system parameters. Only then the house is guaranteed to be warm and comfortable.

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