One of the important and underestimated components of a heating system, apart from all the devices installed in it, is water. The efficient functioning of heating devices largely depends on its quality. Therefore, manufacturers of boilers, heaters, heat pumps, exchangers, radiators and even valves, pumps and control valves often stipulate in the operating instructions that the water in the heating system should be "appropriate" or "compliant with standards". quality. Ensuring water quality when the installation is launched is the installer's task - he has the appropriate knowledge and tools. These include: water conditioners - softeners, demineralizers, chemicals: corrosion inhibitors, biocidal preparations and anti-freeze. But how long will water treatment last when the installation is started and what happens to the heating water over time?
Check filters and conditioners for heating water at the Onninen wholesaler
What problems can occur in a contaminated heating system?
It is known that contaminants appear in the water circulating in the installation after some time. If we do not get rid of them effectively, problems may arise such as:
What pollutants appear in the central heating water cycle?
To effectively deal with contaminants in the installation, we must be aware of what we are dealing with and which devices are best for removing them. Pollutants appearing in the circulation include corrosion products of steel elements, which are deposited wherever there is a magnetic field - in pumps, solenoid valves, etc. Other pollutants such as sludge, sand particles, and even organic pollutants are deposited circulating in the installation. most often in key places in the system. Effect? Excessive energy consumption and constant user complaints about low efficiency, failures and installation faults.
What types of heating water filters are there?
A properly functioning heating system is not only a matter of efficiency and comfort, but also careful protection against pollution. Heating water filters play a key role in keeping the installation clean, eliminating a variety of contaminants, from sand and rust to other solid particles. There are different types of heating water filters available on the market, such as settling (Y-type) and mesh filters, which differ in the way they retain contaminants. Which type of filter will be more effective?
Settlement filters (oblique, Y type)
These filters are designed to retain larger solid particles such as sand, clay, rust, tow debris, and other contaminants that may be present in the water. Their principle of operation is simple - water flows through a filter mesh that retains particles whose sizes are larger than the meshes of the mesh. Due to the characteristic shape of the body containing a filter mesh arranged obliquely to the filter axis, they are often called oblique filters or "Y" type filters. The design of this type of filter can be supplemented with a cartridge with magnets, so we call it a "magnetic filter".
Mesh filters
They are similar in operation to oblique filters, but have a relatively large, mesh filter element that catches impurities. If the filter has a transparent housing, it is easier to assess the degree of filter contamination. These types of filters also have the ability to clean the filter cartridge without removing it from the housing and interrupting the operation of the installation. These ways are:
In filters with rinsing, opening the valve or drain port at the bottom of the filter vessel causes the collected dirt to flow away, and some of the dirt in the filter mesh detaches and flows away.
In filters with reverse rinsing - the filter design allows for the simultaneous opening of the drain valve and reversing the flow in the filter - then the water stream flowing in the opposite direction removes the contaminants. This method is more effective than rinsing. Some filters additionally have a kind of dirt scraper which, during rinsing, can remove dirt that is more embedded in the mesh.
After each cleaning that causes the water to be drained from the circuit, the loss of liquid should be replenished. However, the filter element can be cleaned most effectively outside the housing, by washing it with a delicate brush or in an ultrasonic bath. The water filter in the heating system plays a key role in keeping the water circulating in the system clean. A properly functioning filter protects heating devices against dirt and deposits, increases the efficiency and life of the heating system.
Check out heating water filters and separators at the Onninen wholesaler
What is the difference between filters and dirt separators?
In the separator, the flow of liquid is slowed down by the appropriate shaping of the interior of the device or specially designed inserts, which causes the particles to fall to the bottom of the separator, from where they can later be removed in the rinsing/cleaning process.
An additional phenomenon supporting the removal of contaminants may be the introduction of swirling motion of the liquid (Vortex separators). The centrifugal force throws particles heavier than water out of the stream, which accelerates their sedimentation process.
Efficiency can also be increased by adding a magnet or magnets to the separator, placed in appropriate places inside or outside the housing, to attract and retain ferromagnetic particles, such as small metal fragments or magnetite in the form of sludge.
Another advantage of the separator is the lack of a dirty filter mesh, so despite the large amount of impurities retained, the flow resistance does not increase. It is obvious that a device with larger container dimensions may accumulate more contaminants before it needs to be cleaned. It is good practice to periodically clean filters or separators and observe the amount of accumulated contaminants. If there are few of them, cleaning periods can be extended.
Vortex separators with magnets are one of the most effective devices for ensuring the purity of water in the installation. Magnetic filters, particle retaining filters and separators are particularly useful in heat pumps because they help keep the water circulating in the system clean, which translates into the efficiency and durability of the device.
Is it possible to dispense with mesh filters?
Despite the fact that the mesh filter has a smaller capacity for dirt and requires cleaning more often, it has one undeniable advantage - it ensures that larger impurities such as sand, rust particles, filings and even such elements left after installation as broken pieces of tools will not pass through its holes. or lost pads.
Protecting expensive devices against such unwanted "guests" getting into the pump rotor or heat exchanger compensates for the inconvenience of operation. To reduce the frequency of service, it is best to install a mesh filter behind the separator, where it will be in contact with already purified water and sporadic but dangerous impurities landing on the filter mesh will not clog it for a longer time than if we based the entire water purification only on this small filter.
Before selecting a specific heat pump filter, it is always recommended to consult with the manufacturer or an HVAC specialist to select the appropriate filter for your specific requirements and heating system characteristics.
Filters and separators differ mainly in the principle on which they separate contaminants from the clean medium and what types of media are subjected to the purification process. Both are important elements in the purification of various substances and have a variety of applications in various industries and systems.
Filters and separators in the Onninen wholesaler
The Onninen hydraulic wholesaler's offer includes many types of filters and separators that can be selected depending on your needs. On our website onninen.pl you can easily find them using the search engine or in the catalog in the following sections:
- Installation Technology>Water treatment
- Heating > Heating water filters and conditioners
- Water, sewage and gas networks > Water supply networks and connections>Filters