Characteristics of cast-iron heating radiators: types and designs, assembly, disassembly. Types of heating radiators Types of cast-iron heating radiators characteristics

The duration of the heating season in our latitudes is close to 2/3 of the year. The indicator depends on the region, but on average it is about 250 days. For us, all issues related to the efficiency of the heating system are extremely important, which largely depends on the correct choice of its devices.

Let's analyze which heating radiators are better, how the varieties differ. The article submitted for consideration describes in detail the criteria for choosing heating devices. For independent home craftsmen, we have provided advice from experienced plumbers.

Regardless of the complexity of the heating system, the main task is to maintain the desired temperature in the house or apartment. The heating radiator plays a key role in this, exchanging heat between the air in the room and the coolant.

Uniform heating, efficient heat transfer, maintaining a microclimate, stable operation are the main requirements for a heating battery.

In residential premises, single, panel or sectional paired radiators are installed that do not emit toxins when heated

The main parameters influencing the choice of a particular model:

Working pressure of the system. Depends on whether the device is included in an autonomous or centralized network. It is arranged by gravity or forced principle. On average, it varies from 3 to 10 bar or in a similar range of atmospheres.
Thermal power. The characteristic required to calculate the thermal power required to heat the room. It is also needed for the selection of individual components of sectional batteries. For processing 10 m², 1 kW is rounded.
Modularity. The quality inherent in prefabricated radiators, which makes it possible to assemble and disassemble the device according to individual requirements.
Speed of reaction to tº. More precisely, the ability to respond to changes in the temperature of the coolant. period of time for cooling and warming up.
The possibility of equipping with automation. Devices that monitor weather conditions and independently eliminate air congestion.

The devices presented now for sale provide free circulation through the system. Differ in corrosion resistance and attractive appearance.

Sectional radiators differ in the shape and size of the sections, which ensure the supply of the required amount of thermal energy

The thermal efficiency of a heatsink depends on the surface area of the energy dissipation. A flat metal convector has a much smaller area compared to a sectional aluminum convector of the same geometric size. Because the latter radiates heat over the entire area of the fins.

Types of modern heating radiators

In the days of the USSR, the question of which heating battery is better to choose was never asked for a simple reason. The industry produced only two types of them - steel and cast iron. We live in a happy time of diversity, technological and environmental excellence.

The world and domestic industry offer a wide range of products to choose from. There are several signs by which it is advisable to separate the heating batteries.

Radiators can be divided according to the materials of manufacture:

steel panel convectors;
cast iron batteries;
aluminum radiators;
bimetallic radiators.

By design features:

sectional;
panel.

Each of these types is best suited for its operating conditions, and therefore has its own nuances. A separate type of heating radiators is highly specialized. These are devices designed to solve one problem, often to the detriment of overall functionality.

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Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Useful tips from experts will help you figure out the choice of heating device:

The best choice of a heating radiator can be considered the one in which the greatest comfort and coziness is achieved. The radiator can be invisible or vice versa - be part of the overall design. But the most important thing is reliability and no hassle.

You can tell about how you chose a radiator to replace old batteries in an apartment or to equip a new house in the block below. Please write comments, ask questions, share useful tips and photos on the topic of the article. We are interested in your opinion.

We all know what cast-iron heating radiators are, but not everyone knows their history of occurrence, technical characteristics, and how modern specimens differ from their predecessors. All this and much more will be discussed in the material below.

So, the first heavy radiator was introduced to the world back in 1857, but its creator was the famous Russian engineer and businessman of German origin, Franz San Galli. Of course, the batteries of that time were significantly different in appearance from those that we are used to seeing in our apartment. They were a tube of rather large diameter, with protruding disk elements. This design was empty and filled, however, like modern specimens, with hot water. So despite the slightly different appearance, the essence still remains the same.

As you can see, such batteries have been popular for over a century, and not every invention manages to stay afloat for such a long period. And all due to the fact that cast-iron heating radiators have characteristics that are very necessary for a person. One of the main advantages of this material is corrosion resistance, due to which the inner surface of the heater remains in excellent condition for many years.

In addition, it should be noted that the water entering the heating system of your home goes a long way and turns into a chemically aggressive environment. It is also possible that various abrasive particles, such as pebbles, etc., get into the system. However, even this is not scary for cast-iron batteries, so they are better suited both for installation in private buildings and in apartments of multi-storey buildings.

The next advantage, which should not be ignored, is a long operational period. You are more likely to want to overhaul and replace old cast-iron radiators with new heating elements that are more modern and suitable in design than you have to update them due to failure. Indeed, with proper care, the service life can reach half a century, but under ideal conditions, such batteries will generally be able to celebrate a century in working order. True, manufacturers usually indicate in the characteristics a service life of no more than 30 years, but these data are underestimated.

It is also necessary to mention the inertia of cast iron. Such units heat up somewhat longer than their counterparts, while retaining heat for a long period, unlike the same aluminum batteries, which cool down in just a matter of minutes, and the technical characteristics of steel are in many ways incomparable with cast iron. And thick walls and a fairly large internal section not only affect their thermal qualities in the most favorable way, but are also the key to long work. And the cost that cast-iron radiators have is affordable for all segments of the population.

Everything is clear with the advantages, there are really a lot of them, but we should also mention the disadvantages inherent in such elements of the heating system. Let's start with elementary things, one section has a mass of about 6 kg, so, resorting to the simplest mathematics, we get the weight of a six-section cast-iron radiator equal to 36 kg. But it is far from always possible to limit ourselves to just such a number of segments. Such an indicator of weight will not only complicate the transportation, but also the installation process. Firstly, it is really harder to work with him in the literal sense. Secondly, due to such weight, not every wall can support the battery. For example, if we are talking about, then it is better to play it safe and install radiators on special legs.

The next minus after the weight is the dimensions. Basically, these heating devices are rather bulky, which again complicates the installation process, steals the area of already small rooms and does not always fit organically into the design. In addition, to fill them, you need a large volume of liquid. Not the best characteristic is also the heat transfer of all cast-iron radiators. And all because it is only 20% dependent on the convention, and the remaining 80% is due to thermal radiation. Therefore, if we compare them with analogues made from other materials, then the designs of cast-iron batteries should consist of a larger number of sections. And also because of the long cooling of the alloy, their joint work with temperature controllers is impossible.

Having discussed all the pros and cons, we can move on to another important issue, namely, what technical characteristics are inherent in such heating elements. Someone may think that it is important to know only the power, but much more will be interesting. Basically, they all have a sectional design, and the number of segments can be adjusted depending on the area of \u200b\u200bthe room and the desired results. However, one-piece cast specimens are also found. Inside, as mentioned above, the batteries are hollow, and a coolant flows through them, the maximum temperature of which can reach as much as 130 ° C, although in practice this is not always the case, sometimes 90 ° C.

When calculations are carried out, parameters such as heat transfer and the power of cast-iron radiators are always taken into account. Moreover, the last characteristic is mainly indicated for one section and is about 160 watts. Already from this value, their optimal number is determined if you know the desired power of the future battery. You should also say a few words about the width of one section, it is almost 10 cm, but the weight has already been mentioned, this parameter ranges from 5 to 6 kg. Another important characteristic that plays a decisive role is the crimping pressure, it reaches 15 atm. The working one ranges from 6 to 9 atmospheres.

The website site masters have prepared a special calculator for you. You can easily calculate the required number of sections.

One of the drawbacks that heating radiators of this type have was their bulkiness and, as a result, the inability to fit into a modern interior. However, this is not quite true. If we talk about standard low-cost models, then you will surely encounter the above difficulties. Modern products harmonize much better with the ideas of designers and can not only cheer you up with their original and colorful appearance, but also easily add zest to the interior.

Batteries come in various shapes, have original castings of various patterns and ornaments. Incredibly interesting options are antique products that will fit perfectly into almost any interior, but best of all they will decorate a room that has a design in a classic style. As for ordinary models, they can always be painted, while the variety of colors makes it easy to find the perfect shade. And bold experiments will make it possible to decorate the room in an original way. Therefore, it is up to you to decide which batteries will decorate your walls.

Radiators can be solid and sectional.

Let's take a closer look at the designs of cast iron and which ones are better. The most common models are sectional, which are prefabricated devices. Their main advantage is the ability to adjust the dimensions and power by selecting the number of fragments. The next type is solid cast iron radiators. The advantages of this type include the absence of joints, which in the most favorable way affects the strength and tightness of the structure. But it will not work to adjust the power and dimensions, these parameters will be clearly set. But this is not a big problem, the main thing is to correctly make preliminary calculations and buy a battery with a power that will immediately meet your needs.

So, cast-iron radiators, the design and technical characteristics of which were discussed above, have been very popular for many decades, and today, despite the variety of thermal elements, their contribution to apartment heating is significant. And which of them are best suited for your purposes, you can already determine without difficulty.

Content

Cast iron is a classic material for the manufacture of heating appliances. It was from it that the first radiators of the pre-revolutionary era were made, some of which continue to function properly today. For a long time, cast-iron radiators had no alternative in the USSR - steel convector batteries began to be actively installed in the central heating system only from the 70s. Cast iron batteries are made by casting. Improvement in technology has improved the quality of the surface and a modern mass-produced heating device looks no worse than popular batteries made of other materials. But the most aesthetic is the appearance of cast iron products made using art casting technology - such batteries can become the highlight of the room. Consider the technical characteristics of cast-iron heating radiators and their features.

Retro Cast Iron Batteries

Types of cast iron radiators and their design features

When choosing cast iron radiators, first of all, pay attention to their dimensions. If we are talking about the reconstruction of the system, then the heating device must fit the existing pipeline in terms of the distance between the connection holes. It should be installed under the window sill in compliance with the requirements regarding the gaps between the radiator and the window sill, on the one hand, and the floor, on the other - it is important to ensure efficient circulation of heated air. Its heat transfer depends on the dimensions and correct installation of a cast iron battery.

Construction of cast iron radiators

Cast iron heating radiators from different manufacturers differ in the following parameters:

center distance (spacing between the centers of the holes for connecting the pipeline) - from 220 to 900 mm;
depth - from 85 to 200 mm;
width - from 45 to 108 mm;
height - from 330 to 954 mm.

To a certain extent, the dimensions of the heating device depend on the style in which it is made. The usual "harmonica" is produced in Russia and the Republic of Belarus according to certain standards, which differ slightly from each other. Designer models from domestic and foreign manufacturers seriously differ in height and in the presence of legs. In this case, the standard center distance is observed.

Please note: unlike standard ones, designer radiators cannot always be extended with additional sections. Manufacturers of designer radiators can also offer bottom connection models.

low radiators. This category includes heating appliances with a height of 330 mm to 400 mm. The center distance for such models is 300 or 350 mm. Representatives of low cast iron radiators are the standard "accordions" MS-140M, as well as designer BOLTON 220, Viadrus Hellas 270.

A variety of sizes and shapes of cast iron radiators

Medium radiators. The height of such heating devices is from 400 mm to 660 mm, the center distance is 500 mm, regardless of the model. Standard "accordions" MS-140, SM-110, MS-90, MS-85 are on sale. The marking indicates the depth of the section, while the width of the section can be 108 mm (for a manufacturer from Belarus) or 93 mm (for Russian manufacturers). Medium-sized designer radiators include DERBY M 500 and Modern 500 cast-iron heating appliances.

Tall radiators. These are models with a height of 660 mm, while the maximum height is 980 mm, including legs. Designer heating devices in retro style are usually high. Height restrictions are associated with the fragility and heavy weight of cast iron. In addition, the higher the section, the more heat energy is required to heat it up.

Note! Manufacturers of stylized radiators in the list of technical specifications may not indicate the depth of the product if the shape of the model is not linear.

The technical characteristics of the heating device depend on the dimensions. The size and number of sections determine the capacity of the battery. At the same time, it makes no sense to increase the “accordion” with additional links by more than 30%, since at the same time its heat capacity increases. As a result, heat transfer will not increase, but will decrease, since the coolant will not be able to provide high-quality heating of the entire radiator.

Cast iron radiators 7-section

Main advantages

The advantages of a cast-iron radiator traditionally include:

Corrosion resistance. A feature of cast iron is resistance to oxygen, due to which such heaters can be operated as part of open heating systems, as well as operate in the mode of regular filling and draining of the coolant. Steel radiators quickly rust from the inside after the system is empty and fail after 2–3 years of operation in a “torn” mode.
Undemanding to the level of acidity of the coolant. Cast iron batteries are not afraid of acidic or alkaline environments, suitable for systems filled with antifreeze.
Resistant to high temperatures. Batteries withstand heating of the coolant up to 150 ° C. Such technical characteristics make the heating device suitable for gravity systems with a solid fuel boiler, where it is difficult to regulate the heating of the liquid.
Fairly large interior. As a result, flushing is not required very often.
heat storage properties. Thick-walled cast iron radiators have an important property - they retain heat for a long time. After turning off the heating, the radiator will cool down gradually, and after an hour, the thermal radiation will be approximately 30% of what it was at the time the boiler was stopped. The ability to store heat in cast iron heaters is several times higher than that of other materials, making them the preferred choice for stand-alone systems with solid fuel boilers that require fuel loading more than once a day.
Durability. The wall thickness of cast iron batteries contributes to long-term operation, subject to high quality material and optimal operating conditions. There are examples of the successful operation of radiators made a hundred years ago, and examples with Soviet batteries that begin to “crumble” after 20–30 years of operation. Manufacturers estimate the service life of their products at 10-30 years, but in fact it can be much longer.

Pig-iron radiator Demir Dokum (Turkey)

Main cons

Cast iron radiators are not without serious drawbacks, which include:

Big weight. The thick walls and dimensions of cast-iron heating radiators complicate transportation, especially if heating devices need to be lifted to the upper floors of a multi-storey building without an elevator. It is problematic to install batteries alone, especially if they are not installed on the floor, but are attached to the wall.
Form features. Due to the sectional nature of the cast-iron battery, the surface area is relatively small when compared with other types of heating appliances. The main part of the heat is transferred by radiation, convection is practically absent, which slows down the heating of the room.
Appearance. Serial radiators of the old type can hardly be called aesthetically attractive, in addition, batteries may require painting with a special paint for radiators. It is important to remove the previous decorative layer so that the heat transfer of the battery does not decrease. If, for aesthetics, the battery is covered with a decorative screen, this also leads to a decrease in heat transfer.
Thermal inertia. The same property is both a minus and a plus. Cast iron radiators cool down slowly, which may be required in some cases, but at the same time cast iron batteries heat up very slowly when the heating is turned on. Due to thermal inertia, such heating devices cannot be used in a system with flexible room temperature control. This means that they are not suitable for cost-effective independent heating systems.
Brittleness of the material. Cast iron may not withstand a point impact with a heavy object, it may be damaged if it is dropped on concrete or stone. Microcracks during operation expand under the influence of high temperatures, as a result of which the battery may leak. In the same way, cast iron is destroyed by sudden temperature changes.
Tendency to overgrow. The rough inner surface promotes the accumulation of deposits. Since the internal section is quite large, the battery will not completely clog for a long time, but its heat transfer will decrease. It is recommended to flush the heating devices of the autonomous system every few years.
Large internal volume. The more coolant is required to fill the system, the higher the energy consumption for heating it.

Cast iron radiator MS-140M

The disadvantages of cast iron radiators often include a relatively low peak pressure compared to bimetallic heating devices. Cast iron batteries withstand a pressure surge of up to 15 atm., While bimetallic - up to 40 atm. However, in the central heating system, the pressure does not rise above 15 atmospheres, thanks to which numerous cast iron batteries have been working perfectly for decades. And in an autonomous system, the pressure is much lower than in the central one.

Brands and cost of cast iron batteries

When choosing heating devices made of cast iron, they take into account the technical characteristics of the models, their aesthetic design. To calculate the required number of sections, you need to divide the calculated power of the heating device for a particular room by the power of one section (indicated by the manufacturer).

Cast iron radiators DEMRAD RETRO

In Russia, cast-iron radiators from the following manufacturers are popular:

Minsk Plant of Heating Equipment (Republic of Belarus). Produces radiators of the MS series. This is an analogue of Soviet batteries with a slightly improved design.
"Santekhlit" (Russia). It also produces low-cost batteries of the MC series, made of gray cast iron. Some improvements have improved the technical parameters compared to the classic model.
Viadrus (Czech Republic). Offers small size radiators with an original modern design. Batteries require painting.
Demrad (Turkey). The product line includes heating devices of various heights with a modern design, which are suitable for replacing old standard radiators.
Demir dokum (Turkey). It specializes in the production of batteries in retro style, with legs. Products are characterized by high heat transfer.
Konner (China). Designer radiators created by Russian specialists and intended for the domestic market. Differ in attractive appearance, a variety of styles, high heat dissipation.

Cast iron radiator Viadrus Kalor

When planning to buy a cast-iron battery, please note that designer models are solid - in this case, the seller indicates the cost of the product. Also in stores, including online, batteries of 7 or 10 sections can be presented with a price tag for a one-piece radiator. In other cases, the price of one section is indicated. On average, one section of a cast-iron battery costs from 400 to 600 rubles, depending on the size and manufacturer.

The onset of winter cold every year becomes a test of the effectiveness of heating systems in high-rise buildings and private houses. And I must say that the owners of housing equipped with cast-iron radiators feel more secure.

The history of the creation of cast iron radiators dates back to the distant 19th century. And since then they have been faithfully serving people. All Soviet new buildings of the 60-70s of the last century were equipped with just such heating devices, many of which are still successfully operated.

The modern market for heating equipment offers radiators made of other materials: steel, aluminum, bimetallic, even copper. But cast-iron batteries are still produced and actively sold.

Radiators are made of gray cast iron. Most often they are assembled from separate sections, but there are also solid-cast options.

These products can be classified according to a number of criteria:

section size;
the number of channels through which the coolant circulates;
installation method;
connection method.

The section dimensions are characterized by the following parameters:

height - usually in the range of 330-954 mm;
width is from 45 to 108 mm;
depth varies from 85 to 200 mm;
center distance (distance between the axes of the nipples connecting the sections into a single structure) - from 220 to 900 mm.

Some companies produce radiators with other geometric parameters, so before purchasing, you must definitely decide on the desired size of the batteries.

The height of the radiators varies in a fairly wide size range, so the radiators can be conditionally divided into low, standard, high. Low models are an accordion radiator.

Most often these are Belarusian products of the following sizes:

height - 38.8 cm;
section width - 0.93 cm;
depth - 14 cm;
center distance - 30 cm.

Standard radiators are characterized by a center distance of 50 cm and are produced by many manufacturers. The depth of the sections can be different - from 8.5 to 14 cm. This allows you to choose a radiator that fits perfectly even under a narrow window sill.

Now in vogue products, decorated in retro style. Their sizes can be very different. Most often, such radiators are equipped with legs, which allows them to be installed near walls made of any materials.

A radiator without legs has to be mounted on brackets attached to the walls, so they are more suitable for solid walls.

High radiators - usually their height does not exceed 100 cm, but you can find products higher. Given the large weight of cast iron, it is not advisable to mount such models to the wall, so most often they are equipped with legs.

By the number of channels, radiators are divided into three types:

Single-channel - each section has one channel through which the coolant circulates. These batteries are easy to keep clean, so they are often used in medical facilities.
Two-channel - in each section there are 2 channels, so the heat transfer of the device is higher.
Three-channel - radiators with the highest heat dissipation, but at the same time with the largest depth and weight indicators.

The most popular are two-channel sections.

According to the method of installation, radiators are divided into wall and floor. The latter are equipped with four legs, which are usually located on the extreme sections.

According to the method of connection to the heating system, all products are divided into 3 types:

With a bottom connection - the inlet and outlet pipes are connected to the lower outlets of the radiator from opposite sides. The disadvantage of such a connection is the limited circulation of the coolant through the internal channels.
With lateral connection - pipes are connected to the lower and upper outlets of the extreme section on one side. This option provides the best circulation.
With top connection - pipes are connected to the top outlets of the extreme sections. In terms of circulation intensity, this is an average option.

Despite their "ancient" origin, cast iron products have a number of advantages:

Cast iron has a high resistance to corrosion, including chemical. This is important, since the coolant of centralized heating systems is hot process water, which has an alkaline reaction.
The maximum possible temperature of the coolant in the system can be +150 degrees.
A cast-iron radiator warms up much longer than steel or aluminum, but it perfectly accumulates heat, which increases its heat transfer even when the temperature in the system drops.
The durability of cast iron products is from 30 to 50 years, although in fact they can last longer. This is due to the large thickness of the walls of the sections, which resists wear well even with poor quality of the coolant.
It is possible to assemble a radiator of just such a size that will optimally heat a particular room.
Damage to one section does not entail the replacement of the entire radiator. It is simply replaced with a similar one, which saves significant funds.
The cost of cast iron radiators is lower than products made from other materials.

The disadvantages are as follows:

Large weight, making it difficult to transport and install radiators.
Poor tolerance of hydraulic shocks, possible during the operation of heating systems of high-rise buildings. But this problem is solved by installing a pressure regulator on the line.
The finned surfaces of radiators quickly and heavily gather dust, and their cleaning presents some difficulties. Modern radiators are often produced with a flat outer surface of the sections, which makes it easier to care for them.
The appearance of traditional radiators is not very attractive. But now on sale there are products of a more successful design.

An accurate thermal calculation can only be done by a specialist. However, you can approximately determine the required number of sections for each room yourself.

This will require the following data:

area of the room;
the amount of heat generated by one section is taken from the product passport (approximately 140-160 W);
the calculation is made for a normally insulated room with one window - the average amount of thermal energy required to heat it is 100 W / kV. m;
the height of the room does not exceed 3 m.

Thus, for a room of 15 square meters. m, it will take 100 * 15 \u003d 1500 watts. If on average one section gives 150 W, then the required number of sections will be: 1500/150 = 10 pieces. If the result is a fraction, then it is rounded up to a whole number.

If the number of outdoor walls in the room is more than one, then the rate of heat required for heating is multiplied by 1.75.

With a large number of windows, the calculated number of sections is divided by this figure, and a radiator is placed under each window. This will ensure more uniform and efficient heating of the room as a whole.