Thermal points and their device. Schematic diagram of an individual heating point

Thermal point(TP) is a complex of devices located in a separate room, consisting of elements of thermal power plants that ensure the connection of these plants to the heating network, their operability, control of heat consumption modes, transformation, regulation of coolant parameters and distribution of coolant by types of consumption.

Substation and attached building

Purpose

The main tasks of the TP are:

Converting the type of coolant
Control and regulation coolant parameters
Distribution of heat carrier by heat consumption systems
Shutdown of heat consumption systems
Protection of heat consumption systems from an emergency increase in the parameters of the coolant
Accounting for coolant and heat consumption

Types of heat points

TPs differ in the number and type of heat consumption systems connected to them, individual characteristics which determine the thermal scheme and characteristics of the TS equipment, as well as by the type of installation and features of the placement of equipment in the TS room. There are the following types of TP:

Individual heating point(ETC). It is used to serve one consumer (building or part of it). As a rule, it is located in the basement or technical room of the building, however, due to the characteristics of the serviced building, it can be placed in a separate building.
Central heating point(CTP). Used to serve a group of consumers (buildings, industrial facilities). More often it is located in a separate building, but it can be placed in the basement or technical room of one of the buildings.
Block heat point(BTP). It is manufactured in the factory and supplied for installation in the form of ready-made blocks. It may consist of one or more blocks. The equipment of the blocks is mounted very compactly, as a rule, on one frame. Usually used when you need to save space, in cramped conditions. By the nature and number of connected consumers, the BTP can refer to both ITP and CHP.

Heat sources and thermal energy transport systems

The source of heat for TP is heat generating enterprises (boiler houses, combined heat and power plants). TP is connected to sources and consumers of heat through heating networks. Thermal networks are divided into primary main heating networks connecting TP with heat generating enterprises, and secondary(distributing) heating networks connecting TP with end consumers. The section of the heating network that directly connects the heating substation and the main heating networks is called thermal input.

Trunk heating network, as a rule, have a large length (distance from the heat source up to 10 km or more). For the construction of trunk networks, steel pipelines with a diameter of up to 1400 mm are used. In conditions where there are several heat generating enterprises, loopbacks are made on the main heat pipelines, uniting them into one network. This allows you to increase the reliability of the supply of heat points, and, ultimately, consumers with heat. For example, in cities, in the event of an accident on a highway or a local boiler house, heat supply can be taken over by the boiler house of a neighboring district. Also, in some cases, the common network makes it possible to distribute the load between heat generating enterprises. Specially prepared water is used as a heat carrier in main heating networks. During preparation, the indicators of carbonate hardness, oxygen content, iron content and pH are normalized in it. Unprepared for use in heating networks (including tap water, drinking water) is unsuitable for use as a heat carrier, since at high temperatures, due to the formation of deposits and corrosion, it will cause increased wear of pipelines and equipment. The design of the TP prevents relatively hard tap water from entering the main heating networks.

Secondary heating networks have a relatively small length (removal of TS from the consumer up to 500 meters) and in urban conditions are limited to one or a couple of quarters. Diameters of pipelines of secondary networks, as a rule, are in the range from 50 to 150 mm. During the construction of secondary heating networks, both steel and polymer pipelines can be used. The use of polymer pipelines is most preferable, especially for hot water systems, since the rigid tap water combined with elevated temperatures leads to intense corrosion and premature failure steel pipelines. In the case of an individual heating point, there may be no secondary heating networks.

Water supply systems serve as a source of water for cold and hot water supply systems.

Thermal energy consumption systems

In a typical TP, there are the following systems for supplying consumers with thermal energy:

Schematic diagram of a heat point

The TP scheme depends, on the one hand, on the characteristics of thermal energy consumers served by the heating point, on the other hand, on the characteristics of the source supplying the TP with thermal energy. Further, as the most common, TP is considered with a closed hot water supply system and independent scheme connection of the heating system.

circuit diagram heating point

The coolant entering the TP by supply pipeline heat input, gives off its heat in the heaters of hot water and heating systems, and also enters the consumer ventilation system, after which it returns to return pipeline thermal input and is sent back to the heat generating enterprise through the main networks for reuse. Part of the coolant can be consumed by the consumer. To make up for losses in primary heat networks, at boiler houses and CHPPs, there are make-up systems, the coolant sources for which are water treatment systems these enterprises.

Tap water entering the TP passes through the cold water pumps, after which, part cold water sent to consumers, and the other part is heated in the heater first stage DHW and enters the circulation circuit of the DHW system. In the circulation circuit, water with the help of hot water circulation pumps moves in a circle from the TP to consumers and back, and consumers take water from the circuit as needed. When circulating around the circuit, the water gradually gives off its heat and in order to maintain the water temperature at a given level, it is constantly heated in the heater second stage DHW.

The heat point is called building that serves to connect local systems heat consumption to heating networks. Thermal points are divided into central (CTP) and individual (ITP). Central heating stations are used to supply heat to two or more buildings, ITPs are used to supply heat to one building. If there is a CHP in each individual building, an ITP is required, which performs only those functions that are not provided for in the CHP and are necessary for the heat consumption system of this building. In the presence of its own source of heat (boiler room), the heating point is usually located in the boiler room.

Thermal points house equipment, pipelines, fittings, control, management and automation devices, through which the following are carried out:

Conversion of coolant parameters, for example, to reduce the temperature of network water in the design mode from 150 to 95 0 С;

Control of coolant parameters (temperature and pressure);

Regulation of coolant flow and its distribution among heat consumption systems;

Shutdown of heat consumption systems;

Protection of local systems from an emergency increase in coolant parameters (pressure and temperature);

Filling and make-up of heat consumption systems;

Accounting for heat flows and coolant flow rates, etc.

On fig. 8 is given one of the possible schematic diagrams of an individual heating point with an elevator for heating a building. The heating system is connected through the elevator if it is necessary to reduce the water temperature for the heating system, for example, from 150 to 95 0 С (in the design mode). At the same time, the available pressure in front of the elevator, sufficient for its operation, must be at least 12-20 m of water. Art., and the pressure loss does not exceed 1.5 m of water. Art. As a rule, one system or several small systems with similar hydraulic characteristics and with a total load of no more than 0.3 Gcal/h are connected to one elevator. For large required pressures and heat consumption, mixing pumps are used, which are also used for automatic control of the heat consumption system.

ITP connection to the heating network is made by a valve 1. Water is purified from suspended particles in the sump 2 and enters the elevator. From the elevator, water with a design temperature of 95 0 С is sent to the heating system 5. The water cooled in the heaters returns to the ITP with a design temperature of 70 0 С. .

Constant flow hot network water provides automatic regulator RR consumption. The PP regulator receives an impulse for regulation from pressure sensors installed on the supply and return pipelines of the ITP, i.e. it reacts to the pressure difference (pressure) of water in the specified pipelines. The water pressure can change due to an increase or decrease in water pressure in the heating network, which is usually associated in open networks with a change in water consumption for the needs of hot water supply.

for example If the water pressure increases, then the water flow in the system increases. In order to avoid overheating of the air in the premises, the regulator will reduce its flow area, thereby restoring the previous water flow.

The constancy of water pressure in the return pipeline of the heating system is automatically provided by the pressure regulator RD. A drop in pressure may be due to water leaks in the system. In this case, the regulator will reduce the flow area, the water flow will decrease by the amount of leakage and the pressure will be restored.

Water (heat) consumption is measured by a water meter (heat meter) 7. Water pressure and temperature are controlled, respectively, by manometers and thermometers. Gate valves 1, 4, 6 and 8 are used to turn on or off the substation and the heating system.

Depending on the hydraulic features of the heating network and the local heating system, the following can also be installed at the heating point:

A booster pump on the return pipeline of the ITP, if the available pressure in the heating network is insufficient to overcome the hydraulic resistance of the pipelines, ITP equipment and heating systems. If at the same time the pressure in the return pipeline is lower than the static pressure in these systems, then the booster pump is installed on the ITP supply pipeline;

A booster pump on the ITP supply pipeline, if the network water pressure is not enough to prevent water from boiling at the top points of heat consumption systems;

Shut-off valve on the supply line at the inlet and booster pump with safety valve on the return pipeline at the outlet, if the pressure in the IHS return pipeline may exceed the allowable pressure for the heat consumption system;

The shut-off valve on the supply pipeline at the inlet to the ITP, as well as the safety and check valve s on the return pipeline at the outlet of the IHS, if the static pressure in the heating network exceeds the allowable pressure for the heat consumption system, etc.

Fig 8. Scheme of an individual heating point with an elevator for heating a building:

1, 4, 6, 8 - valves; T - thermometers; M - pressure gauges; 2 - sump; 3 - elevator; 5 - radiators of the heating system; 7 - water meter (heat meter); RR - flow regulator; RD - pressure regulator

As shown in fig. 5 and 6 DHW systems are connected in the ITP to the supply and return pipelines through water heaters or directly, through a mixing temperature controller of the TRZH type.

With direct water withdrawal, water is supplied to the TRZH from the supply or from the return or from both pipelines together, depending on the temperature of the return water (Fig. 9). for example, in summer, when the network water is 70 0 С, and the heating is turned off, only water from the supply pipeline enters the DHW system. The non-return valve is used to prevent the flow of water from the supply pipeline to the return pipeline in the absence of water intake.

Rice. nine. Scheme of the connection point of the DHW system with direct water intake:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - valves; 7 - check valve; 8 - mixing temperature controller; 9 - water mixture temperature sensor; 15 - water taps; 18 - mud collector; 19 - water meter; 20 - air vent; Sh - fitting; T - thermometer; RD - pressure regulator (pressure)

Rice. ten. Two-stage scheme serial connection DHW water heaters:

1,2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 - valves; 8 - check valve; 16 - circulation pump; 17 - device for selecting a pressure pulse; 18 - mud collector; 19 - water meter; 20 - air vent; T - thermometer; M - pressure gauge; RT - temperature controller with sensor

For residential and public buildings the scheme of two-stage serial connection of DHW water heaters is also widely used (Fig. 10). In this scheme, tap water is first heated in the 1st stage heater, and then in the 2nd stage heater. In this case, tap water passes through the tubes of the heaters. In the heater of the 1st stage, tap water is heated by return network water, which, after cooling, goes to the return pipeline. In the second stage heater, tap water is heated by hot network water from the supply pipeline. The cooled network water enters the heating system. AT summer period this water is supplied to the return pipeline through a jumper (to the bypass of the heating system).

The flow rate of hot network water to the 2nd stage heater is regulated by the temperature controller (thermal relay valve) depending on the temperature of the water downstream of the 2nd stage heater.

The correct functioning of the heat point equipment determines the efficiency of using both the heat supplied to the consumer and the coolant itself. The heating point is a legal boundary, which implies the need to equip it with a set of control and measuring instruments that allow determining the mutual responsibility of the parties. The schemes and equipment of heat points must be determined in accordance not only with the technical characteristics of local heat consumption systems, but also with the characteristics of the external heat network, its mode of operation and the heat source.

Section 2 discusses connection schemes for all three main types of local systems. They were considered separately, i.e., it was considered that they were connected, as it were, to a common collector, the coolant pressure in which is constant and does not depend on the flow rate. The total flow rate of the coolant in the collector in this case is equal to the sum of the flow rates in the branches.

However, heat points are not connected to the heat source collector, but to the heat network, and in this case, a change in the coolant flow in one of the systems will inevitably affect the coolant flow in the other.

Fig.4.35. Heat carrier flow charts:

a - when consumers are connected directly to the heat source collector; b - when connecting consumers to the heating network

On fig. 4.35 graphically shows the change in coolant flow rates in both cases: in the diagram of fig. 4.35 a heating and hot water supply systems are connected to the heat source collectors separately, in the diagram of fig. 4.35, b, the same systems (and with the same calculated flow rate of the coolant) are connected to an external heating network with significant pressure losses. If in the first case the total flow rate of the coolant grows synchronously with the flow rate for hot water supply (modes I, II, III), then in the second, although there is an increase in the flow rate of the coolant, the flow rate for heating is automatically reduced, as a result of which the total flow rate of the coolant (in this example) is when applying the scheme of Fig. 4.35, b 80% of the flow rate when applying the scheme of fig. 4.35 a. The degree of reduction in water flow determines the ratio of available pressures: the larger the ratio, the greater the reduction in total flow.

The main heat networks are calculated for the average daily heat load, which significantly reduces their diameters, and, consequently, the cost of funds and metal. When using increased water temperature schedules in networks, it is also possible to further reduce the estimated water consumption in the heating network and calculate its diameters only for the heating load and supply ventilation.

The maximum hot water supply can be covered by hot water accumulators or by using the storage capacity of heated buildings. Since the use of batteries inevitably causes additional capital and operating costs, their use is still limited. Nevertheless, in some cases, the use of large batteries in networks and at group heating points (GTPs) can be effective.

When using the storage capacity of heated buildings, there are fluctuations in air temperature in rooms (apartments). It is necessary that these fluctuations do not exceed the permissible limit, which can be taken, for example, +0.5°C. The temperature regime of the premises is determined by a number of factors and therefore it is difficult to calculate. The most reliable in this case is the experimental method. In conditions middle lane RF long-term operation shows the possibility of using this method of maximum coverage for the vast majority of operated residential buildings.

The actual use of the storage capacity of heated (mainly residential) buildings began with the appearance of the first hot water heaters in heating networks. Thus, the adjustment of the heat point at parallel circuit the inclusion of hot water heaters (Fig. 4.36) was carried out in such a way that during the hours of maximum water intake, some part of the network water was not supplied to the heating system. Thermal points operate on the same principle with open water intake. Both with an open and a closed heating system, the greatest reduction in consumption is in heating system takes place at a network water temperature of 70 °С (60 °С) and the smallest (zero) - at 150 °С.

Rice. 4.36. Scheme of a heating point of a residential building with a parallel connection of a hot water heater:

1 - hot water heater; 2 - elevator; 3 4 - circulation pump; 5 - temperature controller from the sensor outdoor temperature air

The possibility of organized and pre-calculated use of the storage capacity of residential buildings is implemented in the scheme of a heating point with the so-called upstream hot water heater (Fig. 4.37).

Rice. 4.37. Scheme of a heating point of a residential building with an upstream hot water heater:

1 - heater; 2 - elevator; 3 - water temperature controller; 4 - flow regulator; 5 - circulation pump

The advantage of the upstream scheme is the possibility of operation of the heating point of a residential building (with heating schedule in the heating network) on constant expense coolant during the entire heating season, which makes the hydraulic regime of the heating network stable.

In the absence of automatic control in heating points, the stability of the hydraulic regime was a convincing argument in favor of using a two-stage sequential scheme for switching on hot water heaters. The possibilities of using this scheme (Fig. 4.38) in comparison with the upstream one increase due to covering a certain share of the hot water supply load by using the heat of the return water. However, the use of this scheme is mainly associated with the introduction of the so-called increased temperature schedule in thermal networks, with the help of which an approximate constancy of coolant flow rates at a thermal (for example, for a residential building) point can be achieved.

Rice. 4.38. Scheme of a heating point of a residential building with a two-stage serial connection of hot water heaters:

1,2 - 3 - elevator; 4 - water temperature controller; 5 - flow regulator; 6 - jumper for switching to mixed circuit; 7 - circulation pump; 8 - mixing pump

Both in the scheme with a pre-heater and in the two-stage scheme with sequential connection of heaters, there is a close relationship between the release of heat for heating and hot water supply, and priority is usually given to the second.

More versatile in this respect is the two-stage mixed scheme (Fig. 4.39), which can be used both with normal and increased heating schedules and for all consumers, regardless of the ratio of hot water and heating loads. A mandatory element of both schemes are mixing pumps.

Rice. 4.39. Scheme of a heating point of a residential building with a two-stage mixed inclusion of hot water heaters:

1,2 - heaters of the first and second stages; 3 - elevator; 4 - water temperature controller; 5 - circulation pump; 6 - mixing pump; 7 - temperature controller

The minimum temperature of the supplied water in a heat network with a mixed heat load is about 70 °C, which requires limiting the supply of coolant for heating during periods of high outdoor temperatures. In the conditions of the central zone of the Russian Federation, these periods are quite long (up to 1000 hours or more) and the excess heat consumption for heating (in relation to the annual one) can reach up to 3% or more because of this. As modern systems heating systems are quite sensitive to changes in the temperature-hydraulic regime, then in order to eliminate excess heat consumption and comply with normal sanitary conditions in heated premises, it is necessary to supplement all the mentioned schemes of heat points with devices for controlling the temperature of the water entering the heating systems by installing a mixing pump, which is usually used in group heat points. In local heating points in the absence of silent pumps as an intermediate solution, an elevator with an adjustable nozzle can also be used. In this case, it should be taken into account that such a solution is unacceptable for a two-stage sequential scheme. The need to install mixing pumps is eliminated when heating systems are connected through heaters, since in this case their role is played by circulation pumps that ensure a constant flow of water in the heating network.

When designing schemes for heating points in residential areas with a closed heat supply system, the main issue is the choice of a scheme for connecting hot water heaters. The chosen scheme determines settlement costs coolant, control mode, etc.

The choice of the connection scheme is primarily determined by the accepted temperature regime of the heating network. When the heat network is operating according to the heating schedule, the choice of connection scheme should be made on the basis of a technical and economic calculation - by comparing parallel and mixed schemes.

A mixed scheme can provide more low temperature return water from the heat point as a whole compared to the parallel one, which, in addition to reducing the estimated water consumption for the heat network, ensures more economical generation of electricity at the CHPP. Based on this, in the design practice for heat supply from a CHP (as well as in the joint operation of boiler houses with a CHP), preference is given to a mixed scheme for the heating temperature curve. With short heat networks from boiler houses (and therefore relatively cheap), the results of a technical and economic comparison may be different, i.e., in favor of using a simpler scheme.

At elevated temperatures in closed systems heat supply, the connection scheme can be mixed or sequential two-stage.

A comparison made by various organizations on examples of automation of central heating points shows that both schemes are approximately equally economical under normal operation of a heat supply source.

A small advantage of the sequential scheme is the possibility of working without a mixing pump for 75% of the duration of the heating season, which previously gave some justification to abandon the pumps; with a mixed circuit, the pump must work all season.

The advantage of a mixed scheme is the possibility of complete automatic shutdown heating systems, which cannot be obtained in a sequential circuit, since water from the second stage heater enters the heating system. Both of these circumstances are not decisive. An important indicator of schemes is their work in critical situations.

Such situations can be a decrease in the temperature of the water in the CHPP against the schedule (for example, due to a temporary lack of fuel) or damage to one of the sections of the main heating network in the presence of reserving jumpers.

In the first case, circuits can react in approximately the same way, in the second - in different ways. There is a possibility of 100% redundancy of consumers up to t n = -15 °С without increasing the diameters of heat mains and jumpers between them. To do this, when the heat carrier supply to the CHP is reduced, the temperature of the supplied water simultaneously increases accordingly. Automated mixed circuits (with the obligatory presence of mixing pumps) will react to this by reducing the flow of network water, which will ensure the restoration of the normal hydraulic regime throughout the entire network. Such compensation of one parameter by another is also useful in other cases, since it allows, within certain limits, to carry out, for example, repair work on heating mains heating season, as well as to localize known inconsistencies in the temperature of the supplied water to consumers located at different distances from the CHPP.

If the automation of regulation of circuits with sequential switching on of hot water heaters provides for the constancy of the coolant flow from the heating network, the possibility of compensating the coolant flow by its temperature in this case is excluded. It is not necessary to prove the whole expediency (in design, installation and especially in operation) of using a uniform connection scheme. From this point of view, a two-stage mixed scheme has an undoubted advantage, which can be used regardless of the temperature schedule in the heating network and the ratio of hot water supply and heating loads.

Rice. 4.40. Scheme of the heating point of a residential building at open system heat supply:

1 - regulator (mixer) of water temperature; 2 - elevator; 3 - check valve; 4 - throttle washer

Connection schemes for residential buildings with an open heat supply system are much simpler than those described (Fig. 4.40). Economical and reliable operation of such points can be ensured only if there is a reliable operation of the automatic water temperature controller; manual switching of consumers to the supply or return line does not provide the required water temperature. In addition, the hot water supply system, connected to the supply line and disconnected from the return line, operates under the pressure of the supply heat pipe. The above considerations on the choice of schemes of heat points equally apply both to local heat points (LHP) in buildings and to group ones that can provide heat supply to entire microdistricts.

The greater the power of the heat source and the radius of action of heat networks, the more fundamentally the MTP schemes should become, since absolute pressures increase, the hydraulic regime becomes more complicated, and transport delay begins to affect. So, in MTP schemes, it becomes necessary to use pumps, protective equipment and complex automatic control equipment. All this not only increases the cost of the construction of ITPs, but also complicates their maintenance. The most rational way to simplify the MTP schemes is the construction of group heating points (in the form of GTP), in which additional complex equipment and devices should be placed. This method is most applicable in residential areas in which the characteristics of heating and hot water supply systems and, therefore, MTP schemes are of the same type.

A thermal substation or TP for short is a set of equipment located in a separate room that provides heating and hot water supply to a building or group of buildings. The main difference between the TP and the boiler house is that in the boiler room the heat carrier is heated due to the combustion of fuel, and the heat point works with the heated coolant coming from the centralized system. Heating of the coolant for TP is carried out by heat generating enterprises - industrial boiler houses and thermal power plants. CHP is a heating substation serving a group of buildings e.g. microdistrict, urban-type settlement, industrial enterprise etc. The need for central heating is determined individually for each district based on technical and economic calculations, as a rule, one central heating point is erected for a group of facilities with a heat consumption of 12-35 MW

The central heating point, depending on the purpose, consists of 5-8 blocks. Heat carrier - superheated water up to 150°С. Central heating stations, consisting of 5-7 blocks, are designed for a heat load of 1.5 to 11.5 Gcal/h. Blocks are manufactured according to standard albums developed by JSC "Mosproekt-1" issues from 1 (1982) to 14 (1999) "Central heating points of heat supply systems", "Factory-made blocks", "Factory-made engineering equipment blocks for individual and central heating points", as well as on individual projects. Depending on the type and number of heaters, the diameter of pipelines, piping and shut-off and control valves, the blocks have different weights and overall dimensions.

For a better understanding of the functions and operating principles of the central heating center Let's give a brief description of thermal networks. Thermal networks consist of pipelines and provide transportation of the coolant. They are primary, connecting heat generating enterprises with heat points and secondary, connecting central heating stations with end consumers. From this definition, we can conclude that central heating centers are an intermediary between primary and secondary heating networks or heat generating enterprises and end consumers. Next, we describe in detail the main functions of the CTP.

4.2.2 Tasks solved by heating points

Let us describe in more detail the tasks solved by central heating points:

conversion of the heat carrier, for example, the conversion of steam into superheated water

changing various parameters of the coolant, such as pressure, temperature, etc.

coolant flow control

distribution of heat carrier in heating and hot water supply systems

water treatment for domestic hot water

protection of secondary heat networks from an increase in the parameters of the coolant

ensuring that the heating or hot water supply is turned off if necessary

control of coolant flow and other system parameters, automation and control

4.2.3 Arrangement of heat points

Below is a schematic diagram of a heat point

The TP scheme depends, on the one hand, on the characteristics of thermal energy consumers served by the heating point, on the other hand, on the characteristics of the source supplying the TP with thermal energy. Further, as the most common, TP is considered with a closed hot water supply system and an independent scheme for connecting the heating system.

The heat carrier entering the TP through the supply pipeline of the heat input gives off its heat in the heaters of the hot water supply (DHW) and heating systems, and also enters the consumer ventilation system, after which it returns to the return pipeline of the heat input and is sent back to the heat generating enterprise through the main networks for reuse. Part of the coolant can be consumed by the consumer. To make up for losses in the primary heat networks at boiler houses and CHPPs, there are make-up systems, the sources of heat carrier for which are the water treatment systems of these enterprises.

The tap water entering the TP passes through the cold water pumps, after which part of the cold water is sent to consumers, and the other part is heated in the DHW first stage heater and enters the DHW circulation circuit. In the circulation circuit, water with the help of hot water circulation pumps moves in a circle from the TP to consumers and back, and consumers take water from the circuit as needed. When circulating around the circuit, the water gradually gives off its heat and in order to maintain the water temperature at a given level, it is constantly heated in the heater of the second DHW stage.

The heating system is also a closed loop, along which the coolant moves with the help of heating circulation pumps from the heating substation to the building heating system and back. During operation, leakage of the coolant from the circuit of the heating system may occur. To make up for the losses, a heating substation feeding system is used, using primary heating networks as a source of heat carrier.

When it comes to the rational use of thermal energy, everyone immediately recalls the crisis and the incredible bills for "fat" provoked by it. In new houses, where engineering solutions are provided that allow you to regulate the consumption of thermal energy in each individual apartment, you can find best option heating or hot water supply (DHW), which will suit the tenant. For old buildings, the situation is much more complicated. Individual heating points become the only reasonable solution to the problem of saving heat for their inhabitants.

Definition of ITP - individual heating point

According to the textbook definition, an ITP is nothing more than a heat point designed to serve the whole building or its individual parts. This dry formulation needs some explanation.

The functions of an individual heating point are to redistribute the energy coming from the network (central heating point or boiler room) between ventilation, hot water and heating systems, in accordance with the needs of the building. This takes into account the specifics of the premises served. Residential, warehouse, basement and other types of them, of course, should also differ in temperature regime and ventilation settings.

Installation of ITP implies the presence of a separate room. Most often, the equipment is mounted in the basement or technical rooms high-rise buildings, outbuildings apartment buildings or in detached buildings located in close proximity.

Modernization of the building by installing ITP requires significant financial costs. Despite this, the relevance of its implementation is dictated by the advantages that promise undoubted benefits, namely:

coolant consumption and its parameters are subject to accounting and operational control;
distribution of the coolant throughout the system depending on the conditions of heat consumption;
regulation of the coolant flow, in accordance with the requirements that have arisen;
the possibility of changing the type of coolant;
increased level of safety in case of accidents and others.

The ability to influence the process of coolant consumption and its energy performance is attractive in itself, not to mention the savings from rational use thermal resources. One-time costs for ITP equipment pay off in a very modest amount of time.

The structure of an ITP depends on which consumption systems it serves. In general, it can be equipped with systems for providing heating, hot water supply, heating and hot water supply, as well as heating, hot water supply and ventilation. Therefore, the ITP must include the following devices:

heat exchangers for the transfer of thermal energy;
valves of locking and regulating action;
instruments for monitoring and measuring parameters;
pump equipment;
control panels and controllers.

Here are only the devices that are present on all ITPs, although each specific option may have additional nodes. The source of cold water supply is usually located in the same room, for example.

The scheme of the heating substation is built using a plate heat exchanger and is completely independent. To maintain the pressure at the required level, a dual pump is installed. There is a simple way to "re-equip" the circuit with a hot water supply system and other nodes and units, including metering devices.

The operation of the ITP for hot water supply implies the inclusion in the scheme of plate heat exchangers that operate only on the load on the hot water supply. Pressure drops in this case are compensated by a group of pumps.

In the case of organizing systems for heating and hot water supply, the above schemes are combined. Plate heat exchangers for heating work together with a two-stage DHW circuit, and the heating system is replenished from the return pipeline of the heating network by means of appropriate pumps. The cold water supply network is the feeding source for the DHW system.

If it is necessary to connect a ventilation system to the ITP, then it is equipped with another plate heat exchanger connected to it. Heating and hot water continue to work according to the previously described principle, and the ventilation circuit is connected in the same way as a heating circuit with the addition of the necessary instrumentation.

Individual heating point. Principle of operation

The central heating point, which is a source of heat carrier, supplies hot water to the entrance of an individual heating point through the pipeline. Moreover, this liquid in no way enters any of the building systems. For both heating and hot water DHW system, as well as ventilation, only the temperature of the supplied coolant is used. Energy is transferred to the systems in plate-type heat exchangers.

The temperature is transferred by the main coolant to the water taken from the cold water supply system. So, the cycle of movement of the coolant begins in the heat exchanger, passes through the path of the corresponding system, giving off heat, and returns through the return main water supply for further use to the enterprise providing heat supply (boiler room). The part of the cycle that provides for the release of heat heats the dwellings and makes the water in the taps hot.

Cold water enters the heaters from the cold water supply system. For this, a system of pumps is used to maintain the required level of pressure in the systems. Pumps and accessories are needed to reduce or increase the water pressure from the supply line to acceptable level, as well as its stabilization in building systems.

Benefits of using ITP

The four-pipe heat supply system from the central heating point, which was previously used quite often, has a lot of disadvantages that are absent from the ITP. In addition, the latter has a number of very significant advantages over its competitor, namely:

efficiency due to a significant (up to 30%) reduction in heat consumption;
the availability of devices simplifies the control of both the flow of the coolant and the quantitative indicators of thermal energy;
the possibility of flexible and prompt influence on heat consumption by optimizing the mode of its consumption, depending on the weather, for example;
ease of installation and rather modest overall dimensions of the device, allowing it to be placed in small rooms;
reliability and stability ITP work, as well as a beneficial effect on the same characteristics of the serviced systems.

This list can be continued indefinitely. It reflects only the main, lying on the surface, the benefits obtained by using ITP. It can be added, for example, the ability to automate the management of ITP. In this case, its economic and operational performance becomes even more attractive to the consumer.

The most significant disadvantage of ITP, apart from transportation and handling costs, is the need to settle all sorts of formalities. Obtaining appropriate permits and approvals can be attributed to very serious tasks.

In fact, only a specialized organization can solve such problems.

Stages of installation of a heat point

It is clear that one decision, albeit a collective one, based on the opinion of all the residents of the house, is not enough. Briefly, the procedure for equipping the object, apartment building, for example, can be described as follows:

in fact, a positive decision of the residents;
application to the heat supply organization for the development of technical specifications;
obtaining technical specifications;
pre-project survey of the object, to determine the condition and composition of the existing equipment;
development of the project with its subsequent approval;
conclusion of an agreement;
project implementation and commissioning tests.

The algorithm may seem, at first glance, rather complicated. In fact, all the work from decision to commissioning can be done in less than two months. All worries should be placed on the shoulders of a responsible company that specializes in providing this kind of service and has a positive reputation. Thankfully, there are plenty of them now. It remains only to wait for the result.