Types of valves for heating systems (definition)

Types of valves for heating systems — are various types of devices that are used to regulate the flow of coolant in the heating system, ensuring effective heat distribution across various circuits and maintaining the required operating parameters of the system. Valves play a key role in the control and automation of heating systems, allowing to improve their performance, comfort and energy efficiency.

Main types of valves for heating systems:

1. Thermostatic radiator valves (TRV):
   • Purpose: Control the flow of coolant through radiators based on the air temperature in the room.
   • Automation: Equipped with thermal heads that automatically regulate the opening and closing of the valve, maintaining the set temperature in the room.
2. Three-way and four-way mixing valves:
   • Purpose: They are used to mix hot and cold coolants in order to maintain a stable temperature in the system, for example, in underfloor heating circuits.
   • Automation: Equipped with servo drives and controlled by controllers, which allows automatic regulation of the temperature regime depending on the conditions.
3. Shut-off valves:
   • Purpose: Designed to completely shut off the flow of coolant in individual sections of the heating system.
   • Automation: These valves are typically operated manually, but can be integrated into automated systems for remote control.
4. Check valves:
   • Purpose: Prevent backflow of coolant in the system, ensuring its movement in only one direction.
   • Automation: They can be part of more complex automated systems, where their operation is controlled by other devices.
5. Safety valves:
   • Purpose: Used to relieve excess pressure in the heating system, preventing emergency situations.
   • Automation: In some systems, their operation can also be integrated into the control and monitoring system for automatic pressure relief.
6. Balancing valves:
   • Purpose: Regulates the flow of coolant, ensuring uniform heat distribution throughout the system.
   • Automation: Can be equipped with automatic pressure and flow regulators, which allows maintaining balance in the system without constant intervention.
7. Zone valves:
   • Purpose: Control the flow of coolant in various zones or circuits of the heating system.
   • Automation: Often integrated into a system with room thermostats or centralized controllers that allow the temperature in individual zones to be controlled automatically.

Types of valves for heating systems help to optimize thermodynamic conditions in regulated and unregulated heating circuits.

The Importance of Automation:

Automation with valves in heating systems can significantly increase comfort and energy efficiency, reducing heating costs and providing precise temperature control in different areas of the room. Modern heating systems increasingly use, among other things, intelligent valves controlled by microcontrollers that can be integrated with weather-dependent automation and smart home systems. It must be said that this is rare; analog types of valves for heating systems are mainly used, operating effectively in a wide range of conditions.