Why air and dirt separators are important to hydronic systems
Hydronic systems are widely used for heating and cooling in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. To ensure these systems operate efficiently and reliably, it is essential to prevent as much air and dirt from circulating within them. This is achieved by using air and dirt separators.
Air and dirt separators play crucial roles in maintaining system performance and increasing the lifespan of components. Discover the significant role air and dirt separators play in ensuring hydronic systems perform to their maximum capability.
What are air separators?
Air separators are devices deployed in hydronic systems that help eliminate air bubbles from the water being circulated. By removing air bubbles, air separators enhance system reliability and prevent issues such as poor heat transfer, excessive noise and imbalanced heating.
What are dirt separators?
Dirt separators are filtration devices that are designed to remove unwanted solid particles and impurities from water circulated in a hydronic system. Using a combination of magnets (for ferromagnetic particles) and fine mesh strainers, dirt separators ensure harmful particles do not get into the vital components of a hydronic system, thus preventing damage and improving reliability.
What is system debris?
System debris refers to different solid particles that are often found in hydronic systems and boilers. These include:
- Rust and corrosion particles – Metal components within the system can corrode over time, releasing iron oxide into the water.
- Limescale – Calcium and magnesium, often found in mains water, can be deposited as limescale when heated.
- Silica – High temperatures and pressures can cause silica to form stubborn deposits.
- Organic matter – Oils, greases and biological matter can enter the system and mix with other system debris to form sludge.
- Metals left from installation – When a hydronic system is installed, flakes of metal can chip off and enter the circulated water.
The benefits of using air separators
There are several reasons why you’d want to install an air separator in a hydronic system. Benefits include:
- Improved efficiency – Removing the air from water in a hydronic system improves heat transfer, leading to more efficient heating or cooling. This can help reduce energy bills.
- Increased lifespan – With less air in the system, there’s less chance of corrosion forming, protecting pipes and components for a longer time.
- Quieter systems – Gurgling, hissing and whooshing noises caused by air bubbles are eliminated.
- Better balance – A hydronic system without air helps evenly distribute heat or cooling for more balance.
The benefits of using dirt separators
Installing a dirt separator in a hydronic system has a number of benefits, including:
- Improved efficiency – Prevents buildups of system debris that can impact heat transfer and flow rate.
- Increased lifespan – Reduces the wear and tear caused by system debris on pumps, valves and other components.
- Better balance – Helps evenly distribute heat or cooling for more balance.
- Reduced maintenance – Less need for frequent cleaning and flushing of the system.
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How Altecnic can help with air and dirt separators
We offer a comprehensive selection of air and dirt separators for both new and existing hydronic systems. Our separators come in various connection types and sizes, accommodating imperial, metric and DN standards.
Suitable for a wide range of applications, from residential homes and commercial buildings like offices and shopping centres to healthcare facilities and industrial sites, our hydronic components meet diverse domestic and commercial needs. Browse our air and dirt separator options or reach out to our knowledgeable team for further details.
FAQs
What is the difference between an air separator and a dirt separator?
As the names suggest, an air separator removes air (mainly nitrogen and oxygen) from water within a hydronic system, whereas a dirt separator removes solid particles (such as rust, sand and limescale).
How do air dirt separators work?
Air separators work because air is less dense than water. This allows them to reduce the velocity of the water flowing through the system, causing air bubbles to combine and rise to the surface which can then be vented from the system.
Dirt separators use a combination of magnets and fine mesh strainers to remove ferromagnetic and fine dirt particles. Larger particles that flow through the separators naturally fall to the bottom (because they are denser than the water) into a collection chamber that can be periodically flushed out when needed.
Do I need an air separator?
If you have a closed-loop hydronic system (as opposed to an open or vented system) and are experiencing issues such as excessive noise, imbalanced heat transfer and inefficient heating or cooling, then an air separator is a good addition to your system.
Where should an air separator be installed?
Air separators should be installed in a hydronic system at the point where the water is at its highest temperature and lowest pressure. This will typically be close to the boiler or chiller unit within a hydronic system.