The choice of batteries determines the degree of comfort in the house for the entire heating season. We will tell what products are better: from a bimetal or aluminum.
To determine which heating radiator is better, aluminum or bimetallic models should be chosen, it is worth getting dead to get acquainted with the pluses and with the cons of each type. Only then can the correct decision be taken.
What you need to know about aluminum batteries
For the production of such devices, two technologies are used:
- Casting. Thus, the product is obtained monolithic. The absence of all sorts of compounds or seams gives a special strength.
- Extrusion. By pressing the blanks, sections are obtained that are subsequently combined into the battery. The presence of connecting nodes makes them more sensitive to elevated pressure.
You can most often find devices made by extrusion methods, since they are less costly in production. Theoretically, subject to all operational requirements, radiators are equally reliable. Only monolithic can work without maintenance, and the teams require a regular inspection for the failure of the connecting nodes.
From the advantages of aluminum models it should be noted:
- Great heat transfer, thanks to this room warms up literally for 15-20 minutes. This makes it possible to save on payment for the flow of the coolant.
- Small weight, compactness, which greatly facilitates installation.
- The presence of a thermoclap that allows you to adjust the amount of fluid in the device. This saves on heating.
- Prefabricated models can be independently complemented with new sections or, on the contrary, remove unnecessary. For cast, it is also possible, but it is better if it will do a specialist.
Of the significant drawbacks, it is worth noting the sensitivity to the quality of the coolant. For example, the alkali destroys the metal in it destroys the metal. Prefabricated radiators are especially vulnerable. Between the sections there are gaskets that can determine under the influence of certain substances. So, the aggressive composition of the antifreeze type corrosive rubber very quickly. It is impossible to use them.
Water entering aluminum provokes a chemical reaction that passes with the allocation of some gas. Therefore, all devices must be equipped with a crane of Maevsky. Big heat transfer also delivers certain inconveniences. The batteries are very quickly cold, so it requires constant flow of the coolant to maintain a comfortable temperature.
All about bimetallic devices
To level some of the shortcomings of the models described above and maintain their advantages, the combined equipment has been developed. His name suggests that two different material used for its manufacture. This is aluminum and steel, black or stainless. On the market you can find such devices of two types.
The first is characterized by the fact that its inner part is completely made of steel, and external - from aluminum. In the designs of another type of steel only pipe passing through the product. Determining which radiators are better, aluminum or bimetal, we will consider the devices of the first type, since it is they are full-fledged combined products.
They are made under high pressure by complex casting. As a result, it turns out a design with a steel core. If it is made of stainless steel, the service life of the device increases by about a third. Thus, a high-quality connection of two materials is ensured, which causes effective heat transfer.
The advantages of radiators from bimetal are:
- Resistance to increased pressure fluid on the network, due to the presence of a solid core.
- Good heat transfer and as a result, fast heating. This is explained by the presence of aluminum.
- The ability to warm up to elevated temperatures.
- Resistance to corrosion processes, especially in the presence of a stainless steel core.
The disadvantages include rapid cooling after stopping the hot liquid. In some cases, with insufficient quality of the liquid coolant, its reaction with a metal core is possible. It passes with the release of gases that can damage the equipment. The cost of such structures is quite large. This can also be considered their disadvantage.
What is better, aluminum or bimetallic heating radiators? Compare the main parameters
It becomes clear that two types are similar only. Compare their basic properties.Resistance to elevated pressure
One of the most important features for the battery. The heat carrier in the network moves under pressure, and in different systems its value can be much varied. So, for low-rise and individual houses, it is relatively small. For highlights of 16 or more floors, significance is much larger. It is due to the fact that the higher the heated room is located, the greater pressure is required to rise to it.
In addition to the height of the arrangement, the influence of the hydraulic resistance is affected by the indicator, namely the number of pipe turns, the number of cranes, etc. It is necessary to take into account and possible hydrowards, that is, sharp drops inside the system that arise over a number of reasons. Therefore, resistance to elevated pressure for the battery is extremely important.
Aluminum refers to metals with small strength. Made from it instruments, especially team models, are not able to transfer significant differences. They are quite often destroyed by hydrowards. They are not recommended to use in high pressure networks. Steel is much stronger. Given that bimetallic models, the core is made of this material, they are able to withstand 50 atm.
Corrosion resistance
Aluminum, like all iron alloys, belong to active metals. They easily come into reaction with water, which, in fact, is considered corrosion, since the metals are oxidized and destroyed. However, Al does it more actively than steel, especially stainless. Given that the quality of the coolant compound in the system of apartment buildings is traditionally low and there are chemically active impurities, processes are much faster.
Even more, their elevated temperature of the liquid medium accelerates them. Manufacturers cover devices from the inside with a special protective layer, but it does not give a big effect. Low quality coolant usually contains abrasive impurities that scratch protection and it becomes useless. Thus, by defining which heating radiator to choose - bimetallic or aluminum, it is necessary to take into account that corrosion is more susceptible to the second option.
High temperature resistance
Standard temperature for the coolant is not higher than 90 °, even when it is very cold outside. However, in some cases, as a result of the error of boiler house workers, problems with automation and for a number of other reasons, it can exceed this value. When overheating the coolant, radiators fail, which is dangerous for those who live in the house. Aluminum does not withstand temperatures above + 110 °, the bimetal works maximum at 140 °.Battery heat transfer level
The speed with which the device gives heat into the air depends on the material from which it is manufactured. The record holder among the remaining metals on the Aluminium heat transfer. It heats up very quickly and cools. Combined equipment made of two materials has a smaller heat transfer. This is explained by the presence of the core of steel. It slows down somewhat.
However, the heat transfer rate of such devices is still large. The difference between two similar sections of devices of different types is about 10-20 W, which in real conditions will hardly be noticeable. But formally heat transfer of aluminum batteries above.
FEATURES OF MONTAGE
Difficulties when installing batteries of both types usually does not occur. They differ in a slight weight, so consuming them on the wall is not difficult. All works related to the connection of products must be carried out strictly according to the rules to prevent the appearance of the leaks. The only complexity from which you can face is the possibility of deformation of the devices from softer aluminum with inaccurate circulation. Installing them, it is necessary to observe certain caution.
Aluminum radiator or bimetallic: what to choose for home
It may seem that the combined product is the best option of the heating device. However, this conclusion is not worth doing. The feasibility of using various devices depends on the conditions of their operation. So, aluminum batteries have proven themselves in low pressure networks. These are all systems in private and low-rise buildings. The optimal option for such models is heated in one, maximum three-storey houses.
Best of all, they "feel" in open-type systems. The combined option is good for high pressure networks. It is able to transfer significant hydrowards and temperatures. Such models are ideal for high-rise, large high-rise buildings with lots of rooms, etc. Perhaps the problem of choice would simply do not exist if both types of devices had about the same cost.
However, the price of the bimetal is noticeably higher. In recalculation, an essential difference is obtained on the apartment or the house. Therefore, when choosing batteries, it is strongly recommended to take into account the conditions for their operation and, based on this, make a decision. Do not try to save on quality. Cheap fakes will not only serve less, because of the increased risk of an accident, they pose a danger to health living in the house.