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Panel Wall Radiator, Let Me Try This-

ced48
ced48 Member Posts: 469
in THE MAIN WALL
I am simply trying to get an idea, ballpark, on how much head pressure a panel radiator, and it's connection, generates. I have seen the manufacturers charts, and they are a bit more complex than I need, or can compute. In simple terms, as to generated head pressure, is 1 unit equivalent to 20 feet of fin tube, 100, or what? I know going from 3/4" to 1/2" pipe is going to be about an increase equivalent to about 8 feet of 3/4" tube.

My concern with all of this is creating more flow resistance in one side of the split loop system, making the water want to flow to one side or the other, rather than to both at the same flow rate.

Comments

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,882
    a balance valve would be what you want to fine tune flow to different loops or circuits. Some of the H valves on the panel rads have a means to adjust flow to the radiator. It's tough to get two loops identical for pressure drop, so that is the purpose of a balance valve.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • ced48
    ced48 Member Posts: 469
    Yes, Bob, that is what I was thinking, but I first want to know if I am close to being balanced, or way off. I can't seem to find out a way to get some sort of approximation. The panel radiators themselves seem to have very little flow resistance, but I have heard others say that they do not work well when combined into a baseboard loop.
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,882
    properly done, you can mix heat emitters. Download Idronics 25 some ideas
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • ced48
    ced48 Member Posts: 469
    Thanks Bob, I will take a look-
  • ced48
    ced48 Member Posts: 469
    Well, it looks like the H-valve will add about 1 foot of pressure drop to that side of my system. The radiator, maybe .25, and the remaining fin tube and piping .15, for a total of 1.4. The side with just fin tube has about .25 of drop, piping, fittings, and fin tube. So they are off by more than 1 foot pound.

    My question is , is this a lot? Is the solution to keep the H-valve, and divert most of the flow by the radiator, or eliminate this bypass valve, and let all the flow go thru the radiator, keeping the system at a .25 to .4 balance?

    Seems to me that just running all the water thru the panel radiator will work best in this very small split loop system.

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