What is meant by the term reverse return for piping

Nick G

I was wondering what the term reverse return meant regarding hydronic boiler piping. I am not fimiliar with this term.

John@Reliable_4

Reverse return system explained

A two pipe forced hot water system in which the heat units are connected to the return main in the reverse order from that in which they are connected to the supply main. This mades the length of circuit and resistance through each heat unit approximately the same and thus prevents balance problems .
Hope this helps John@Reliable

Nick G

Thanks John, Can you supply any drawings

Don_4

piping

Easy to figure out. Just look at a clock. Imagine boiler is 12 oclock all other numbers are radiators.Going in a clockwise direction, supply line starts at12 oclock and supplies each rad in order and ends at 11 oclock. Return piping starts at 1 oclock (Continues clockwise)connects to all rads and ends at 12 oclock (boiler. Hope this is clear.

John@Reliable_4

Heres a quick drawing (no points off for neatness)

Steve Minnich_1

\"Ain't Nothin But A \"G\" Thing Baby\"

First radiator or CI BB supplied is the last one returned. That's it in a nutshell.

Steve, Radiant Comfort Systems(aka Tinman)

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Mike T., Swampeast MO

The difference makes it easy to understand

Sometimes there is what amounts to a "third pipe" in a reverse return system.

Other times you can turn the "ladder" into a loop (as in the other drawing you see), essentially eliminating much of the extra pipe.

In a MANIFOLD connection the first tube off the supply manifold is the last tube on the return.

Steve Ebels

Simply put

The piping is arranged in such a manner that the first radiator (or whatever) supplied is the last one to get back to the boiler. The last radiator supplied is the first one to return.