Hydraulic Separators & Strainers
Piping boilers with primary/secondary using closely spaced tees is discussed on another webpage titled Mod/Con Boiler Piping. Now we will discuss stepping up the piping a bit using hydraulic separators. If you decide to use closely spaced tees or hydraulic separators, both applications work fine, but hydraulic separators offer more.
Hydraulic separators not only provide hydraulic separation as do closely spaced tees, but they also replace the air separator, and some offer dirt blow-offs. Many technicians claim that reducing the connection points from six to four makes the piping easier and decreases the likelihood of a leak. Hydraulic separators have become much more popular over the last decade.
Below are pictures of a variety of hydraulic separators.
Below are pictures of Hydraulic Separators
Fig. 6-Shown with a two-boiler application, but would be the same with one boiler.
Want more information on the operation of the Hydro-Separator. FYI there is no audio.
Discussion about magnetic strainers.
Strainers come in distinctive styles and varieties. You can choose from Y-type strainers, basket strainers, or strainers with magnets. The magnet strainers collect ferrous and nonferrous particles. Today's installations should use system strainers installed on the system return piping. This practice is becoming increasingly important for protecting today's hydronic equipment. The boilers have much smaller water passages within the boiler, and the use of ECM circulators is increasing. The ECM circulators will save on your electric bill, but they create a magnetism within the circulator. If you do not collect the debris in a system strainer, it will collect in the circulator, causing a premature failure.
Want more info? Here is a video from Caleffi showing the operation of a Dirtmag.
Disclaimer: The information found on this website is for informational purposes only. All preventive maintenance, service, and installations should be reviewed on a per-job basis. Any work performed on your heating system should be performed by qualified and experienced personnel only. Comfort-Calc or its personnel accepts no responsibility for improper information, application, damage to property, or bodily injury from applied information found on this website.