Pumps for crimping heating systems: types, operating principle. Manual crimping tool

Maintenance of the engineering and municipal infrastructure is of great importance for the maintenance of preventive measures. They allow you to identify possible problems on the line, fix breaches of tightness, sudden changes in pressure, etc. The quality and accuracy of detection of such problems depends on the method used. The most common and relatively effective method of this kind is crimping. Special pumps for crimping heating systems are often used as a tool for preventive and routine testing of the heating network.

Common crimping device assembly

The basis of any unit of this type is the pump unit, which provides the working force. As a mandatory accompanying components can be identified reservoir with liquid, hose communication, as well as a set of controls. Today even the simplest pumps for crimping heating systems are supplemented with manometers in the basic configuration. This device, in fact, provides information on which it is possible to assess the condition of the pipeline. As for the materials for the manufacture of pumps, they are mainly represented by steel, as well as high-strength composites. At least, this applies to models from large manufacturers. When choosing a pressure test machine, it is important to take into account the mass, as, depending on the conditions of application and transportation, there may be restrictions on this parameter. On average, high-quality modern pumps of this type weigh 5-7 kg.

What are the functions of the pressure test pump?

Directly the crimping operation is calculated to detect leaks and deviations in pressure drops. However, pumps for crimping heating systems have a wider functional spectrum. They also serve as a means of preventive examination of a particular section of the line. This is important in terms of ensuring timely repair operations. Most often, the need for using such an audit occurs after the completion of installation or repair activities.

In the rules for the operation of heating systems, some items contain indications that the crimping procedure is mandatory. For example, you can not do without it when putting the facility into operation. It is also common practice to use pressure testers before the onset of the heating season, when it is necessary to check the reliability of connections in the pipeline.

The working principle of the crimping machine

To implement the method, it is necessary to fill the closed area with water. At the same time, it is filled with a special liquid, which can be oil, and the pump reservoir. When the maximum possible filling of the circuit is reached, the operator starts fixing the pressure parameters through the control relay. The crimping process lasts several hours. At this time, stable performance of the unit performance should be ensured. Further, after the expiration of the technological gap, the operator also takes readings, comparing them with the primary data.

It is important to note that different pumps for crimping heating systems differ not only in terms of the waiting time of the measuring process, but also in their ability to work under certain conditions. For example, for each network, you need to select a device with a suitable pressure range. Based on the results of the data obtained, the operator makes a conclusion about the need for further surveys. So, if the readings made before and after crimping are different, then there is a leak in the line. In this situation, you can either conduct a re-examination, or immediately proceed to eliminate the possible damage to the pipe.

Varieties of pressure testers

There are two types of pressure testers - manual and electric. They differ by the principle of operation, and by the structural device. So, the manual presser usually has a special handle, with which the pressure is injected. These are simple units for the structural unit, which can be used in domestic conditions.

Electric models are good in that they relieve the user of the power load and automatically realize the injection of pressure into the circuit. But such systems have their drawbacks. The fact is that the electric pressure tester can only work from the 220 V network. In other cases, the use of manual models justifies itself, provided, of course, that the characteristics allow.

Features of manual crimping tool

Models of this type are advantageous in that they have practically no restrictions in the application, when it comes to operating parameters corresponding to technical capabilities. That is, a compact hydraulic device will be convenient in checking the home system, and will assess the performance of networks in the communal infrastructure of the apartment building.

An important feature, which has a manual pressure handler, is also a low level of error. Since injection is done manually, the operator can vary the force applied without harming the contour. By the way, manufacturers themselves are taking care of reducing undesirable risks for the network and hoses. They cover the hose with a special braid, preventing accidental expansion.

Electric devices also have protective shells on hoses, but in some cases of peak loads, the automatic injection will not stop, unlike manual crimping.

Recommendations for using the unit

First of all, the working components of the pump are checked. Particular attention is paid to the tightness of the tank, hoses and control system. Also, it will not be superfluous to calibrate the measuring instruments for maximum accuracy. Next, the working parameters of the pressurizer are evaluated from the point of view of the possibility of application on a particular section of the pipeline.

It should be noted that the electric pressure conditioner in terms of compatibility with different pipelines has the advantage, since it has a large power reserve. But this is the case when electric units can lose to hand-held analogs in accuracy.

Either way, both types of pressure testers must be carefully prepared for testing. For some models, it is important to consider the temperature of the environment in which operation is planned. The total recommended range varies from 5 to 40 ° C.

Manufacturers

The market presents different models of pressure testers, which differ in both the principle of operation and technical characteristics. For example, in the line of the enterprise "Saturn" you can find good manual models. In particular, the modification of the NIR-25 works with a pressure of 25 bar under conditions with oil and antifreeze media.

If you still choose electric pump, you can contact REKON. In the family of this manufacturer is presented a pump for filling the heating system and crimping the modification of RTP-6. This unit is characterized by ergonomic handles and a strong casing. Also, high-quality models can be found in the assortments of the companies "Caliber", Voll, "Megion", etc.

How much does the pump cost?

The price range is quite wide and varies on average from 4 to 20 thousand rubles. The cheapest variants are presented by hand assemblies that have a minimum set of functions and low performance.

Further, in the segment of 5-10 thousand, you can find an electric pump for pressing the heating system.

The price of premium versions capable of working with high pressures of about 60 Bar is already 15-20 thousand. And such pumps can assume both electric and manual control.

How to make a pressure test yourself?

To implement this method of testing pipes for leakage it is not necessary to purchase special equipment. For example, a self-made pump for crimping heating systems can be created with your own hands. This requires parts for the formation of the unit, which will fulfill the principle of the hydraulic mechanism. This can be done with an old jack and a cylindrical tank.

Standard units of this type have an average capacity of 50 liters and operate at a pressure of 10 bar. The elements are assembled using threaded connections. In the cylinder itself, several holes must be made, among which the liquid outlet and the niche for the pressure gauge, which will have to be bought separately, are mandatory. Obviously, in this way a hand pump is produced for crimping the heating system. You can also make an electrical analog with your own hands, but this makes no sense, since the accuracy of such an assembly will be extremely low.

Conclusion

The crimping technology does not at all guarantee a 100 percent leak detection or leakage in the joints. Even with the fixation of pressure loss in the circuit, this does not always mean that the defect in the pipe affected the decline in the readings. Often, such fluctuations are influenced by the change in temperature conditions in the served environment. Conversely, if the manual pump for crimping has not revealed any differences in pressure, this does not mean that the system is necessarily devoid of problem areas.

In both situations, it is possible to verify the reliability of the displayed data in two ways. Firstly, due to the performance of several pressing sessions, and in different temperature conditions. Secondly, it is possible to obtain the most objective information about the state of a particular section of the heating pipe by using different pressure testers. It is best to use not just different models, but excellent in principle of operation units.