Two Pipe System - Hydronic Central Heating
The two pipe system is the most commonly used configuration in the installation of hydronic
central heating systems. These systems are 'fully pumped', meaning that the circulation of water
in the central heating and domestic hot water circuit is pumped as opposed to the older 'gravity
circulation hot water systems.
Note: Underfloor heating can also be a 'hydronic heating' system. This page however, refers to
hydronic heating with radiators as the principle heat emitters.
Click here for more information on central heating system controls - Sundial Plans.
In many of the older gravity circulation systems and some of the earlier pumped heating systems
the radiator's flow and return pipes were connected to a 'single pipe' circuit.
With a single pipe system the water is directed through each radiator in turn along the heating
circuit.
The problem with this type of system is a progressive drop in water temperature as it travels
along the heating circuit.
As the hot water passes through the first radiator it gives up it's heat to the room. This cooler
water then rejoins the single pipe thereby lowering the overall water temperature in the circuit
before passing to the next radiator - this water can only be reheated after it has passed through
the last radiator.
The advantage of the two pipe system is that the water in the primary 'flow' pipe is only used in
one radiator before being returned to the primary return pipe for reheating. This means it is now
possible to achieve equal temperature in all radiators unlike the older single pipe system.
However, with a two pipe central heating system each radiator has a
flow and return path so water will mainly flow through the radiators at
the beginning of the circuit unless the system is 'balanced'.
Each radiator or heat exchanger (heat emitters) has two valves, one is for normal control
purposes and the other is a lockshield valve. The lockshield valve is to regulate thewater flow
through the radiator. The lockshield valves are adjusted to balance the water flow in each
radiator until the an average temperature is achieved in all heat emitters.
Balancing the system means that the lockshield valves on the radiators at the beginning of the
circuit will nearly be closed, and those at the far end of the circuit will be fully open.
The advantage of a fully pumped two pipe system is a fast heating response and a better heat
balanced for all radiators.
The two pipe reverse return configuration which is sometimes called 'the three pipe system' is
different to the two pipe system in the waywater returns to the boiler. In a two pipe system once
the water has left the first radiator it returns to the boiler to be reheated, and so with the second
and third etc. With the two pipe reverse return the return pipe travels to the last radiator in the
system before returning to the bouler to be reheated.
The advantage with the two pipe reverse return system is that the pipe run to each radiator is about the
same, this ensures that the frictional resistance to the flow ofwater in each radiator is the same. This
allows easy balancing of the system.
Typical two pipe reverse return pumped central heating layout
Typical two pipe central heating layout
Typical single pipe pumped central heating layout and gravity hot water
