Designing a heating system involves an integrated approach to the implementation of each stage of work. First of all, it is necessary to calculate the correct heat supply parameters. For this, it is recommended to use programs for calculating and designing home heating systems.
Software requirements for calculating heating
Why do experts recommend using the program for heating design? This type of software is designed to determine the characteristics of the system, and in some cases can simulate various situations in the operation of heat supply.
There is a certain number of requirements that a program for calculating heating in a private house must meet. The main one is the correct calculation procedure for a particular system. So, it is impossible to adapt the basic characteristics of a water heated floor for heating air with IR heaters. The software functions must necessarily include calculation schemes for each type of heat supply.
In addition, the program for creating heating systems should have the following properties:
- Intuitive interface. First of all, this applies to semi-professional and free complexes. Each user should be fluent in all the features of the software after a brief preliminary study;
- Availability of reference data. These include technical characteristics of materials for the manufacture of pipes, radiators, main types of boilers, etc. Without them, it is impossible to make a correct calculation of heating;
- Convenient output. It should be in two forms - tabular and graphic. Each program for drawing up heating schemes should be able to visualize the result in the form of a finished project with a print function.
The result of calculations using specialized software is complete information about the future heat supply system. It includes hydraulic, temperature calculation, as well as a ready-made scheme for piping and the place of installation of heating devices.
Each program for modeling heating can be paid, free or shareware. In the latter case, the user is provided with limited functionality.
Overview of heating programs
Choosing software for heat supply should begin by determining the conditions for its functioning. In some cases, it is enough to make only a hydraulic calculation for certain sections of the system. But to organize complex systems, you need a professional program for drawing heating.
Having decided on the functionality, you need to choose the right software, comparing its technical characteristics with the ability of a computer. The vast majority of software has minimum requirements for this indicator. However, there are complexes that require a powerful graphics card and large disk space.
Some shareware programs for designing heating systems have a time limit on their use. At the end of this period, access to the functionality will be fully or partially limited.
Instal-Therm HCR
This private house heating design program has advanced functionality, its interface is understandable to the user. An important factor is the ability to connect additional modules for the integrated design of not only heating, but also water supply and ventilation at home.
To work with the software, you must first enter the source data.To do this, you can use an axonometric scan or do it in projection. Upon completion of the input, the calculated parameter is selected. This program for calculating the heating system of a private house can calculate a specific characteristic of the system, or do integrated design:
- Determination of the optimum pipe diameter in specific sections of the system. It is necessary to stabilize the pressure in the pipelines taking into account the installed radiators and the boiler;
- Selection of valves - couplings, tees, fittings and connectors. All programs for the design of heating systems should have this function, which depends on the material of the pipeline;
- Hydraulic calculation;
- Calculation of characteristics of reducers, pressure regulators;
- Modeling of the parameters of the circulation flows in the sections of the highway, the choice of adjustment elements.
The advantage of using this program to simulate heating is the ability to get the full version for free. To do this, contact your company representatives. Wavin Ekoplastik. Registration keys are issued for a year - then you need to get new ones.
The program for the design of heating should include modern requirements for the heating system. In particular, GOST and SNiP standards.
Flow
Of particular interest is the software package developed by the domestic manufacturer - "Stream". It has great potential for calculating the main parameters of a heat supply system. But the uniqueness of this program for calculating heating in a private house lies in its versatility.
This software is intended for modeling and drawing up working schemes for single-tube, two-pipe, and beam systems. Useful will be the function of designing a water heated floor. Unlike specialized programs for heating design, the Stream is truly universal. It contains the parameters of pipes and components of heat supply of more than one manufacturer, which is characteristic of other software. Therefore, with its help, you can make the optimal scheme for a particular house or apartment.
The advantages of using the program for drawing heating flow are as follows:
- Availability of tools for all types of heating calculations;
- Adapting the results for further processing in AutoCad, or saving them in Word format;
- Calculation of heating costs - apartment-by-apartment, with separate accounting and a full financial scheme for autonomous heat supply;
- Many additional features. You can use this program to create heating systems with antifreeze. The software takes into account its composition and performance.
The disadvantage is the cost of the software package. Currently, it is 37 thousand rubles. The demo version offered by the developers has very limited functionality. When the license expires, you can renew it by paying a much lower amount.
Herz C.O.
Currently, this is the most convenient program for drawing up heating schemes. Its difference from other software is in a convenient graphical interface. In addition to heating systems, she can perform all the necessary calculations to create home cooling.
Using this private house heating design program, hydraulic parameters can be calculated with great accuracy. To do this, you must initially adapt the software shell of specific calculations. It is best to download the database on the developer's site. After installing and entering the primary parameters, the program will calculate the heating system of a private house according to the following criteria:
- Selection of optimal pipeline diameters;
- Determination of water flow depending on the installed equipment;
- Maximum and minimum pressure losses in the system sections;
- Calculation of settings of pressure regulators installed in critical places of the line.
The use of such programs for the design of heating systems will avoid the most common mistakes. To do this, an error diagnosis system was introduced in this complex, as well as an automatic correction with notification to the user.
Experts recommend using the Herz C.O. program. for modeling heat supply systems in the design of apartment buildings. Currently, the maximum number of rooms for calculation is 16300.
Software complexes Rehau
Rehau offers the design of all types of engineering systems for residential and industrial buildings. These include several programs for calculating the heat supply in a private house. It should be noted that only components from this manufacturer are used as components for heating.
For the correct calculation, it is recommended to use several programs for creating heating systems. These include the following complexes:
- This is an adapted Autocad system, with which you can make a comprehensive calculation of the engineering communications of a residential building. In addition to heating, it includes the calculation of the parameters of water supply, sewerage, as well as a room cooling system;
- This program is not intended for drawing heating. Its main function is to provide the user with information about the characteristics and properties of all types of building materials. It can be used in conjunction with other software, as well as when performing manual calculations;
- An indispensable program in the design of heating systems. With its help, it is possible to calculate the heat loss of the building, and on this basis to determine the optimal heat supply capacity.
The main disadvantage of all the above-described heating design programs for a private cottage is the limited range of components. In general, only products manufactured by Rehau are characterized.
In the video you can see an example of calculating heating using the RauCad software package:
