ᐅ Sludge Separator / Air Separator

Hello everyone,

Our air-to-water heat pump from Tecalor, installed indoors, has been operating in our new build for two years.

Due to the closure of the heating installer company we originally worked with, we have now had the annual service performed by a different heating technician.

During this service, some "issues" were identified, and I am now in contact with my general contractor to discuss whether and how these can or must be corrected.

One major topic is a dirt separator or air separator, which, according to the general contractor and the previous heating installer, is apparently not necessary and only a "recommendation."
Question: Is this correct, or should a system like this no longer be operated without one?
I am ultimately concerned about future-proofing—possibly I would install one at my own expense. What do you think of the opinion of the previous installer?

Prager91 schrieb:

A major topic is a dirt separator or air separator, which according to the general contractor or the former heating installer is apparently not necessary and only a "recommendation."
Question: Is that true, or should you not operate a system without one anymore?

Ask the question the other way around. What exactly was installed?

I also only installed a dirt filter with a magnet. I skipped the microbubble separator as well.

nordanney schrieb:

Let me ask it differently. What exactly was installed?

I only installed a dirt separator with a magnet. I also decided against installing a microbubble separator.

Honestly, I have no idea... I just received this email from the heating engineer:

"The following information regarding complaints:
Sludge or air separators are only recommendations and not mandatory for the operation of the system."

I will follow up on this.

Prager91 schrieb:

"The following information about complaints.
Mud or air separators are only recommendations and not mandatory for the operation of the system."

What type of system do you have? For some manufacturers, it is mandatory; others consider it optional.

Mud basically means a "magnetite separator," which removes magnetic material to prevent damage to the pump. With modern composite pipes, this should hardly occur anymore. And if it does, in my opinion, a simple magnetic separator is sufficient:

Regarding microbubbles: At the usual supply temperatures below 30°C (86°F) for most of the year (in new buildings), it is questionable whether enough micro gas bubbles can form at all. In three years with two heat pumps, I haven’t found any—though this is not representative.

nordanney schrieb:

What kind of system do you have? For some manufacturers, it is mandatory; others say it’s optional.

Sludge basically means a "magnetite separator," which removes magnetic particles to prevent damage to the pump. In modern composite pipes, this should hardly occur anymore. And if it does, in my opinion, a simple magnetic separator is sufficient:

Regarding microbubbles: With the typical flow temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) for most of the year (in new constructions), it is questionable whether enough micro-gas bubbles can form at all. In three years with two heat pumps, I haven’t found any—but this is not representative.

I have the following device:

Tecalor TTL 9.5 I

I would distinguish between new construction and existing buildings:

- In new construction, you can install a microbubble separator if you want – sludge is something I’d consider optional.
- In existing buildings (like ours), I would install both. We flushed the sludge separator two weeks ago – you wouldn’t want to tell anyone about that...