Thermal performance evaluation of oxypex and alpex pipes in spiral and parallel underfloor heating configurations

With the development of today's technology, it is desired to create more comfortable areas in living spaces. Different methods are used as heating methods in these comfort areas. Underfloor heating system is one of these preferences. In this study, underfloor heating pipes called ALPEX pipe, which consists of 3 layers of PEX raw material, which provides oxygen barrier with a diameter of 16 mm and a thickness of 2 mm and has aluminum foil in the middle passing through the multi-layered PEX raw material, were used. Oxypex and Alpex pipes were laid in the test room with a laying system called spiral (snail) and parallel type. In order to control the temperatures in the test room, temperature measurements were taken with thermocouples positioned in different places. Measurements were made by keeping the ambient temperature and the temperature in the test room constant. In total, heat data in the test room were obtained in line with the measurements taken at certain intervals in a 7-hour period. When the heat transfer in the spiral and parallel laid pipes in the Oxypex underfloor heating pipe laid system is compared, the parallel laid is 38.53 W more. In the system where Alpex underfloor heating pipes are laid, the total heat transfer is 7.417 W better than in spiral laid pipes. When the pipe thermal resistance, wall thickness and external heat resistance are compared in the heat transfer between surfaces, the heat transfer between surfaces in the parallel laid system in Oxypex and Alpex pipes is better because the laying of the pipes is close to each other. The heat loss in the pipes varies depending on the laying method and type.