PEXAL and MIXAL Pipes, The Solution For Floor Heating Systems

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Loc. Merlaro n°2 – 25078 – Vestone (Brescia) Tel. 0365/877.011 – Fax 0365/820.261 – Website http://www.valsir.

it

PEXAL and MIXAL pipes, the solution for floor heating


systems
URL: http://www.valsir.it/eng/prodotti/risc_pavimento/area_tecnici.htm

The aim of this article is to demonstrate the excellent characteristics and quality of the PEXAL and
MIXAL pipes used in the Valsir floor heating systems and to analyse the main technical
characteristics in comparison with the type of pipe most used to date in such applications, that is,
the PEX pipe with and without an oxygen barrier.

Valsir multi-layer pipes


The Valsir multi-layer pipes are made by uniting the positive characteristics of polyethylene
crosslinked with silanes and with those of aluminium. The PEXAL and MIXAL pipes are
characterised by a particular multi-layer structure which distinguishes itself from other pipes used
in UFH systems in that it possesses an internal layer in aluminium which is wrapped around the
pipe and renders it 100% oxygen proof. The multi-layer pipe offers all the typical advantages of a
metal pipe as well as those of a plastic pipe and at the same time, the qualities of one material
compensate for the inadequacies of the other. The negative aspects of metal, such as corrosion,
toxicity, incrustations, rigidity, weight and elevated pressure loss, are neutralised by the crosslinked
polyethylene, which is in contact with the fluid transported inside the pipe. The negative aspects of
plastic, such as elevated heat expansion and dimensional instability, the fact that it is permeable to
gas and sensitive to UV rays, are all overcome thanks to the layer in aluminium.

The MIXAL pipe is used in diameters 16x2 and 20x2 for UFH systems both in civil and industrial
sectors. The structure of the MIXAL pipe is composed of an outer layer in high-density
polyethylene PE-HD, white in colour, an intermediate layer of aluminium alloy, butt-welded in an
axial direction and two binding layers of adhesive, which unite the intermediate metal layer to the
outer and inner layers of plastic.

In floor heating systems with low floors, required in renovation work, the 14x2 diameter PEXAL
pipe is used in that the greater aluminium thickness, which is typical of the PEXAL pipe, supplies a
greater thermal conductivity which compensates the lower water flow in circulation due to the
reduced pipe section.
For snowmelt systems for outdoor areas such as entrance ramps, car parks, helicopter pads and
viaducts, the 26x3 diameter PEXAL pipe is used. This pipe has an elevated resistance to crushing
thanks to the aluminium which reaches a thickness of approximately 6 tenths of a millimetre.
The PEXAL structure is composed of an outer layer in crosslinked polyethylene PE-Xb, white in
colour, an inner layer of crosslinked polyethylene PE-Xb, an intermediate layer of aluminium alloy,
butted welded in an axial direction and two binding layers of adhesive, which unite the intermediate
metal layer to the outer and inner layers of plastic.

Mechanical characteristics
The bending radius corresponds to 2.5 times the pipe diameter and the circular section in proximity
of the bend, remains constant. Once the pipe has been bent it remains in the desired position like a
metal pipe; in this way, the use of fixing clips in installations on V-ELLE smooth panels is reduced.
In installations with the V-ESSE pocketed panel, the typical problem of the PEX pipe which tends
to pop out of the housing due to its elastic memory, does not exist. In this case the installation can
be carried out without the use of clips.
The internal layer of aluminium therefore gives the pipe an unparalleled mechanical resistance and
ductility and makes the Valsir multilayer pipe extremely easy to lay.

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Loc. Merlaro n°2 – 25078 – Vestone (Brescia) Tel. 0365/877.011 – Fax 0365/820.261 – Website http://www.valsir.it

Oxygen and UV rays barrier


The inner layer of aluminium makes for a perfect barrier to the passage of gaseous molecules,
thus avoiding any danger of corrosion caused by the infiltration of oxygen and damages caused by
exposure to UV rays. The coefficient of oxygen transmission of the PEXAL/MIXAL pipes, which is a
measurement of the oxygen transmission through the material, is zero, thanks to the presence of
the internal layer of aluminium. The same applies for all diameters irregardless of the temperature
or relative humidity.
For all-plastic pipes made of PEX, even those with an EVOH oxygen barrier, the coefficient of
oxygen transmission is zero but increases with the increase in temperature and relative humidity.
Many PEX pipes today are sold with the oxygen barrier on the outside of the pipe. This layer,
however, is obviously very much exposed to the possibility of scratches and cuts and the also the
negative aspects of the humidity which drastically reduces the barrier.

Heat conductance
The heat conductance of PEXAL/MIXAL pipes depends on the multi-layer structure of the pipe,
and in particular, on the thickness and the position of the aluminium layer. While the value for PE-X
pipe is 0,38 W/m•K the PEXAL and MIXAL pipes have a value of 0,43 W/m•K for diameter 16x2
and 0,47 W/m•K for 26x3. This difference clearly favours the use of PEXAL and MIXAL pipes for
UFH in that it is possible to install systems with an optimum heat output.

The higher conductance generates higher temperatures on the surface of the pipe than with PEX
pipes. The following figure shows the temperature profiles from the centre of the pipe to the
external surface.

External surface temperature of the pipe (example)

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Loc. Merlaro n°2 – 25078 – Vestone (Brescia) Tel. 0365/877.011 – Fax 0365/820.261 – Website http://www.valsir.it

This advantage is reflected for example in the possibility of having relatively low supply
temperatures at equal outdoor temperatures as shown in the figure below.

Supply temperature (example)

In the following figure, the output of the 16x2 diameter MIXAL pipe is compared to the output of a
PEX pipe of the same size. Both are used in a floor heating system with a pipe spacing of 15 cm.
The MIXAL pipe has a 2.5% higher thermal output.

Comparison of outputs of MIXAL pipe 16x2 and PEX pipe 16x2

The considerations presented above allow us to reach an important conclusion: it is possible to use
multi-layer pipes of a smaller diameter than those used with all-plastic pipes in PEX.
In order to clarify the concept, consider a floor heating system in a 10 m2 room which requires a
specific thermal output of 80 W/m2. The floor is composed of a Valsir V-ESSE20 insulating panel,
the cement thickness above the pipes is 40 mm and for simplicity sake, no floor covering will be
taken into consideration. The following tables compare the characteristics of both circuits installed
with a 17x2 diameter PEX pipe and a 16x2 diameter MIXAL pipe with two different pipe spacings

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Loc. Merlaro n°2 – 25078 – Vestone (Brescia) Tel. 0365/877.011 – Fax 0365/820.261 – Website http://www.valsir.it

and a supply temperature of 45°C. It is evident that the flow and speed of the circuits are more or
less identical and therefore that the 16x2 diameter MIXAL pipe can be used instead of the larger
diameter 17x2 PEX pipe. The thermal outputs of both pipes are the same for the two pipe spacings
taken into consideration.

Comparison between PEX and MIXAL with a pipe spacing of 15 cm

Characteristics PEX 17x2 MIXAL 16x2


Pipe spacing [cm] 15 15
Supply temperature [°C] 45 45
Loop length [m] 66,7 66,7
Temperature drop ∆T [°C] 18,6 18,8
Flow rate [l/h] 46,6 46,1
Speed [m/s] 0,10 0,11
Comparison between PEX and MIXAL with a pipe spacing of 22.5 cm

Characteristics PEX 17x2 MIXAL 16x2


Pipe spacing [cm] 22,5 22,5
Supply temperature [°C] 45 45
Loop length [m] 44,4 44,4
Temperature drop ∆T [°C] 14,5 14,1
Flow rate [l/h] 61,4 60,0
Speed [m/s] 0,13 0,15

Thermal output PEX 17x2 and MIXAL 16x2: pipe spacing 15 cm

Thermal output PEX 17x2 and MIXAL 16x2: pipe spacing 22,5 cm

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Loc. Merlaro n°2 – 25078 – Vestone (Brescia) Tel. 0365/877.011 – Fax 0365/820.261 – Website http://www.valsir.it

Conclusion
Due to their particular structure, the Valsir multilayer pipes present important and evident
advantages. We have dealt with and compared only some of the characteristics: the mechanical
resistance and ductility, the oxygen barrier and thermal conductivity. There are, however, other
important aspects which render the PEXAL and MIXAL pipes the ideal solution for installing floor
heating systems. One of these is the elevated standard of quality which is obtained with high-tech
production plants and constant and strict product and process audits which are certified by the
most important national and international Institutes.

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