Aluminum heat transfer plates have three main functions.
The heat from the pipes is carried evenly throughout the floor and into the room through the joints. The heated water running through the pipes may sag them. The aluminum sheet which is stapled to the under side of the wooden floor can act as a support to hold these pipes in place.
Most importantly it reduces the back loss. That is loss of heat in the down ward direction. The heat from the pipe which is nestled into the groove of the aluminum plate has to be transmitted up wards into the room and should not be wasted by the backflow. The general principle says that heated air would rise but it is not so in case of radiant heat. Radiant heat travels in all the directions.
They are available in variable thickness and usually two feet long the wide is about five feet with a small omega like depression to fit the pipe snugly into it. Aluminum plates with a thickness of 0.019”, 1/2” or 3/8’’ are available. Many factors govern the thickness of the aluminum plates to be used or to avoid its usage all together.
The aluminum heat transfer plate retains heat for a long time and keeps the room warm for a longer time.
Oct 14th, 2010
