Design of a radiant panel test at reduced scale for the high throughput development of artificial turf structures

Artificial turf structures are increasingly used in closed areas and have to comply with the European fire standard for building products (EN ISO 13501-1). The main test to evaluate the fire performance of flooring products is the EN ISO 9239-1 radiant panel test. The test principle is to determine the critical heat flux of floorings exposed to a forced ignition and a specific heat flux profile. As large amounts of material are needed to perform the test, the development of a radiant panel test at reduced scale was considered. The experimental design methodology was implemented to mimic the heat flux profile. The fire performance of artificial turf structures was evaluated at both scales and the results were compared. The burnt lengths of the specimens and thus the critical heat flux are similar for both scales. Thus, the downscaled device could advantageously be used for high throughput development of artificial turf structures.

Thermal Performance Analysis of Hydronic Ceiling Radiant Panel Heaters Under Different Parameters

A numerical analysis of a ceiling type radiant panel heater system was performed to examine the heating performance under different parameters, using the FloEFD code. Three-dimensional models of the room and radiant panel heater were created and the effects of the Reynolds number, water inlet temperature, pipe diameter and pipe runs on the heating performance of the system were examined in detail. The effects of these parameters on the total heat load, the net radiation rate, and the average surface temperature on the sheet and insulation material have been presented. The total heat load and net radiation rate obtained from the system increase with increase in the Reynolds number. Also, a rise in the water inlet temperature increases the heat output of the system. An increase of approximately 500 W was observed in the total heat output as the pipe diameter increased. It was observed, too, that the heat output increased with increase in pipe runs, although above a certain value the heat output became almost constant. The results of this study could offer information to engineers and manufacturers on the design and use of hydronic radiant systems.

Comparative Modelling Analysis of Air Pollutants, PM2.5 and Energy Efficiency Using Three Ventilation Strategies in a High-Rise Building: A Case Study in Suzhou, China

This study investigated the ventilation efficiency and energy performance of three ventilation strategies—an all-air system (AAS), a radiant panel system with a displacement ventilation system (DPS), and a radiant panel system with a decentralized ventilation system (DVS). The research analyzed the indoor air quality (IAQ) in a high-rise building based on the building’s height, the air handling unit (AHU) location, air infiltration rate, outdoor air pollution rate, seasonal change, and air filter efficiency. The results indicated that the AAS had the best performance in terms of IAQ in the high-rise building in winter; however, the AAS also had the highest annual energy demand. For the same conditions, the DVS consumed less energy but had the worst performance in maintaining a satisfactory IAQ. Considering energy consumption, it is worth developing the DVS further to improve ventilation performance. By applying a double-filter system on the lower floors in a high-rise building, the DVS’s ventilation performance was dramatically improved while at the same time consuming less energy than the original DPS and AAS. The application of DVS can also minimize the negative effect of the infiltration rate on indoor air quality (IAQ) in a building, which means that the DVS can better maintain IAQ within a healthy range for a more extended period. Moreover, it was found that the DVS still had a substantial potential for saving energy during the season when the outdoor air was relatively clean. Hence, it is highly recommended that the DVS is used in high-rise buildings.

A novel radiant floor system: detailed characterization and comparison with traditional radiant systems

Radiant floor systems have the potential to reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint of buildings. This study analyzed a novel radiant panel configuration comprising a metal plate with small spikes that can be pressed into cement board or wood. The behaviour of this configuration was simulated for different materials for the metal plate, spike dimensions, and varying spacing between spikes. An annual energy simulation model compared the radiant panel configuration with traditional concrete-based system. Simulations were run under heating dominant, cooling dominant, and neutral conditions; significant cost savings and greenhouse gas emission reduction were seen across all scenarios. Keywords: Metal plate with spikes; radiant floor heating and cooling; energy efficiency; thermal comfort; computer simulation; economic optimization

A novel radiant floor system: detailed characterization and comparison with traditional radiant systems

Radiant floor systems have the potential to reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint of buildings. This study analyzed a novel radiant panel configuration comprising a metal plate with small spikes that can be pressed into cement board or wood. The behaviour of this configuration was simulated for different materials for the metal plate, spike dimensions, and varying spacing between spikes. An annual energy simulation model compared the radiant panel configuration with traditional concrete-based system. Simulations were run under heating dominant, cooling dominant, and neutral conditions; significant cost savings and greenhouse gas emission reduction were seen across all scenarios. Keywords: Metal plate with spikes; radiant floor heating and cooling; energy efficiency; thermal comfort; computer simulation; economic optimization

Human response to thermal environment and perceived air quality in an office room with individually controlled convective and radiant cooling systems

The purpose of this study is to analyse the human response to the indoor climate with two individually controlled convective and radiant cooling systems: a low velocity unit combined with radiant panel system (LVRP) and a personalized ventilation system combined with a radiant panel system (PVRP). As a reference system without individual control, diffuse ceiling ventilation combined with a radiant panel system (DCV-RP) was also studied. In laboratory conditions, 10 males and 10 females gave subjective response to the indoor climate during various office activities. The results show that with the reference DCV-RP system, the indoor conditions were worse than with the LVRP and PVRP systems. The thermal sensation and perceived air quality with the PVRP system was better than the LVRP system. After a medium activity task, the thermal acceptability reverts faster with the PVRP than LVRP system. Compared with the PVRP system, the subjects preferred the higher airflow rate at the workstation with the LVRP system. Males preferred a higher airflow rate than females under the same conditions with both micro-environment systems. This research found that there was significant variation in the control preferences of the human subjects concerning the micro-environment, and this emphasizes the need for personalized control to ensure that all occupants are satisfied with the indoor conditions.