Novel radiant heating and cooling panel with a monolithic aluminium structure and U-groove surface – Experimental investigation and numerical model

Abstract

Thermally activated panels with monolithic structure and complex shape are not known well. Additionally, studies of radiant heating–cooling panels described in the literature mainly focus on either cooling or heating as well as either ceiling or wall option. In this paper, a novel heating and cooling panel with a U-groove surface and aluminium monolithic structure that increases heat exchange between the heating–cooling medium and the panel was studied. The performance of a new panel for the wall and ceiling options was investigated experimentally. For this analysis, an extended study was carried out that included both heating and cooling modes to develop a universal solution. A numerical model to predict the temperature in a room with the cooling and heating panels installed was developed and compared with experimental results. The specific thermal capacity of the panels observed in the experiments ranged from 82 to 158 W/m2, sufficient to maintain thermal comfort in modern buildings that meet low-energy or passive building standards. The specific cooling capacity of the studied panels ranged from 47 to 59 W/m2, similar to high-temperature radiant cooling systems used in modern buildings. The investigated panels are compatible with mechanical ventilation systems equipped with a cooling function. The simulation results were in agreement with the experimental measurements. Thus, the numerical model can be used to design heating and cooling radiant ceilings as well as to assess thermal conditions in a room.