Operational performance of PCM embedded radiant chilled ceiling using a rule-based control strategy

Abstract

The increasing energy demand for space cooling, projected to triple by mid-century and surpassing a quarter of today's global electricity usage, underscores the urgent need for innovative, more energy-efficient air-conditioning technologies. The research introduces phase change material (PCM) embedded radiant cooling (PCM-RCC) as a promising solution, offering enhanced energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. Despite its potential, PCM-RCC remains in the developmental stage, requiring further research to fully unlock its benefits. This work aims to analyse the operational performance of PCM-RCC and develop an advanced rule-based control strategy to enhance its efficiency further. The analysis was conducted using a validated PCM-RCC transient system simulation model. To quantify the advantages of PCM-RCC over typical radiant cooling and evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy, two reference cases are defined: (1) basic-controlled PCM-RCC, and (2) radiant cooling without PCM. Results reveal that PCM-RCC with advanced control demonstrates higher load flexibility (∼93% off-peak time operation), 12% less electricity usage, a 5% coefficient of performance improvement, and a 30% decrease in operational costs compared to radiant cooling. Furthermore, the proposed system shows 9% lower energy usage with a 20% improvement in thermal comfort compared to basic-controlled PCM-RCC.