Performance of radiant cooling surfaces with respect to energy consumption and thermal comfort

The intensive use of electrically driven vapour compressor air conditioning is accompanied by an analogous environmental impact and the imposition of a severe stress on the electric grid. Still, the decarbonisation of the latter, by the increased utilisation of renewable energy sources, and the implementation of smart grids could help in overcoming those issues, if a different approach in thermal energy storage and thermal comfort in the cooling of buildings can be achieved. Hydronic radiant building surfaces address those issues providing thermal comfort by cooling directly the building and the people, utilising high temperature cooling water, that increases the efficiency of cooling systems, while they present the feature of thermal energy storage embedded in their construction. The present study compares radiant and convection systems with respect to final energy consumption and thermal comfort in a test cell representing an office room. The results highlight the issues of proper control of radiant systems in order to take full advantage of their specific features and of the appropriate evaluation of thermal comfort conditions provided by those systems.

► Comparison of radiant and convection cooling systems for office buildings.
► Emphasis is being placed on the importance of operative temperature control.
► Radiant systems are appealing provided humidity control is considered.