Simplified model and performance analysis for top insulated metal ceiling radiant cooling panels with serpentine tube arrangement

This paper develops a simplified model for top insulated metal ceiling radiant cooling panels with serpentine tube arrangement (CRCP-s) to predict the mean panel temperature, outlet water temperature and cooling capacity. The simplified model needs no complicated calculation and can be conducted with a calculator. Experiment was conducted for two kinds of CRCP-s, comparisons indicate that the model predicted outlet water temperature and cooling capacity agree well with experiment measured results. The differences between model predicted and experiment measured results are acceptable for most engineering purpose, and the thermal performance analysis were conducted by the model. The results show that: (1) The tube spacing has significant effect on the cooling capacity within the applicable range of tube spacing from 0.05m to 0.3 m; (2) The tube thermal conductivity affect the cooling capacity significantly if it is less than 1.0 W/(m K); (3) The plate thickness has significant effect of the cooling capacity, if the plate thickness is less than 0.5 mm; (4) The water flowrate should be large enough to keep the flow in turbulent regime.