Energy and Buildings, Vol.41, No.1, 92-100, 2009
Design considerations with ventilation-radiators: Comparisons to traditional two-panel radiators
Performance of heat emitters in a room is affected by their interaction with the ventilation system. A radiator gives more heat output with increased air flow along its heat transferring surface, and with increased thermal difference to surrounding air. Radiator heat output and comfort temperatures in a small one-person office were Studied using different positions for the ventilation air inlet. In two of the four test cases the air inlet was placed between radiator panels to form ventilation-radiator systems. Investigations were made by CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations, and included visualisation of thermal comfort conditions, as well as radiator heat output comparisons. The room model was exhaust-ventilated, with an air exchange rate equal to what is recommended for Swedish offices (71 s(-1) per person) and cold infiltration air (-5 degrees C) typical of a winter day in Stockholm. Results showed that under these conditions ventilation-radiators were able to create a more stable thermal climate than the traditional radiator ventilation arrangements. In addition, when using ventilation-radiators the desired thermal climate could be achieved with a radiator surface temperature as Much as 7.8 degrees C lower. It was concluded that in exhaust-ventilated office rooms, ventilation-radiators can provide energy and environmental savings. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords:Ventilation-radiator;Exhaust ventilation;CFD simulation;Thermal comfort;Energy consumption;Low temperature heating