Design of a Radiant Panel Cooling System for Summer Air Conditioning
Design of a Radiant Panel Cooling System for Summer Air Conditioning
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Date
2015-05-03
Authors
Eltayib Tigani Hamed Mohamed
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Khartoum
Abstract
The main objective of this research was to design and investigate a
radiant panel cooling system on small scale building type (office) under
the central Sudan climatic conditions so as to explore the benefits of
radiant cooling systems over conventional air conditioning systems (VAV
systems).
Transient heat conduction of building (finite difference method) was
used to evaluate the simulation model. The computer program (Matlab)
was used to calculate transient heat flow through the walls and ceiling
(variable loads) of the conditioned space. Other heat loads of the
conditioned space were determined by the standard ASHRAE method.
After the cooling load was calculated, the cooling system (radiant
cooling panel system) was designed. This system consists of four (1.3m x
1.05m) panels made out of aluminum sheet metal and was installed on the
ceiling of the conditioned space (4.22m x 2m x 3.05m). Each panel
consists of thirteen serpentine copper tubes fixed down on one side of the
sheet and insulated with fiberglass at the back of the other side to prevent
heat gains from the plenum.
The experimental verification was achieved by using a cooling
system which consists of a water chiller unit, fan coil unit (ducted fan coil
unit) and radiant cooling panels. The duration of the experimental work
took around one month (from 19th September to 21ist October 2006). Tests
were conducted every day starting from 8 am up to 4 pm. In these tests
four time intervals are selected for data recording (10am, 12pm, 2pm and
4pm) to evaluate the validity of the radiant cooling panel system.
The experimental results showed that the ceiling radiant cooling
panel system with dedicated outdoor air system saves power demand of
21% and 35.3% of VAV system in case if recirculation air and 100%
VII
fresh air are used in each respectively. In addition, the present
investigation indicates that the radiant cooling system not only reduces
the building energy consumption but also improve the human comfort
(100% fresh air and uniform temperatures distribution) with no noise
(minimum supply air is used) in the conditioned space.
Finally, the ceiling radiant cooling panel system has great
advantages to improve human comfort and to save power demand when
compared with VAV system. This system was found to be very suitable
for a hot and arid environment (Khartoum) as shown in this investigation
due to the fact that Sudan with its tropical and continental location is
considered one of the hottest and arid regions in the world. This fact
reduces the problems of condensation on the radiant cooling panel
surfaces.
Description
A thesis submitted to the University of Khartoum
for the Degree of Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
Keywords
air conditioning system
radiant cooling panel system
Mechanical Engineering
University of Khartoum
Citation
Eltayib Tigani Hamed Mohamed, Design of a Radiant Panel Cooling System for Summer Air Conditioning. – Khartoum : University of Khartoum, 2008. -220 P. : illus., 28 cm., Ph.D.