Wall radiant

cooling system
A.Jayashree

Radiant cooling
technology

Mode of heat transfer

Cooling load
Sensible load Heat that cause change in

temperature of an object, but no change vapour

content of object
Human, equipments, infiltration, solar radiation, etc

Latent load Heat that cause change in state of the

object
Human, infiltration, etc

http://www.healthyheating.com/Thermal_Comfort_Wo

rking_Copy/HH_physiology_2_bodies_heatloss.htm#.
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Advantages of radiant cooling system

Hydronic system
Human comfort
Energy efficient
Space saving
Noise reduction
Less maintenance

Hydronic system
Condition of heat transfer

Heat transfer coefficient

(W/m2K)

Gases in free convection

5 -37

Water in free convection

100 - 1200

Gas flow in tubes and between tubes

50 350

Water flowing in tubes

500 1200

SOURCE: http://www.thermopedia.com/content/841/

Forced convection for turbulent flow in circular pipe

Nu- Nusselts number

Re - Reynolds number
Pr - Prandl number
d - diameter of the pipe
k - thermal conductivity
h - heat transfer co-efficient

Specific heat capacity of water is 4 times

higher than air (hydrogen bond of water)

The specific heat is the amount of heat per
unit mass required to raise the temperature
by one degree Celsius.
Q = cp * m * t
Q heat added
cp Specific heat capacity
m mass of substance
t temperature difference

Improved comfort

Drawbacks of radiant cooling

system
Lower performance during the start-up

condition
Condensation

Condensation
Dew point: The dewpoint temperature is the

temperature at which the water vapour

condenses to water droplets.
Humidity: Amount of water vapour in
atmosphere
Relative humidity: the amount of water
vapour present in air expressed as a
percentage of the amount needed for
saturation at the same temperature

Psychrometric chart

Types of radiant
terminals

CHILLED BEAM

FLOOR RADIANT TERMINAL

ROOF RADIANT TERMINAL

WALL RADIANT TERMINAL

Comparison between
terminals
Source: Radiant heating and cooling by embedded water based system;
B.W.Oselen

Radiant heating and cooling performance characteristic

Heat transfer
coefficient

Maximum
recommended
surface temperature

Flux
capacit
y

W/m2 K

Btu/hr ft2
F

Minimum (C)

W/m2

Floor Perimeter

1.23

20

42

Floor occupied
area

1.23

20

42

Wall

1.41

17

72

11

1.94

17

99

Ceiling

Local thermal discomfort limits for cold

surfaces
Surface
Wall

Radiant
temperature
asymmetry

Minimum
surface
temperature

<10 K

17 C (dew
point)

Floor
Ceiling

19 C
<14 K

17 C (dew
point)

Cooling need to maintain 26 C as a function of

ACH

Source:(Le Drau & Heiselberg, 2014)

Cooling need to maintain 26 C as a function of

outdoor temperature

Influence of temperature gradient on the cooling need of

radiant wall

 Difference between air and radiant temperature as a

function of ACH

Comparison of minimum surface temperature with different

radiant terminals as a function of cooling power

Comparison of predicted percentage of

dissatisfied over the occupied zone

Minimum
PPD (%)

Mean PPD
(%)

Maximum
PPD (%)

Standard
Deviation PPD
(%)

Active chilled
beam

9.24

9.65

9.93

0.17

Radiant floor

10.46

12.64

15.96

1.55

Radiant wall

7.30

10.06

12.63

1.26

Radiant ceiling

9.54

10.23

11.30

0.47

Design
Surface temperature
Covering thickness over panels
Spacing between capillary pipes
Average fluid temperature
Flow rate

Thank You

http://www.healthyheating.com/Radiant_Desig

n_Guide/Infloor_Radiant_Design_Graph.htm#.
VD42SH9OKUk

Keep the humidity down below 50% RH, keep the

surface temperatures above 66 deg F and any

cooled surface can then without condensing,
absorb the following amounts of sensible heat
based on a 76 deg F room temperature:
Cooled Floors can absorb 12 Btu/hr/sf of
sensible heat.
Cooled Wall can absorb 14 Btu/hr/sf of sensible
heat.
Cooled Ceiling can absorb 19 Btu/hr/sf of
sensible heat.

Heat Transfer Coefficients (HTC)Cooling: ex. 76 deg F room

temp, 66 deg F surface

Floor = (76 deg F-66 deg F) x 1.2 Btu/hr/sf * deg F = 12 Btu/hr/sf
Wall = (76 deg F-66 deg F) x 1.4 Btu/hr/sf * deg F = 14 Btu/hr/sf
Ceiling = (76 deg F-66 deg F) x 1.9 Btu/hr/sf * deg F = 19 Btu/hr/sf
Heating: ex. 70 deg F room temp, 84 deg F surface
Floor = (84 deg F-70 deg F) x 1.9 Btu/hr/sf * deg F = 28 Btu/hr/sf
Wall = (84 deg F-70 deg F) x 1.4 Btu/hr/sf * deg F = 20 Btu/hr/sf
Ceiling = (84 deg F-70 deg F) x 1.1Btu/hr/sf * deg F = 15 Btu/hr/sf
In heating only, one can raise the wall and ceiling temperature to
increase the output. For walls do not exceed a nominal 120 deg F
and limit ceiling temperatures to a nominal 95 deg F

 The heat transfer coefficients are used to describe the combined

emission/absorption and convective transfer for radiant surfaces. Heat transfer

coefficients can be used to determine surface temperatures (ts);
(flux/htc) + tr = ts (heating)
tr - (flux/htc) = ts (cooling)

 Surface temperature limitations are based on comfort and safety.

Floor temperatures shown are for wearing normal footwear.

For socks, stocking or bare feet, the surface temperature is a function of the
floor conductivity and can vary from 72F to 82F for carpets to tile respectively.
Wall and ceiling temperatures are based on radiant asymmetry.
In no case should temperatures exceed material property recommendation such
as drywall at 125F

 The flux capacities are used to describe the maximum radiant heating

emission and radiant cooling absorption with convective transfer which can
be obtained from a surface based on occupant comfort in offices and
homes. These heat flux's can be used to establish maximum surface
temperatures (ts);
(flux/htc) + tr = ts (heating)
tr - (flux/htc) = ts (cooling)
where,
flux = load, Btu/Hr ft2
htc = coefficient, Btu/hr ft2 F
tr = room temp, F
ts = required surface temp., F

 The difference between the plane radiant temperature of the two opposite

sides of a small plane element. When you stand in front of a campfire or a

cold window you are experiencing radiant asymmetry. Shown are the
recommended limits for thermal comfort which includes the limits when
using radiant walls and ceilings.

Comparison between
terminals

Step 7

STEP 9 (pipe dia)

decided on the number of loops (and by deduction

the flow per loop) then you can pick a diameter of

pipe which regulates the flow velocity between a
nominal 1.5 to 5 feet per second and head losses
between 1 ft. to 4 ft. per 100 ft of pipe. The bigger
the pipe the less differential pressure required which
may mean a smaller pump which then equals less
cost but it also means more money for pipe and
associated items like fittings.
Most radiant designers fail to understand that
flow velocity should be the determining factor
in pipe selection.

Step 10 (Total tube)

convert your selected spacing from step 5,

into total tube by using a tube density

multiplier or the formula below.
Total tube in ft = Area in sf (12
inches/ft spacing in inches)
ex. 1000 sf with 8 inch spacing
= 1000 sf X (12 inches/ft / 8
inches)
= 1500 ft of tube

Step 11 (loop length)

divide the total footage by the number of

loops

Step 12 (head loss)

Once you have determined the flow per loop

and know the loop length you can calculate

how much differential pressure is required to
move the quantity of fluid at the prescribed
velocity.