A PRESENTATION ON

Radiant Cooling Systems

Principles of Radiant Cooling in Buildings

Contemporary Technology
M.Arch (Building Services)
Submitted to:
Prof. Mohammad Firoz Anwar

PRESENTED BY:
Akbar khan
Imran khan
Shaikh Faisal Ali

CONTENTS OF THE PRESENTATION

1. Explain the principles of radiant cooling systems and factors affecting
thermal comfort
2. Describe the four basic installation types for radiant cooling systems
3. Discuss how a radiant cooling system is combined with air handling
equipment to make a hybrid radiant cooling HVAC system
4. Introduce control options for a radiant cooling system
5. List the factors that affect output capacity of a hybrid radiant cooling
system
6. Summarize the advantages of a hybrid cooling HVAC system
7. Case study of Infosys building, Hyderabad

PRESENTED BY: AKBAR KHAN

SLIDE: 1/20

WHAT IS A RADIANT COOLING SYSTEM?

A radiant cooling system refers to a

temperature-controlled surface
that cools indoor temperatures by
removing sensible heat and where more
than half of heat transfer occurs through
thermal radiation.

Why radiant cooling ?

It is efficient, comfortable, and more healthful than other system that circulate air.

PRESENTED BY: AKBAR KHAN

SLIDE: 2/20

Radiant cooling systems circulate chilled fluid through a network of pipes

concealed in a surface
This network of pipes can turn the floors, walls and ceilings of a conditioned space into
cooled surfaces that evenly absorb heat energy
The first cost for radiant systems are comparable with those for traditional VAV
systems, but their life time energy savings over VAV systems are routinely 25% or even
more.
Over 50% of high-performance buildings utilize radiant heating and cooling systems

Radiant surface-An exposed building surface including a tube or piping for heat exchange
within a conditioned space.
Sensible cooling surface- A surface designed for sensible cooling through
heat transfer to the thermally effective surfaces

PRESENTED BY: AKBAR KHAN

SLIDE: 3/20

THERMAL COMFORT - BASIC PHYSICAL PHENOMENA

Whenever there is a temperature
difference between two objects,
both objects will attempt to
equalize the temperature
The energy transfer required to
approach equivalent temperatures
occurs through radiation,
conduction and convection
Radiant energy is infrared
energy that travels from hot to
cold through a space, without
heating the space itself

PRESENTED BY: AKBAR KHAN

SLIDE: 4/20

People are exothermic heat generators!

- Heat emission from the human body occurs
via four modes of heat transfer:
i. Radiation (~45%)
ii. Convection (~30%)
iii. Evaporation (~20%)
iv. Conduction (~5%)
- Our bodies radiate heat to any surface in
line-of-sight which is cooler than our own
surface temperature (85 - 90F / 29 - 32C)
- Humans feel most comfortable when they can regulate at
least 45% of their heat emission
through radiation
- Reducing surrounding surface temperatures
draws more heat from our bodies via radiation
- When the air is warm, this is a good thing!

PRESENTED BY: AKBAR KHAN

SLIDE: 5/20

A radiant cooling system works with the reverse

energy transfer process of a radiant heating system,
providing a comfortable
environment by absorbing heat from the space
-In cooling mode the same network of pipes is
used as in the heating mode
- Heat transferred into the floor is removed from
the space via the circulating fluid
- In some applications, pipes are embedded into
the ceiling or even the walls or columns

PRESENTED BY: AKBAR KHAN

SLIDE: 6/20

Economic system-

The hydronic radiant cooling system reduces peak power

demand by pumping chilled water to provide radiant
cooling, rather than by blowing chilled air.
Note that the cooling load from lights decreases because
the radiant systems 100 percent outside air ventilation
directly vents half of the lights heat to the outdoors. In
conventional buildings, most of that heat stays in the
building with recirculating supply air.

PRESENTED BY: AKBAR KHAN

SLIDE: 7/20

With an air-based system in combination with a

radiant cooling system, surface temperatures
are naturally lower
- This increases the heat emitted from the occupant to
cooled surfaces via radiation
- Occupant feels comfortable within the space,
which removes the need for a lower air
temperature and/or increased air flow
- Most efficiently counters heat loads

PRESENTED BY: AKBAR KHAN

SLIDE: 8/20

INSTALLATION TYPES
i. Radiant Floor Heating and Cooling (FHC)

ii. Thermally Activated Building Slab (TABS)

iii. Radiant Ceiling Heating and Cooling (CHC)

iv. Radiant Wall Heating and Cooling (WHC)

PRESENTED BY: AKBAR KHAN

SLIDE: 9/20

RADIANT COOLING SYSTEMS COMPARISON

The table below compares the three principal types of hydronic radiant cooling systems
and the convective panel system.

SUMMARY

PRESENTED BY: IMRAN KHAN

Humans feel most comfortable when they can regulate at least 45% of
their heat
emission through radiation
2. The operative temperature is what we perceive on our skin in a
room and what is most important to consider when specifying a radiant
system
3. A radiant cooling system works by absorbing heat from the space
4. With a radiant cooling system, surface temperatures are lower, so
occupants feel
comfortable within the space, which removes the need for a lower air
temperature and/or
increased air flow
SLIDE: 10/20

The radiant system and the AHU work together as a

hybrid HVAC system, optimizing
system design and performance by decoupling the
following portions of the system:
1. Hydronic and air-based heat exchange
2. MRT and air temperature control
3. Sensible (dry) and latent (humid) cooling functions

The key to preventing condensation lies in three specific areas:

Infiltration
Surface Temperature
Relative Humidity

PRESENTED BY: IMRAN KHAN

SLIDE: 11/20

ADDRESSING HUMIDITY AND PREVENTING CONDENSATION

The key to preventing condensation lies in three specific areas:
1. Infiltration
- First and foremost, use a tight building envelope to reduce loads associated
with non-mechanical infiltration (leakage)
2. Surface Temperature
- Control surface temperatures by designing cooled surfaces to operate at
specific supply temperatures to prevent the surface from reaching dew point,
which might lead to surface condensation
3. Relative Humidity
- Control the level of humidity in a building with the AHU to keep the dew point
lower than the radiant systems operating temperatures
- Spaces are typically designed for about 50% maximum relative humidity
during peak cooling periods

PRESENTED BY: IMRAN KHAN

SLIDE: 12/20

HYBRID RADIANT COOLING COMBINED WITH AIR HANDLING

ADDRESSING HUMIDITY AND PREVENTING CONDENSATION

SUMMARY
1. A hybrid radiant cooling system uses the correct
balance of an air handling working in
conjunction with a radiant system
2. Hybrid radiant systems must have an air-based
component for fresh-air supply, to
dehumidify and for localized fast response
3. Examples of radiant cooling in humid climates
demonstrate the effectiveness

PRESENTED BY: IMRAN KHAN

SLIDE: 13/20

BUILDING CONTROL STRATEGY

PRESENTED BY: IMRAN KHAN

SLIDE: 14/20

FACTORS AFFECTING OUTPUT CAPACITIES

The capacity of a radiant cooling system depends on
factors such as insulation, radiant emissivity, pipe
spacing, fluid flow rates, floor construction, floor
covering, room set-point temperature and others
- Floor surface temperatures less than 66F (29C) are to
be avoided for comfort reasons
- Radiant cooling systems in poured floors or ceilings
typically use PEX pipes at 6 - 8 in.
pipe spacing, fluid temperatures in the range of 55F to
60F, fluid Delta-T of 10F or less,
and higher flow rates than radiant heating systems
- Pipe size is determined by coverage areas and circuit
lengths
- Under optimal design conditions, radiant cooled floor
capacities of up to 16 BTU/(hr-ft)
can be achieved*, with more typical capacities in the 8 to
12 BTU/(hr-ft) range

PRESENTED BY: IMRAN KHAN

SLIDE: 15/20

THE MATH PART

PRESENTED BY: IMRAN KHAN

SLIDE: 16/20

ADVANTAGES OF HYBRID RADIANT COOLING HVAC SYSTEMS

Radiant cooling and heating systems are integral in creating hybrid systems that reach
higher levels of thermal comfort than their 100% forced-air system counterparts

Increased Thermal Comfort:

Reduced Energy Consumption
Better indoor air quality
Better efficiency and possibly smaller sizes of chillers
and boilers
Reduced Investment Costs
Lower maintenance costs

PRESENTED BY: IMRAN KHAN

SLIDE: 17/20

CASE STUDY - COMMERCIAL

SIDE-BY-SIDE BUILDINGS FOR INFOSYS IN HYDERABAD, INDIA
- May 2014 ASHRAE Journal technical
feature VAV vs. Radiant describes how
radiant
cooling helped architects and engineers
achieve LEED Platinum certification in an
office
building in the demanding climate of
Hyderabad, India:
- 99% Heating ODT = 59F ; 1% Cooling DB
= 102F; Dew Point = 75F
- Two identical buildings were built with the
same loads and occupancy
- Data showed a 34% reduction in
operational costs for Radiant Cooling vs. VAV
buildings
- Radiant system was less expensive to build
and operate and delivered better comfort
PRESENTED BY: IMRAN KHAN

SLIDE: 18/20

ANNUAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION

The Infosys SDB-1 project proved that a hybrid forced- air /

radiant system in a hot, humid climate can:
1. Reduce HVAC energy consumption
2. Increase thermal comfort
3. Reduce initial costs over optimized VAV
system
PRESENTED BY: IMRAN KHAN

SLIDE: 19/20

RADIANT DISTRIBUTION MANIFOLDS, CIRCULATOR,

MOD/CON BOILER

PRESENTED BY: IMRAN KHAN

SLIDE: 20/20