Performance analysis of an integrated UFAD and radiant hydronic slab system

Paul Raftery; Kwang Ho Lee; Tom Webster; Fred Bauman

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.02.014

Performance analysis of an integrated UFAD and radiant hydronic slab system

Paul Raftery, Kwang Ho Lee, Tom Webster, Fred Bauman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this paper, an EnergyPlus model was used to simulate the operation of a novel integrated HVAC system. This system combines an underfloor air distribution system with a cooled radiant ceiling slab. A cooling tower supplies water to pre-cool the structural slabs during the night and early morning period. The paper compares the performance of this system to both a typical overhead system and a typical UFAD system in the cooling season for the Sacramento, California climate. When compared to the overhead system, the integrated UFAD/Radiant system shows a 22-23% reduction in total energy consumption during the peak cooling months (June to August) and a 31% reduction in peak hourly electricity demand. When compared to the UFAD system, these reductions are 21-22% and 24% respectively. An investigation of the simulation results showed that the integrated UFAD/Radiant system also improves occupant thermal comfort and reduces thermal decay issues in the underfloor plenum.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	250-257
Number of pages	8
Journal	Applied Energy
Volume	90
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.02.014
Publication status	Published - 2012 Feb
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Energy performance
EnergyPlus
Hydronic slab
Radiant cooling
Thermally activated building systems
Underfloor air distribution

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Building and Construction
Energy(all)
Mechanical Engineering
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.02.014

Cite this

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title = "Performance analysis of an integrated UFAD and radiant hydronic slab system",

abstract = "In this paper, an EnergyPlus model was used to simulate the operation of a novel integrated HVAC system. This system combines an underfloor air distribution system with a cooled radiant ceiling slab. A cooling tower supplies water to pre-cool the structural slabs during the night and early morning period. The paper compares the performance of this system to both a typical overhead system and a typical UFAD system in the cooling season for the Sacramento, California climate. When compared to the overhead system, the integrated UFAD/Radiant system shows a 22-23% reduction in total energy consumption during the peak cooling months (June to August) and a 31% reduction in peak hourly electricity demand. When compared to the UFAD system, these reductions are 21-22% and 24% respectively. An investigation of the simulation results showed that the integrated UFAD/Radiant system also improves occupant thermal comfort and reduces thermal decay issues in the underfloor plenum.",

keywords = "Energy performance, EnergyPlus, Hydronic slab, Radiant cooling, Thermally activated building systems, Underfloor air distribution",

author = "Paul Raftery and Lee, {Kwang Ho} and Tom Webster and Fred Bauman",

note = "Funding Information: This work was primarily funded by the Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) EMBARK initiative and the Fulbright Commission. This work was partially supported by the California Energy Commission (CEC) Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Buildings Program and the Center for the Built Environment, UC Berkeley. Many thanks to Stefano Schiavon of the Center for the Built Environment, UC Berkeley and Allan Daly of Taylor Engineering, Alameda, CA for their assistance and for the time they have spent working on the models and the interface used in this investigation. ",

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pages = "250--257",

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AU - Raftery, Paul

AU - Lee, Kwang Ho

AU - Webster, Tom

AU - Bauman, Fred

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PY - 2012/2

Y1 - 2012/2

N2 - In this paper, an EnergyPlus model was used to simulate the operation of a novel integrated HVAC system. This system combines an underfloor air distribution system with a cooled radiant ceiling slab. A cooling tower supplies water to pre-cool the structural slabs during the night and early morning period. The paper compares the performance of this system to both a typical overhead system and a typical UFAD system in the cooling season for the Sacramento, California climate. When compared to the overhead system, the integrated UFAD/Radiant system shows a 22-23% reduction in total energy consumption during the peak cooling months (June to August) and a 31% reduction in peak hourly electricity demand. When compared to the UFAD system, these reductions are 21-22% and 24% respectively. An investigation of the simulation results showed that the integrated UFAD/Radiant system also improves occupant thermal comfort and reduces thermal decay issues in the underfloor plenum.

AB - In this paper, an EnergyPlus model was used to simulate the operation of a novel integrated HVAC system. This system combines an underfloor air distribution system with a cooled radiant ceiling slab. A cooling tower supplies water to pre-cool the structural slabs during the night and early morning period. The paper compares the performance of this system to both a typical overhead system and a typical UFAD system in the cooling season for the Sacramento, California climate. When compared to the overhead system, the integrated UFAD/Radiant system shows a 22-23% reduction in total energy consumption during the peak cooling months (June to August) and a 31% reduction in peak hourly electricity demand. When compared to the UFAD system, these reductions are 21-22% and 24% respectively. An investigation of the simulation results showed that the integrated UFAD/Radiant system also improves occupant thermal comfort and reduces thermal decay issues in the underfloor plenum.

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KW - Thermally activated building systems

KW - Underfloor air distribution

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Performance analysis of an integrated UFAD and radiant hydronic slab system

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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