Lecture 20: Radiant Systems

Material prepared by GARD Analytics, Inc. and University of Illinois

at Urbana-Champaign under contract to the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory. All material Copyright 2002-2003 U.S.D.O.E. - All rights reserved
Importance of this Lecture to the
Simulation of Buildings
 Forced air systems tend to dominate the US
market
 Systems are relatively easy to understand
 Control on air temperature pretty straightforward
 Air systems do not guarantee comfort which
is a function of other variables besides air
temperature
 Other systems, such as radiant systems, may
be a better option for some cases
 Ability to simulate different system types is
critical to the fair and accurate comparison of
energy consumption
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 Purpose of this Lecture

Gain an understanding of:

 Radiant systems overview: characteristics,
types, advantages, and potential problems
 How to specify different types of radiant
systems in EnergyPlus

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Keywords Covered in this Lecture

Low Temp Radiant System:Hydronic

Construction With Internal Source
Surface:HeatTransfer (review)
Radiant System Surface Group
Low Temp Radiant System:Electric
High Temp Radiant System

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 Radiant Systems Overview

Low Temperature Radiant Systems

High Temperature Radiant Systems
Hybrid Systems
 Radiant System Overview
 Conventional Forced Air Systems: aim to affect the
thermal comfort of space occupants by conditioning
air and delivering it to a space
 Primary effect is on space air temperature
 Controls are simple but do not always guarantee comfort
 Radiant Systems: aim to affect the thermal comfort
of space occupants by modifying the radiant field
within a space
 Primary effect can be on surface temperatures
 Some systems are simply direct radiant sources
 Controls are more complex but inclusion of radiant effects
may result in better comfort at lower air temperatures

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 Radiant System Overview
(cont’d)
 Definition: system which supplies a majority of its
energy to a space via radiation
 Main System Types (Temperature Classifications)
 Low Temperature Radiant Systems
 High (and Medium) Temperature Radiant Systems (heating
only)
 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Issues
 IAQ linked to introduction of outside air, but radiant systems

lack an air stream

 Dust, dirt, etc. not spread around by forcing air circulation

 IAQ concerns may require the use of a “hybrid” system

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 Radiant System Overview
(cont’d)
 Overall Advantages
 Less extreme water conditions
 Lack of architectural effect
 Potential energy savings
 Warm floor effect
 Market Issues
 While gaining in popularity in US, market percentage is still fairly
small (lack of knowledge/understanding about systems, IAQ
concerns)
 Much more popular in Asia and Europe where it is used in much
more diverse settings (not just residences)
 Safety/Comfort Issues
 Concerns about high temperature surfaces within space (burns,
fires)
 Limits on wall, floor temperatures (maximum

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 Low Temperature Radiant
Systems
 System components
 Thermostat (air, radiant, or “operative”)

 Radiant surface (embedded in a particular building element)

 Resistance wires or water tubing

 Control valves and headers

 Primary system (boiler/chiller)

 System classifications
 Hydronic (water, air also possible) or electric

 Heat source/sink embedded in a surface: floor, wall, ceiling,

or panel
 High mass or low mass

 Heating or cooling (hydronic only) though only one at a time

(like a two-pipe air system)

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 Low Temperature Radiant
Systems (cont’d)
 Energy efficiency issues
 Conditioning surfaces not air—may allow more extreme air

temperatures while maintaining the same amount of comfort

 No fan energy

 More “extreme” air temperatures should result in less

infiltration heat gain/loss

 Heat gain/loss through surfaces—more or less?

 Back and edge losses—may require more insulation

 Choice of floor covering might decrease system efficiency

 Condensation potential (indoor rain)—cooling systems may

require an air loop to avoid moisture condensing on the

system

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 Low Temperature Radiant
Systems (cont’d)
 Alternative energy sources
 Standard source for heating/cooling system is a boiler or

chiller
 Potential for using alternative energy sources may be higher

than with conventional systems due to less extreme water

conditions
 Use of mass to shift energy needs

 Link to solar hot water heaters (interior or exterior)

 Link to ground loop

 Link to cooling tower/evaporative cooler (cooling only)

 Nighttime ventilation (ventilated slab)

 Link to a nearby water source (pond, lake, stream, etc.)

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 Low Temperature Radiant
Systems (cont’d)
 Applications
 Many—typically used most often in residential
 Buildings where warm floors are beneficial (e.g.,
garages)
 Buildings where air systems might contaminate
(other) areas (hospitals, clean rooms, etc.)
 Buildings where IAQ obtained with minimal air
systems
 Snow/ice melting

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 High Temperature Radiant
Systems
 General characteristics
 Also known as “Infrared Radiant Heating”

 High temperature due to characteristic temperatures of

radiant heaters (range from 150 to 2760C)
 Low- and medium-intensity (up to ~1000C) typically
gas-fired
 High-intensity (above 1000C) use electric resistance
heating
 Highly directional in nature—generally good for spot heating
 Can result in spaces with highly variable levels of
thermal comfort
 Direction depends on type, reflector, and shape
 Shapes: tube or lamp
 Heating only—cooling would be provided by some other
means

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 High Temperature Radiant
Systems (cont’d)
System components
 Burner or wire/filament
 Housing (shape depends on type)
 Reflector (redirects radiation toward space
 Power connection or gas inlet/combustion
exhaust

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 High Temperature Radiant
Systems (cont’d)
 Energy efficiency issues
 Similar benefits as low temperature radiant heaters: lower

air temperatures and no fan energy

 Not all radiation is infrared—some might actually go “out the

window”
 Safety issues of the high temperature surface within a space

 Applications
 Large spaces: hangars, factories, warehouses, gymnasiums
 Open areas: loading docks, outdoor areas (stadiums or
restaurants), pools, building entrances
 Snow/ice melting

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 Hybrid Systems: Cool Beam
 Shaped and positioned like a high
temperature radiant heater but supplied with
chilled water (from plant or alternate source)
 Condensate pan to avoid temporary dripping
into space
 Air movement via buoyancy effects or small
fan
 Some radiant effect

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 Hybrid Systems: Combined
Forced Air/Radiant System
 Sometimes referred to as a “hybrid” system
 Usually due to condensation or perhaps for IAQ concerns
 Radiant system is run as the primary system for heating and
cooling
 In cooling mode, forced air loop turns on when condensation
likely (based on moisture levels in the air)
 Chilled water sent to forced air coil first and then to radiant
system (to help avoid condensation in the space)
 Benefits of radiant system but initial costs of two systems

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 Hybrid Systems: UFAD
 Sort of a “pseudo-radiant” system
Underfloor air distribution (floor supply
plenum) can turn the floor into a radiant
system—in effect a hybrid system
Exact effect on comfort not yet studied
since technology is still fairly new

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Radiant Systems in
EnergyPlus
 Radiant System Overview
 Low Temperature Radiant Systems
 Two types:
 Hydronic (must be hooked up to a fluid loop—plant or
condenser)
 Electric
 System serves as:
 Heat transfer surface with an embedded source or sink
(heating or cooling)
 Space conditioning system
 Important keywords:
 Construction With Internal Source
 Surface:HeatTransfer
 Low Temp Radiant System:Hydronic
 Low Temp Radiant System:Electric
 Radiant System Surface Group 20
 Radiant System Overview
(cont’d)
High Temperature Radiant Systems
 Two types:

 Electric
 Gas
 System is only seen as a space conditioning
(heating) system
 Important keywords:
 High Temp Radiant System
 Radiant System Surface Group

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 Radiant System Controls
Mass Flow
 Thermostatic control Rate Setpoint Temperature

 Zone Thermostat determines

Heating
whether system is in heating,
cooling, or “float” mode
Controlling
 If zone thermostat says the Temperature
system is on, the radiant
Throttling Range
temperature schedule
determines the response of the
system Mass Flow
Setpoint Temperature
Rate
 System fluid flow varies linearly Cooling
around the setpoint
temperature (user also specifies
a throttling range
Controlling
 Fluid loop temperature Temperature
controlled by plant/condenser Throttling Range
loop 22
Radiant System Controls (cont’d)

 Control temperature
 In determining the system response, the radiant
control setpoint can be compared to a variety of
other temperatures depending on the type of
control one desires:
 Zone Mean Air Temperature
 Zone Mean Radiant Temperature
 Zone Operative Temperature (average of MAT and MRT)
 Outside Air Dry-Bulb Temperature (low temperature
systems only)
 Outside Air Wet-Bulb Temperature (low temperature
systems only)
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Radiant System Controls (cont’d)

 Single Surface or Serial Control

 Radiant system description for each individual surface

 Control is staged via priority in zone equipment list

 Top priority surface will attempt to meet entire load; when it

cannot, next highest priority surface will attempt to meet

load, etc.
 Multiple Surface or Parallel/Coordinated Control
 One radiant system description for a group of surfaces
 Control of all surfaces in this group are identical
 Split of fluid flow determined by Radiant System Surface
Group input RADIANT SYSTEM SURFACE GROUP,
Zone 1 Rad Surfs, !- name of surface list
Zn001:Flr001, !- Surface name 1
0.75, !- Flow fraction for surface 1
Zn001:Roof001, !- Surface name 2
0.25; !- Flow fraction for surface 224
 Low Temperature Surface Input

IDF Example:
CONSTRUCTION WITH INTERNAL SOURCE,
Slab Floor with Radiant, !- Name
3, !- Source present after this layer in definition below
4, !- Temperature calculation requested after this layer
1, !- Dimensions for the CTF calculation (1- or 2-D)
0.1524, !- Tube Spacing {m}
CONCRETE - DRIED SAND AND GRAVEL 4 IN, !- Outside Layer
INS - EXPANDED EXT POLYSTYRENE R12 2 IN, !- Layer #2
GYP1, !- Layer #3
GYP2, !- Layer #4
FINISH FLOORING - TILE 1 / 16 IN; !- Layer #5

Based on the above input, the tubing (and thus the heat
source or sink) would be applied between layers 3 and 4 in
this construction
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 Low Temperature Surface Input
(cont’d)
IDF Example:
Surface:HeatTransfer,
Zn002:Flr001, !- User Supplied Surface Name
Floor, !- Surface Type
Slab Floor with Radiant, !- Construction Name of the Surface
EAST ZONE, !- Inside Face Environment
Ground, !- Outside Face Environment
, !- Outside Face Environment Object
NoSun, !- Sun Exposure
NoWind, !- Wind Exposure
1.000000, !- View Factor to Ground
4, !- Number of Surface Vertice Groups -- Number of (X,Y,Z) group
6.096,0.0,0.0, !- X,Y,Z ==> Vertex 1
6.096,6.096,0.0, !- X,Y,Z ==> Vertex 2
12.192,6.096,0.0, !- X,Y,Z ==> Vertex 3
12.192,0.0,0.0; !- X,Y,Z ==> Vertex 4

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 Hydronic Radiant Input
Could be name of a Radiant System Surface Group
IDF Example:
LOW TEMP RADIANT SYSTEM:HYDRONIC,
East Zone Radiant Floor, !- name of hydronic low temperature radiant system
RadiantSysAvailSched, !- availability schedule
East Zone, !- Zone name (name of zone system is serving)
Zn002:Flr001, !- Surface name (name of surface tubes embedded in) or list name
0.012, !- Hydronic tubing inside diameter {m}
400.0, !- Hydronic tubing length (total length of pipe embedded) {m}
MAT, !- temperature control type (MAT|MRT|OPERATIVE|ODB|OWB)
0.00008, !- maximum hot water flow {m3/s}
East Zone Radiant Water Inlet Node, !- heating water inlet node
East Zone Radiant Water Outlet Node, !- heating water outlet node
2.0, !- heating control throttling range {C}
Radiant Heating Setpoints, !- heating control temperature schedule
0.0012, !- maximum cold water flow {m3/s}
Zone 2 Cooling Water Inlet Node, !- cooling water inlet node
Zone 2 Cooling Water Outlet Node, !- cooling water outlet node
2.0, !- cooling control throttling range {C}
Radiant Cooling Setpoints; !- cooling control temperature schedule

Separate input for heating and cooling 27

 Electric Low Temperature
Radiant Heating Systems
IDF Example:
LOW TEMP RADIANT SYSTEM:ELECTRIC,
Zone 1 Elec Floor, !- name of electric low temperature radiant system
RadPanelAvailSched, !- availability schedule
NORTH ZONE, !- Zone name (name of zone system is serving)
Zone 1 Rad Surfs, !- Surface name or Radiant System Surface Group name
10000, !- maximum electrical power to panel {W}
MRT, !- temperature control type (MAT|MRT|Operative|ODB|OWB)
2.0, !- heating throttling range {C}
Radiant Heating Setpoints; !- heating setpoint temperature schedule

Note: Input similar to hydronic radiant

system except no fluid loop information
and no cooling information

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 High Temperature Radiant
Systems
Affects thermal comfort directly, then convected to zone air

IDF Example: Energy has no effect on zone or any surface

HIGH TEMP RADIANT SYSTEM,

Zone 1 Radiant Heater, !- name of high temperature radiant system
RadiantPanelAvailSched, !- availability schedule
NORTH ZONE, !- Zone name (name of zone system is serving)
10000, !- maximum power input {W}
GAS, !- type of high temperature radiant heater (GAS|ELECTRIC)
0.85, !- combustion efficiency (ignore for electric radiant heaters)
0.75, !- fraction of input converted to radiant energy
0.00, !- fraction of input converted to latent energy
0.00, !- fraction of input that is lost (vented to outside environment)
OPERATIVE, !- temperature control type (MAT|MRT|OPERATIVE)
2.0, !- heating throttling range {C}
Radiant Heating Setpoints, !- heating setpoint temperature schedule
0.05, !- fraction of radiant energy incident on people
Zn001:Flr001, !- surface to which radiant energy from heater is distributed
0.75, !- fraction of radiant energy from heater distributed to surface
Zn001:Wall001, !- surface to which radiant energy from heater is distributed
0.25; !- fraction of radiant energy from heater distributed to surface

User-defined output pattern, fraction must add to 1 29

 Summary
 Radiant systems use radiation as the primary
mode of heat transfer to heat space
occupants directly rather than indirectly by
conditioning air
 Low and high temperature radiant systems
can be defined in EnergyPlus as zone
equipment
 Hydronic radiant systems are connected to a
primary system loop much like a water coil

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