Performance analysis and validation of high-temperature cooling panels in passive geothermal system

Abstract: High Temperature Cooling, HTC, is a thermal conditioning strategy, which aims to reducemixing and transfer heat losses. Cooling capacity strongly depends on heat transfer coefficientsand offers a great response and several advantages in terms of efficiency and sustainability.Among the advantages, there is evidence that HTC offers an increment of energy efficiency ofHVAC systems, provision of healthier and more comfortable indoor climate and provide widepotentials for the applications of renewable. This principle leads to a higher energy efficiency ofwater-based radiant cooling systems.This paper intends to focus on the research of the thermal capacity and performance of a newalternative. This is where Cooling Radiant Ceiling Panels, CRCP, becomes a major innovationwithin the sector and begin to take on certain relevance. The cooling capacity curve of thisparticular CRCP panels has been only measured in an idealized room environment according toDIN EN 14240. Thus, further studies of this key parameter through climate chamber testingand Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations, CFD, are necessary. CFD particularly focuseson fluids in motion, their behavior and their influences in complex processes such as heat transfer.The fluid motion can be described through fundamental mathematical equations and it isbecoming widely used within the building sector.Two different cases are going to be investigated. The first case will determine the mostoptimal peripheral gap to enhance cooling performance through Natural Convection, NC. Thisstudy states the existence of a peripheral gap around the panels has proven to be inefficientin terms of enhancing natural convection in the climate chamber. The second case is aboutcalculating the cooling capacity as a function of the internal heat loads. The cooling capacity ofthe CRCP panels followed an expected behavior. The R-squared factor of the linear regressionwas found to be 0.986, hence, it does not affect the performance of the CRCP panels dependingon the inclusion of the IHLs.This thesis provides the necessary information for the implementation of CRCP panels anddifferent possible operating environments, including considerations, limitations and recommendationsfor future implementation of this strategy.