Operation Characteristics of Radiant Air Conditioning with an Infrared-Transparent Membrane

Abstract

A model for radiant air conditioning with an infrared-transparent membrane has been developed to address the problems of the condensation risk on the surface of the radiant cooling plate and the limitation of the cooling capacity by the indoor dew-point temperature. The condensation and cooling characteristics of two types of radiant air conditioning were compared and analyzed by numerical simulation, the cooling and condensation characteristics of radiant air conditioning with an infrared-transparent membrane at different water supply velocities were studied, and the optimal water-supply velocity was clarified. On this basis, the effects of the water-supply temperature and indoor relative humidity on the cooling and condensation characteristics of radiant air conditioning with an infrared-transparent membrane were further studied. For every 1 °C decrease in the water-supply temperature, the cooling capacity increased by 8.92 W/m2 and the surface temperature of the infrared-transparent membrane decreased by 0.47 °C. In addition, when the indoor relative humidity was less than 70%, there was no condensation risk for radiant air conditioning.

Keywords: infrared-transparent membrane, radiant air conditioning, operating parameters, condensation characteristics, cooling characteristics