Application of radiant cooling in different climates: assessment of office buildings through simulation

The energy performance of radiant slab cooling relative to conventional air systems to be clarified for climates from cold and dry to very hot and humid. EnergyPlus simulations were used to compare the energy performance of 1) radiant slab cooling combined with a dedicated outdoor air system and 2) a variable air volume system. Simulation results show that the radiant slab system provided 10% to 40% better energy performance depending on the climate type. Key features contributing to better performance were heat recovery on the reduced fan energy use, outdoor air system and water-side economizer free cooling. The best performance was in dry climates. System configurations and operating approaches for radiant slab cooling must be modified on a climate-specific basis to prevent condensation and improve energy performance. In a cold-dry climate, radiant cooling with water-side economizer may allow elimination of compressor-driven refrigeration. In a hot-humid climate, continuous operation of the outdoor air system is required to prevent condensation.