Application of radiant floor cooling in large space buildings – A review

In large space buildings such as airports, convention centers, atriums, and entrance halls, the envelope is dominated by glass facades and skylights; this indoor thermal environment is characterized by high-intensity solar radiation and high-temperature internal wall surfaces. A radiant floor is an effective sensible heat removal terminal due to its direct absorption of solar radiation and longwave radiant heat exchange with the wall surfaces. This paper focuses on the performance of radiant floor cooling in large spaces and reviews recent achievements and progress related to its application. The feasibility of radiant floors is considered in terms of enhancing cooling capacity, thermal comfort, and system efficiency, and several projects, including Bangkok Airport in Thailand and Xi׳an Airport in China, are introduced. Based on the complex conditions of indoor heat sources in large spaces, e.g., high-intensity solar radiation and high-temperature wall surfaces, the heat transfer process of a radiant floor from the indoor space to the chilled water is presented, and a detailed description of the key factors that influence performance is given. Research concerning the prediction of the performance of radiant cooling floors with solar radiation is also summarized; these efforts can benefit the estimation of the cooling capacity both for local and entire systems in large spaces. Several other application issues are mentioned, including anti-condensation on the floor surface, the impact of thermal inertia on cooling load regulation, the design capacity of the system, and the influence of outdoor air infiltration.