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Optimal design and operation of thermally activated wall in the ultra-low energy buildings in China

  • Research Article
  • Architecture and Human Behavior
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Abstract

The deployment of thermally activated building systems (TABS) in buildings has increased to reduce energy consumption and peak loads whilst improving indoor comfort. Previous studies provided important references for the design and operation of TABS in several buildings and various climates. However, guidelines for the use of TABS design and operation in China’s buildings and climates, where TABS-related parameters can be analysed and optimised under various weather conditions, are still insufficient. Firstly, this study investigated the relationship between the design (e.g. pipe spacing S and wall area A) and operation parameters (e.g. the flow rate v and water inlet temperature Tinlet) and the heat flux using a mathematical model of a thermally activated wall (TAW) system. Results indicated that the water inlet temperature Tinlet and the indoor temperature Tin significantly affected the heat transfer rate of the TAW system. Secondly, a TAW system testbed was set up to conduct experiments for the validation of the simulation model developed in COMSOL. Lastly, a TAW design chart was presented to provide climate-based guidelines for TAW applications in buildings located in the cold regions, which could be expanded to other climates in China.

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Abbreviations

A :

thermally activated wall area [m2]

A j :

other surface area [m2]

c p,f :

water constant pressure specific heat [J/(kg×°C)]

C p,w :

wall constant pressure specific heat [J/(kg×°C)]

d :

pipe diameter [mm]

F i→j :

inner surface angle factor [W/(m2×°C)]

h conv,i :

internal surface convective heat transfer coefficient [W/(m2×°C)]

h conv,o :

convective heat transfer coefficient of the outer surface [W/(m2×°C)]

I :

solar irradiance [W/m2]

m f :

water mass [kg]

m w :

wall mass [kg]

N :

number of indoor non-radiative surfaces

q i :

heat transfer flux from the pipeline to the room [W/m2]

q o :

heat transfer flux from the pipeline to the outside [W/m2]

q conv,i :

inner surface convective heat transfer heat flux [W/m2]

q conv,o :

outer surface convective heat transfer flux [W/m2]

q rad,lo :

outer wall surface long-wave radiant heat flux to the outdoor [W/m2]

q rad,re :

outer surface solar radiation reflection heat flux [W/m2]

q rad,li :

inner wall surface long-wave radiant heat flux to the indoor [W/m2]

q rad,s :

solar radiant heat flux to the outer surface [W/m2]

ΔQs :

wall energy storage heat power [W]

Q total :

heat transfer power between pipes and walls [W]

S :

pipe spacing [mm]

ST min :

inner wall surface minimum temperature [°C]

STD max :

maximum inner wall surface temperature difference [°C]

T i :

average temperature of the inner surface [°C]

T in :

room temperature [°C]

T inlet :

inlet water temperature [°C]

T int :

outdoor integrated temperature [°C]

Tj :

average temperature of other surfaces [°C]

T o :

average temperature of the outer surface [°C]

T outlet :

outlet water temperature [°C]

T out :

outdoor temperature [°C]

\(\overline {{T_f}}\) :

average water temperature [°C]

\(\overline {{T_{{\rm{wall}}}}}\) :

average wall temperature [°C]

ΔT :

heat transfer temperature difference [°C]

ΔTwall :

wall temperature variation [°C]

ΔTp :

supply and return water temperature difference [°C]

v :

flow rate [m/s]

v r :

reference flow rate (A=9 m2) [m/s]

α :

surface absorption rate

σ :

Boltzmann constant, 5.76×10−8 W/(m2×°C4)

DP:

design parameter set

EP:

environmental parameter set

OP:

operating parameter set

TAW:

thermally activated wall

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National R & D Program of China (2017YFC0702605-07). The authors also wish to express their gratitude to the authors of the articles cited in this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Building Environment and Energy Application Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Xueyuan Road 30th, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China

    Shilin Qu, Weicong Hu & Ru Ji

  2. China Academy of Building Research, North Third Ring East Road 30th, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100013, China

    Shilin Qu & Shanshan Yuan

  3. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    Rongxin Yin

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  1. Shilin Qu
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  2. Weicong Hu
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  3. Shanshan Yuan
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Correspondence to Weicong Hu.

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Qu, S., Hu, W., Yuan, S. et al. Optimal design and operation of thermally activated wall in the ultra-low energy buildings in China. Build. Simul. 13, 961–975 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-020-0620-7

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