Publication
Radiant systems allowing high-temperature cooling have been considered energy-efficient solutions for indoor climatization. In addition, radiant systems prevent local discomfort, such as air movement and vertical air temperature difference. However, the application of radiant cooling is limited due to the condensation when the air temperature is below the dew point. To overcome this challenge, a polypropylene radiant panel with a membrane to reduce convection at the panel surface, thus allowing the panel to operate at temperatures below the dew point, was recently proposed. In this study, the performance of such a panel was experimentally tested at 28 ℃ ambient temperature, 14 ℃ of circulating water temperature, and 140 W/m2 cooling power. Three locations (front, side, and back) around a workstation were investigated in terms of the effect of the panel's location on the local thermal environment. The radiant environment was evaluated using novel cube sensors for mean radiant temperature measurements. Results reveal no condensation occurrence on the surface of the panels. The back location of the panel was found to be the most efficient in lowering the operative temperature (reduction by 1.3 K), while the front position was the least effective (the operative temperature reduction by only 0.3 K). Additionally, a separation of up to 1.6 ℃ between air temperature and mean radiant temperature was noted for the back panel placement. This study demonstrates that a radiant panel with a membrane to provide localized improvement of the thermal environment by affecting the mean radiant temperature.