Abstract:
The application of room radiators for the purposes of cooling and dehumidification in
buildings for hot and humid climates is investigated. The radiator is purposely brought
below the dew point temperature of the room air thereby creating condensation on the
radiator surface. The condensate is then collected at the base of the radiator and
removed. Mathematical models describing the heat transfer regime within a room when
this system is used have been verified using climate chamber tests. The models show
good agreement with the experimental results for radiator (a) with a height of 1 m, but
not as accurate for radiator (b) with a height of 2 m. The underestimation of the real
values by the convective heat transfer model used for the geometric construction of the
radiator tested is attributed to the effect of air entrainment along the height of the
radiator. Results indicate the importance of the radiant transfer component of the
radiator, as well as its effectiveness to remove latent heat. In view of improving thermal
comfort and energy efficiency, the implication of the results from this investigation of the
heat transfer characteristics of the radiator used for cooling and dehumidification is such
that the chilled radiator may offer a definite alternative to conventional air conditioning
systems. Partial or full matching of the sensible and latent component of the radiator
output to the load requirements of a building should prove particularly effective in hot
and humid regions where the latent heat factor of the total cooling load is high.