Operation dynamics of building with radiant cooling system based on Beijing weather

Radiant cooling systems are currently used in many parts of the world. However, the relatively long thermal response time of such a system causes numerous concerns regarding their operation. This study emphasizes the operation dynamic of radiant systems through on-site measurement and simulation. The results of on-site measurement imply that the capacity of heat extraction at a cooling surface can be improved by altering the operational strategy of the radiant system based on Beijing weather. The feasibility in a typical office building with a same radiant system can be studied by simulation. The results show that 9–15% of cooling energy is required during the occupied period that can be conserved in the thermal mass in advance, and the peak sensible cooling loads of terminal devices decrease at 32–39% compared with that in the conventional scheduling. Although the altered operation strategies lead to increased cooling demands, the electricity consumption and costs decrease because of the improved coefficient of performance and low electricity tariffs at night. The convectional strategy is still recommend for the radiant system with less thermal mass because the indoor environment can be controlled precisely.