Numerical Analysis of Radiant Heat Emission Systems

F. Ochs [1], M. Magni [2], M. Bianchi Janetti [1],
[1] University of Innsbruck, Unit for Energy Efficient Buildings, Innsbruck, Austria
[2] University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Published in 2016

Radiant heating generally addresses all heat emission systems having a share of radiant heat emission greater than 50%, compared to a convector or fan coil where the heat is transferred mainly by means of convection. Recently, so-called infrared-heating systems are discussed as a cost-effective heating system. Relative small areas of typically 0.6 m x 1.2 m with temperatures up to 120 °C are used. In order to investigate radiant heating systems in detail, building models able to reproduce accurately the occurring physics phenomena are required. Detailed steady state and transient room models have been developed in MATLAB®. The required view factors for the radiative exchange between all surfaces and between each surface and a sphere representing a person are calculated using COMSOL Multiphysics® software.