Modelling and simulation of building components thermal interaction between multilayer wall and hydronic radiator

Abstract: Background and Scope The scope of this thesis is to investigate the thermal behaviour of building components as hydronic radiator and multilayer walls subjected to dynamic conditions. The modelling and simulation of these building components provide information on how these components thermally interact among each other. The thermal interaction is fundamental to know how the energy is used in buildings. In particular, the thermal energy used in rooms can be expressed as the efficiencies for emission in a space heating system. This thesis analyzes the efficiencies for emission of a space heating system equipped with hydronic radiator for Swedish buildings by providing a comprehensive and detailed approach on this topic. Methodology The methods used in this thesis are: experiment, modelling of multilayer wall and hydronic radiator, the dynamic simulation of the building and the efficiencies for emission of a space heating system. Here, the experiment, known as step response test, shows the heating up process of a hydronic radiator. The observation of the qualitative measurements suggests the most suitable technique of modelling the radiator known as transient modelling with multiple storage elements. The multilayer wall has been discretized both in space and time variable with a Finite Difference Method. Dynamic simulation of the building provides the efficiencies for emission of a space heating system. Findings The experimental results show how the radiator performs the charging phase. The performance of the transient model is compared with lumped steady state models in terms of temperature of exhaust flow and total heat emitted. Results of the dynamic simulation show how buildings located in a Northern climate use the energy in a better way than Southern climates in Sweden. Heavy active thermal mass provides higher efficiencies for emission than light thermal mass. Radiators with connection pipes located on the same side react faster at the thermodynamic changing of the mass flow rate by providing higher efficiencies for emission than radiators with connection pipes located on the opposite side. Conclusion and Outlook This thesis increases the knowledge about the modelling and simulation of hydronic radiators and multilayer walls. More research is needed on this topic to encompass modelling details of building components often ignored. The modelling and simulation of building components are the key to understand how building components thermally interact with each other. The thermal interaction among building components is a fundamental parameter for the assessment of efficiencies of emission of the space heating system. In the near future, the concept of efficiencies of emission can be implemented in National Building Code, therefore, this study provides guidelines on how to assess these efficiencies.