Dr. Li,
Adding to Jean’s comments:
Distribution of energy with water is generally more efficient than transferring the same amount of energy with air. For heating systems, this has been a common practice for over a century, either via baseboard heating or floor heating, as you note.
Because moisture removal is important, cooling systems such as a 4 pipe fan coil, have the same benefit for distribution energy but are a bit more difficult due to their need for condensate piping at each fan coil. Chilled beams, on the other hand and as Jean notes, are often designed for sensible cooling only so that condensate piping is not needed. The moisture removal is handled by a Dedicated Outdoor Air system (DOAS) which has the main jobs of a) ventilation and b) moisture removal.
This results in a system which removes the majority of heat (the sensible part) from the zones using a water-based distribution system and normally reduces energy.
p.s., Thanks for all of your excellent comments on this forum!
The Building Performance Team
James V. Dirkes II, P.E., BEMP , LEED AP
1631 Acacia Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
616 450 8653
From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jean marais
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011
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