Dear Group,
As we know there are many ways to model this typical
chilled ceiling (http://www.stylepark.com/db-images/cms/durlum/img/p303157_488_336-1.jpg)
using the LowTempRad object associated with a
construction...by that I mean the definition of the
construction containing the InternalSource and where that
construction's parent surface is.
1) a combined floor/ceiling is defined for the zone
(inside to outside)
- perforated metal plate
- (internal source)
- Air Gap 0.5 m
- Insulation (if any)
- Slab
...reverse order is used for the floor construction used
in the floor for the zone above it
2) a zone internal surface is defined, i.e. the surface
verticies are defined to fall within the zone. The
internal source construction is assigned to this
surface...specifying the "outside face object" is a bit
tricky...“opposing†surface name (in the current
zone)...the floor of the current zone is probably best.
Interzone Surface (inside to outside)
- Air Gap 0.5 m
- (internal source)
- perforated metal plate
Issues that I raise:
a) the perforated metal plate thickness must be thick
enough to contain at least half the pipe diameter + the
default minimum extra for the lowrad model...this means a
better construction for 1) would be (inside to outside)
- perforated metal plate
- CustomMetalFinRappedAroundtheCopperPipePlusAir 0.03 m
- (internal source)
- Air Gap 0.5 m
- Insulation (if any)
- Slab
...where CustomMetalFinRappedAroundtheCopperPipePlusAir
Material takes into account the contacts area of the
copper pipe against the contact metal plate or fin that is
against the pipe and the air fraction of air in contact
with the pipe for about half it's diameter.
b) how does the interzone surface in option 2) interact
with the zone interms of radiation exchange and
convection? And what about internal beam calculations for
internal reflections?
c) The sizing of the the lowtemprad object presents a
problem...the mass flow of these units is critical as too
much velocity means the pressure drop is too high, yet too
little and the performance will crash due to laminar flow
developing (V > 3 m/s is typical). If the velocity is
very high, because I specify a long length of pipe to
cover the whole ceiling area in e+, the velocity will
skyrocket. Does this cause unrealistically good
heattransfer rates?
My gut tells me that this should be built out onto a set
model that is different from the current imbedded pipe
model.
Any thoughts?
Regards,
Jean.