Increasing cooling capacity of chilled panels

Abstract

In order to improve the energy saving potentials and productivity of chilled panels, this report will look into increasing cooling capacity in chilled rooms by increasing heat transfer through natural convection and thermal radiation. Simulation analyses of flat chilled panels were conducted to calculate the overall cooling capacity of the chilled panel at specific emissivity level and designs. Additionally, the contact surface area between the heat source and chilled panels were remodelled to increase radiation. The simulations showed that perforated panels or panels with gaps between would increase cooling capacity, through natural convection, as warm air from the occupied space was allowed to enter the plenum space. This, thus, meant greater circulation of convection in the controlled volume. Additionally, the simulation showed that increasing the surface area of the panels did not have a significant impact on thermal radiation. Thus, there was no effect on the cooling capacity of the chilled panels. However, simulations showed that increasing the emissivity of the panels had a positive effect on the cooling capacity as radiation increased. Therefore, the simulations showed specifically if any design change had an effect on the cooling capacity of the panels.