Radiant Products Engineering Guide

SECTION H
Engineering Guide
Radiant Products
Please refer to the Price Engineers HVAC Handbook
for more information on Radiant Heating and Cooling
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
ENGINEERING GUIDE - RADIANT PRODUCTS
Introduction To Radiant Heating and Cooling

Radiant heating and cooling systems offer an
energy efficient alternative to all-air systems.
In most cases, the supply air volume of
the air handling system is limited in size
to satisfy only the ventilation and latent
loads, with the radiant system making up
the balance of the heating and cooling
loads. This comfortable method of heating
and cooling may save energy, space and
building maintenance costs. The following
pages offer an introduction to the products,
systems and design methodology, as well
as the advantages and limitations of radiant
heating and cooling.
service both the ventilation requirement as

well as the building cooling load. In general,
these systems have a central air handling
unit (or rooftop unit) that delivers enough
cool or warm air to satisfy the building load.
Diffusers mounted in the zone deliver this
air in such a way as to promote comfort and
evenly distribute the air. In many cases, the
amount of air required to cool or warm the
space or the fluctuations of loads make
designing in accordance to these principles
difficult. Draft is not uncommon, and some
ceiling diffusers have been known to dump
at low capacities.
Management of heat loads can generally

be classified into two different types: allair systems or hybrid systems. All-air
systems have been the most prominent
in North America during the 20th century
and have been in use since the advent of
air conditioning. These systems use air to
Hybrid systems have two components: an

air-side ventilation system and a hydronic
(or water-side) radiant system. The air-side
is designed to meet all of the ventilation
requirements for the building, as well as
satisfy all latent loads. It is a 100% outside
air system and because the primary function
H-2
of the supply air system is ventilation as

opposed to cooling, it can be supplied at
higher supply air temperatures than is typical
of overhead air distribution systems. The
water-side is designed to meet the balance
of the sensible cooling and heating loads.
These loads may be handled by water based
products, such as radiant panels, which
transfer heat mainly by thermal radiation,
and chilled sails, which transfer heat using
a combination of thermal radiation and
natural convection. Radiant panels have
been used for sensible heating and cooling
in North American buildings for over half a
century, and are a widely recognized and
well-established technology. Chilled sails
were originally developed in Europe in
the late 1990s, and are a relatively new
technology in North America.
All Metric dimensions ( ) are soft conversion.

Imperial dimensions are converted to metric and rounded to the nearest millimetre.
Copyright Price Industries Limited 2011.
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Concepts and Benefits

Radiant heating and cooling systems
provide an effective method for satisfying
the heating and/or cooling loads of a space
while promoting a high level of occupant
comfort and energy efficiency.
Hydronic systems have been successfully
used in several applications having
dramatically different characteristics.
Some examples of areas where radiant
systems have been applied include:
There are many benefits to heating and

cooling using radiant panels and chilled
sails. Advantages of these water based
heating and cooling systems over other
mechanical systems include:
Energy and system efficiency
Reduced system horse power
Indoor environmental quality
Improved indoor air quality
Increased thermal comfort
Reduced mechanical footprint
Lower maintenance costs
Improved system hygiene
Radiant systems are a good choice where:
Thermal comfort is a major design
consideration
Areas have high sensible loads
Areas require a high indoor air quality
(100% outdoor air system)
Energy conservation is desired
Energy Efficiency
The heat transfer capacity of water allows for
a reduction in the energy used to transport
an equivalent amount of heat as an all-air
system (Stetiu, 1998). These reductions can
be found primarily through reduced fan
energy.
The higher chilled water supply (CHWS)
temperatures used with active and passive
beam systems, typically around 58 F
[14.5 C], provide many opportunities for a
reduction in energy use, including increased
water-side economizer use. This increased
CHWS temperature also allows for more
water-side economizer hours than would be
possible with other systems where CHWS
temperatures are typically ~45 F [7 C].

Figure 1: Examples of radiant heating and cooling

Indoor Air Quality
Reduced Mechanical Footprint
Depending on the application, under

maximum load, only ~15 to 40% of the
cooling air flow in a typical space is outdoor
air and is required by code to satisfy the
ventilation requirements. The balance of
the supply air flow is recirculated air which,
when not treated, can transport pollutants
through the building. Radiant systems
transfer heat directly to/from the zone and
are often used with a 100% outdoor air
system which exhausts polluted air directly
to the outside, reducing the opportunity
for VOCs and illness to travel between air
distribution zones.
Noise
The increased cooling capacity of water

allows the transport system to be reduced
in size. It is generally not unusual to be able
to replace ~60 ft [6 m] of air shaft with a
6 in. [150 mm] water riser, increasing the
amount of floor space available for use or
lease. Due to the simplicity of the systems
(i.e. reduction in the number of moving parts
and the elimination of zone filters, drain
pans, condensate pumps, and mechanical
components), there tends to be less space
required in the interstitial space to support
the HVAC system.
Radiant systems do not usually have

fan powered devices near the zone. This
typically results in lower zone noise levels
than what is achieved with all-air systems. In
situations where passive beams are used in
conjunction with a quiet air system, such as
displacement ventilation, the opportunities
for noise reduction increase further.
Lower Maintenance Costs

With no terminal unit or fan coil filters or
motors to replace, a simple cleaning is all
that is required in order to maintain the
product.

H-3
Green Buildings Hospitals

Burn Centers
Isolation Rooms
Schools
Data Centers
Office Buildings Airports
Cafeterias
Television Studios
Theaters
Casinos
Benefits of Air-Water Systems
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
When To Use Radiant Systems
Hygienic System
With the elimination of the majority of
filters and drain pans, there is a reduced
risk of mold or bacteria growth in the entire
mechanical system.
Radiant systems such as radiant panels
and chilled sails are well-suited to some
applications and less so to others. As a
result, each application must be reviewed
for potential benefits as well as the suitability
of these types of systems. One consideration
which can assist in the decision to employ
hydronic systems as opposed to an all-air
system, is the air-side load fractionor
the percentage of the total air supply that
must be delivered to the zone to satisfy
code and dehumidification requirements.
Table 1 shows the load fraction for several
spaces. In the table the best applications for
hydronic systems are those with the lowest
air-side load fraction as they are the ones that
will benefit the most from the efficiencies
of hydronic systems. Another factor which
should be examined is the sensible heat
ratio or the percentage of the cooling load
that is sensible as opposed to latent. The
latent loads must be satisfied with an air
system and offer some sensible cooling at
the same time because of the temperature of
dehumidified air. If the total sensible cooling
load is significantly higher than the capacity
of the air supplied to satisfy the latent loads,
a radiant system might be a good choice.
Commercial Office Buildings
In an office building hydronic heating and
cooling systems provide several benefits. The
lower supply air volume of the air handling
system provides significant energy savings.
In addition, the smaller infrastructure
required to move this lower air flow allows
for small plenum spaces, translating into
shorter floor-to-floor construction or higher
ceilings. The lower supply air volume and
elimination of fans at or near the space
offers a significant reduction in generated
noise. Often the lower air flow translates
to reheat requirements being reduced. In
the case of 100% outside air systems, the
lighting load captured in the return plenum
is exhausted from the building, lowering the
overall cooling load.
Schools
Schools are another application that can
benefit greatly from radiant panels and chilled
sails systems. Similar to office buildings, the
benefits of a lower supply air volume to the
space are lower fan power, shorter plenum
height, reduced reheat requirement, and
lower noise levels (often a critical design
parameter of schools).
H-4
Application
Total Air
Volume (Typ.)
Ventilation
Requirement (Typ.)
Air-Side
Load
Fraction
Office
1 cfm/ft2 [5 L/s m2]
0.15 cfm/ft2 [0.75 L/s m2]
0.15
School
1.5 cfm/ft2 [7.5 L/s m2]
0.5 cfm/ft2 [2.5 L/s m2]
0.33
Lobby
2 cfm/ft2 [10 L/s m2]
1 cfm/ft2 [5 L/s m2]
0.5
Patient Room
6 ach
2 ach
0.33
Load-driven Lab
20 ach
6 ach
0.3
Table 1: Typical load fractions for several spaces in the United States
Hospital Patient Rooms
Limitations
Hospitals are unique applications in that

the supply air volume required by local
codes for each space is often greater than
the requirement of the cooling and heating
load. In some cases the standard or code
requires these higher air-change rates for
all-air systems only. In these cases the
total air-change rate required is reduced if
supplemental heating or cooling is used.
This allows for a significant reduction in
system air volume and yields energy savings
and other benefits.
There are several areas in a building where

humidity can be difficult to control, such
as lobby areas and locations of egress.
These areas may see a significant short
term humidity load if the entrances are not
isolated in some way (revolving doors or
vestibules). In these areas, a choice of a
complimentary technology such as fan coil
units or displacement ventilation is ideal.
Furthermore, because these systems are

generally constant air volume with the
potential to reduce the primary air-change
rates, reheat and the cooling energy discarded
as part of the reheat process is a significant
energy savings opportunity. Depending on
the application, a 100% outside air system
may be used. These systems utilize no
return air and no mixing of return between
patient rooms, potentially lowering the risk
of hospital associated infections.
Other applications may have high air flow/

ventilation requirements, such as an exhaust
driven lab. The majority of the benefit
provided by the hydronic system is linked
to the reduction in supply air flow. As such,
these applications may not see sufficient
benefit to justify the addition of the hydronic
circulation system, making them not likely
to be a good candidate for this technology.
Hotels / Dorms
Hotels, motels, dormitories, and similar type
buildings can also benefit from hydronic
systems. Fan power savings often come
from the elimination of fan coil units located
in the occupied space. The energy savings
associated with these local fans is similar
in magnitude to that of larger air handling
systems. It also allows for the elimination
of the electrical service required for the
installation of fan coil units as well as a
reduction in the maintenance of the drain
and filter systems. The removal of these
fans from the occupied space also provides
lower noise levels, which can be a significant
benefit in the sleep areas.

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Products - Radiant Panels

Operation
Radiant panels mainly use thermal radiation
to handle the heating or cooling loads of a
space. Thermal radiation heat exchange is
based on differences in surface temperatures
as discussed in Chapter 3Introduction to
Heat Transfer from the Price Engineer's
Handbook. Radiant panels add energy to or
remove it from a room mainly using radiation
with surfaces in the room, but also directly
to occupants (Figure 2). To a lesser extent,
the panels also heat or cool a room through
convection of the room air as it is heated or
cooled by the panel surface.
The heat transfer through a radiant panel can

easily be modeled with a thermal resistance
circuit, as in Figure 3. The resistance circuit
represents the actual components of a
radiant panel. The nodes represent various
temperatures of the panel component
surfaces, and the resistors represent the heat
conduction through the panel components
and to the surrounding room. The tw node
represents the mean water temperature that
transfers through the copper tubing to the
actual panel components. To achieve the
maximum possible surface temperature
of the panel, Tsurf, the conduction from the
pipe to the fin to the panel surface must
be maximized, or, inversely, the resistance
must be minimized. This can be achieved by
using materials that are highly conductive
such as copper tubing and aluminum for the
fin and panel. Even surface contact between
the water tubing and the fins decreases
resistance, along with thermal paste which
can be applied between the fin and the panel
surface to help spread heat evenly to the
panel surface (Figure 4)
Because radiant panels can handle the

sensible portion of a building load they must
be paired with an air system for ventilation
and latent load removal. In heating, for
example, heat from warm water is transferred
to the panel surface via conduction. The heat
passes through the tubing, the mounting
extrusion (the fin), and the panel itself, to
the panel surface. At the surface, heat is both
radiated to other surfaces in the room and
transferred to room air via natural convection.
RADIATION
Figure 2: Radiation pathways
T air, ceiling
AUST, ceiling
R conv,s
R rad,s
AUST = Area-weighted temperature

of all indoor surfaces of walls, ceiling,
floor, windows, doors, etc.
T panel, outer insulation

R insulation
Towards slab
R fin
Towards room and occupants
T fin, ave
R panel surface
Copper tubing with
T surf, panel
R conv,room
T air, room
Fin
R rad,room
Surface
AUST, room
Figure 3: Thermal resistance circuit diagram of a modular radiant panel

Without Thermal
Paste
With Thermal Paste
Figure 4: Surface temperature distribution of a radiant panel



H-5
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Products - Radiant Panels

The amount of thermal energy that is
transferred to the room surfaces via radiation
is dependent on the view factors from the
panel to the various room surfaces, along
with the emissivity of the panel surface. A
larger temperature gradient results in greater
thermal radiation. Also, the view factors from
the panel to the room, as well as the emissivity
of the panel surface affect the temperature of
the receiving surface. Refer to Chapter 3
Introduction to HeatTransfer of the Engineer's
Handbook for further details on the theory of
radiant heat transfer. Insulation on the back
of the panel helps decrease the amount of
heat that travels by radiation or convection
to the ceiling.
Applications
Figure 5: Components of a linear radiant

panel without insulation
Radiant panels can be applied to virtually

any space, especially areas with high
sensible loads, areas that require a high
indoor air quality, or areas where thermal
comfort and energy conservation are major
design considerations. Typical applications
of hydronic radiant panels are hospitals
including patient rooms, isolation rooms,
and burn centers schools, data centers,
office buildings, and airports.
Figure 6: Components of a modular radiant

panel without insulation
Return
Interconnect
1. Linear Radiant Panels

Linear radiant panels are constructed of a
series of integrated aluminum heat sinks
and copper tubing. Multiple heat sinks
form the visible face of the panel and are
joined via tongue-and-groove connections.
Insulated backing helps keep the radiant
exchange limited to the occupied space. The
components of linear radiant panels can be
seen in Figure 5.
2. Modular Radiant Panels
Modular radiant panels are designed to
be integrated into or alongside standard
suspended ceiling systems or to suspend
from the ceiling in an exposed application.
The visible side of the modular radiant panel
is a formed steel or aluminum sheet to
which the aluminum heat sinks are attached.
Copper tubing runs through the heat sinks,
and insulated backing helps keep the radiant
exchange limited to the occupied space.The
components of modular radiant panels can
be seen in Figure 6.
Connecting Radiant Panels
Both linear and modular radiant panels can
be connected in series, as shown below.The
panels are supplied with straight tubing,
using 180 return connections for end panels
and interconnects between panels. A typical
series application of panels is a perimeter
layout with the panels running from wall to
wall where an even temperature distribution
across several panels is desired. The loose
connection pieces allow the panels to be
trimmed in order to fit. In these applications,
the final connections are done in the field
(Figure 7).
H-6
Figure 7: Series connection details for linear radiant panels

DESIGN TIP
Linear and modular radiant panels can be connected in series in a cloud configuration,
provided the panel surface temperatures do not vary significantly and water-side
pressure drop is maintained at acceptable levels. A grouping of 4 to 6 modular
panels at 2 ft [600 mm] wide and 4 ft [1200 mm] long is common as the panel surface
temperature will typically be within 2 to 4 F [1 to 2 C] across the grouping in cooling
or 10 to 20 F [6 to 12 C] in heating.

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Products - Chilled Sails

Operation
A general air flow diagram of an exposed

chilled sail in heating and cooling mode can
be seen in Figure 8. In certain applications,
sails can also be used for heating. In heating
mode, the sails use radiation only to heat
the zone below. Because sails have no
insulation on their reverse side, heat is
radiated not only towards the room, but
also towards the building structure. As the
slab warms, it in turn helps heat the room
to a small extent by thermal radiation and
natural convection.
Like radiant panels, chilled sails can also
be analyzed using a thermal resistance
circuit diagram, as seen in Figure 9. The
resistance circuit represents the actual
components of a chilled sail. The nodes
represent various temperatures of the sail
component surfaces or the conditions of the
room, and the resistors represent the heat
conduction through the panel components
or heat transfer between the sail and the
room. The mean water temperature, t w, node
represents the mean water temperature that
transfers through the copper tubing to the
actual sail. Most chilled sails are one single
extrusion, which means that the fin and
sail are one solid piece of aluminum. To
maximize heat transfer through the sail,
or, conversely, to minimize resistance, a
material with high thermal conductivity,
such as aluminum, is typically used.
Cooling
Sail
Heating
Sail
Figure 8: Air flow pattern of an exposed chilled sail in cooling and heating mode
Towards slab
R fin/sail
Towards room and occupants
AUST, ceiling
Tair,ceiling
R conv, ceiling
R rad, ceiling
Copper tubing with
Tsurface, fin/soil
R conv, room
Sail/Fin
R rad, room
T air, room
AUST, room
Figure 9: Thermal resistance circuit diagram of a chilled sail

Top
Bottom
As seen in Figure 10, a chilled sail transfers

heat to a room with a combination of
radiation and natural convection. Because
chilled sails have no insulation on their
reverse sides, heat is transferred from the
copper tubing/fin to the slab and plenum.
The heat transfer from the sail to the room
has three components: natural convection
with the room air, thermal radiation with the
room surfaces, and thermal radiation from
the top of the sail with either the suspended
ceiling or the fixed ceiling, depending on the
design details.

Figure 10: Typical chilled sail

H-7
Chilled sails provide a functional and

unique alternative to conventional radiant
panels. Sails couple the radiant cooling
effects of standard radiant panels with a
convective component. In cooling mode,
chilled sails create natural convection by
cooling the surrounding air as it passes over
the surface facing the plenum. As the air
falls into the occupied zone, where warm
air is pulled over the sail, the convective
cooling capacity of the sail is coupled with
the radiant capacity of the cool sail surface,
resulting in a cooling capacity greater than
that of standard radiant panels. In cooling,
the approximate breakdown of heat mode
transfer of chilled sails is 30% by thermal
radiation and 70% by natural convection.
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

In cooling mode, the majority of the heat
transfer occurs by natural convection as
warm air rises due to natural buoyancy
forces, passes over the chilled sails, cools,
and then sinks down into the occupied
zone. In heating mode, heat is transferred
mainly through thermal radiation with room
surfaces, where it increases the average
unheated surface temperature of the room
(AUST). As warm air rises past the heated
sails, natural convection occurs, which
results in warmer return air. Because sails
are water-only systems, they can only handle
the sensible portion of a building load and
must be paired with a fresh air system for
ventilation and latent load removal.
Applications
Their cooling capacity and unique design
make chilled sails an excellent alternative to
panel systems, particularly in applications
that have an architectural focus. Typical
applications of chilled sails include offices,
meeting/conference rooms, theaters,
studios, lobbies/foyers, waiting areas, or any
areas were radiant panel use is appropriate.
Chilled sails are designed for architectural
appeal and are typically installed in T-bar
ceiling grids or freely suspended.
Figure 11: Exposed chilled sails
Figure 12: Continuous chilled sail sections
Components
a perforated ceiling, and may be installed

in large or discrete sections. In either case,
the operation of the chilled sail requires that
a portion of the ceiling is open to allow air
circulation to the rear of the assembly. For
installations behind a perforated ceiling or
installed as a cloud in an open ceiling, this
is generally not an issue. For installations
where the sails are installed in a ceiling
system, this is often accomplished by using
non-active sections of sail to allow air to
pass up to the area above the ceiling, as
show in Figure 13.
Chilled sails are typically constructed from

copper piping and aluminum extrusions
designed to optimize capacity, as well
as for architectural appeal (Figure 11).
Exposed chilled sails are often installed as
the finished ceiling by either installing as a
cloud, as shown in Figure 11, or combining
active and inactive sections for a continuous
look, as seen in Figure 12.
Chilled sails are designed to be installed
either open to the room or below or behind
Passive Elements for Return
Passive Elements for Return
Figure 13: Active and inactive sections
H-8

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

The amount of free area vs. active area of sail will affect the performance of the sail system according to Figure 14. In all cases, the
amount of space between the back of the sail and the structural slab will affect the level of circulation, and thereby the convective cooling
component. This capacity is affected according to Figure 15.
Clearance Between Chilled Sail and Slab, mm

50
100
150
100
Effective Capacity of Sail, %
90
80
75
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
80
60
40
20
0
70
Free Area as a Percentage of Sail Area
Figure 14: Free area vs. active area of sail
1
2
3
4
5
Clearance Between Chilled Sail and Slab, in.
Figure 15: Clearance between chilled sail and slab
Connecting Chilled Sails

Depending on the width of the unit, the sails
may have connection locations on opposite
ends. Sails with an odd number of sections
will have connections on opposite ends,
and even number of sections will have
connections on the same ends, as seen
in Figures 16 and 17 below. Flex hose is
generally used to connect the water flow
between the units.
Water Return
Water Supply
Sail 1
Flex Hose
Sail 2
Flex Hose
Sail 3
Figure 16: Typical piping of a sail with an odd number of passes

Water Supply
Flex Hose
Figure 17: Typical even number of passes


H-9
Capacity of Sail, %
100
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Design Procedure Heating

1. Determine the ventilation requirement
The ventilation requirement should be calculated to meet ventilatiown codes. For example, using ASHRAE Standard 62-2004 to determine
the minimum fresh air flow rate:
L1
where
Qoz = minimum fresh air flow rate, cfm [L/s]
Rp = outdoor air flow rate per person, cfm/person [L/s(person)]
Pz = zone population or maximum number of occupants in zone
Ra = outdoor air flow rate per unit area, cfm/ft2 [L/sm2]
AZ = zone floor area or net occupied area of the zone, ft2 [m2]
2. Determine required supply air dew-point temperature to remove the latent load
L2
where
qL = latent load, Btu/h [W]
Qs = supply air flow rate, cfm [L/s]
W = difference in humidity ratio between the supply air and the room condition,
lbm,w/lbm,DA or gr/lbm,DA [kgw/kgDA or gw/kgDA]
Typically, the moisture content of the ventilation air will be sufficiently low in the heating season to offset the internal gains.
3. Determine the occupied zone humidity ratio if there is excessive latent cooling
From equation L2:
L3
where
Woz = humidity ratio of the room condition, lbm,w/lbm,DA or gr/lbm,DA [kgw/kgDA or gw/kgDA]
WSA = humidity ratio of the supply air, lbm,w/lbm,DA or gr/lbm,DA [kgw/kgDA or gw/kgDA]
If Woz is determined to be too low for comfort, humidification of the ventilation air should be considered.
4. Determine the supply air volume
The supply air volume is the maximum volume required by code for ventilation, and the volume required for controlling the latent load:
L4
where
QL = air flow rate required for controlling the latent load, cfm [L/s]
5. Determine the heating capacity of the supply air
IP
L5
SI
L5
where
qs,air = heating capacity of the supply air, Btu/h [W]
= fluid density, lbm/ft3 [kg/m3]
cp = specific heat at constant pressure Btu/hlbF [kJ/(kgK)]
Qair = supply air flow rate, cfm [L/s]
tair = air temperature change (treturn - tsupply), F [K]
H-10

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

6. Determine the heating required from the water side
L6
where
qs, hydronic = heating capacity of the water side, Btu/h [W]
qt = total sensible heating capacity, Btu/h [W]
7. Determine an appropriate temperature loss through the panels
Specify a panel surface temperature, then find the related mean water temperature, t w.
tpanel - troom [K]

20
30
40
50
60
80
45
70
40
30
50
25
40
20
30
35
60
tw - troom [R]
50
tw - troom [K]
90
10
15
20
10
10
0
0
10
20
30
40
50 60 70
tpanel - troom [R]
80
90
100 110 120
Figure 18: Connection between mean water temperature and panel surface temperature or, tpanel - troom = 0.74 (t w - troom)
8. Determine the heat transfer coefficients for the radiant panels
The natural convection coefficient is:
IP
L7
SI
L7
Where
hc,natural = natural convection coefficient, Btu/hft2F [W/m2K]
ta = room temperature, F [K]
tpanel = panel temperature, F [K]
Dh = hydraulic diameter, ft [m]
Dh = 4Apanels / Ppanels
L8
Where
Apanels = surface area of active panels, ft2 [m2]
Ppanels = the pipe internal perimeter, ft [m]


H-11
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

The forced convection coefficient is:
IP
L9
SI
L9
Where
hc,forced = forced convection coefficient, Btu/hft2F [W/m2K]
ach = air change rate, cfm/ft2 [m3/hm2]
The total convection coefficient is:
L10
Where
hc,total = total convection coefficient, Btu/hft2F [W/m2K]
9. Determine the specific capacity of the radiant panels
The convective heat transfer per square foot to the panel is determined:
L11
where
q c = convective heat flux or convective rate per cross sectional area, Btu/hft2 [W/m2]
qc = convective heat transfer rate, Btu/h [W]
A = surface area of the medium, ft2 [m2]
Assuming that the wall temperature is equal to the air temperature, the radiant heat exchange with the panel is determined:
IP
L12
SI
L12
where
qr = radiant heat flux, Btu/hft2 [W/m2]
AUST = area-weighted temperature of all indoor surfaces of walls, ceiling,

floor, windows, doors, etc. (excluding active panel surfaces), F [C]
The total heat transfer per unit of face area is
L13
where
q o = total heat flux, Btu/hft2 [W/m2]
10. Determine the area of panels required
L14
where
Apanels = area of panels, ft2 [m2]
H-12

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Example 1 - Patient Room (IP)

Consider the patient room shown in the figure below. The patient room includes a television, monitoring equipment and overhead
lighting. The temperature set-point is 75 F with a minimum relative humidity of 40%. The room is 10 ft wide and 20 ft long, with a 9
ft ceiling. The attached toilet room is 5 ft wide and 7 ft long, with an 8 ft ceiling. There is one exterior wall and window. The supply air
temperature in heating mode is reset to 95 F, with the heating water temperature at 175F.
20 ft
PATIENT ROOM
Corridor
5 ft
7 ft
Determine
The water flow rate and pressure drop for the heating panels required to handle the heating load, assuming 15 F outdoor air temperature
Overnight in winter, the envelope loss is 4800 Btu/h and the internal gains at that time are limited to the patient load:
Design Considerations
Patient
160 Btu/h
Medical Staff/Visitors
Television
Medical Equipment
Overhead Lighting
Envelope
-4800 Btu/h
Total
-4640 Btu/h
Patient latent load
155 Btu/h
Determine the Ventilation Requirement

For this example, local code refers to ASHRAE Standard 170-2008 for the HVAC system. According to ASHRAE Standard 170-2008,
patient rooms with auxiliary heating require 4 ach of supply air, of which two are outdoor air.
Determine the required supply air dew-point temperature to remove the latent load
From equation L2:
Using the ventilation rate:


H-13
10 ft
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

In this case, the supply air is a mix of the return air and the ventilation air. This mixture of outdoor air (at the outdoor conditions, assuming
saturated air at 15 F with a humidity ratio of 12.5 gr/lb) and return air (assuming that it is at the design conditions of 75 F, 40% RH 52.5
gr/lb), will have more than enough capacity to handle the latent load. In applications where humidity is critical, further analysis may be
done to determine the requirement of humidification. For more information refer to Chapter 5Introduction to Psychrometrics of the
Price Engineer's Handbook.
Determine the heating capacity of the supply air
Using equation L5:
Determine the heating required from the water side
Determine an appropriate temperature loss through the panels

Using a mean water temperature of:
Determine the heat transfer coefficients for the radiant panels

Using equation L7 and the relation for Dh from equation L8, the natural convection coefficient is determined:
Due to the configuration of the room, it can be assumed as a first estimation that the panels will be arranged at the perimeter where the
load is, and run the width of the exposure (10 ft). Assuming also a 2 ft width of panel:
Using equation L9, the forced convection coefficient is determined:
Using equation L10, the total convection coefficient is determined:
H-14

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

Determine the specific capacity of the radiant panels
Using equation L11, the convective heat transfer per square foot to the panel is determined:
The outside air temperature has a significant impact on the inside surface temperatures of exterior walls. The exterior wall temperature
is determined with an h value, convective heat transfer coefficient of a vertical wall, of 1.46 Btu/(hft2F) and a U value, overall heat transfer
coefficient, of 0.315 Btu/(hft2F):
The average unheated surface temperature is:
Calculating the radiant heat exchange:
From equation L13, the total heat transfer per unit of face area is:
Determine the area of panels required

Using equation L14:


H-15
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

Therefore, the assumption of panel size (20 ft2) used to calculate the hydraulic diameter is appropriate.
The flow rate required to manage the load with a panel T of 10 F is:
For simplicity, a 2 ft 10 ft Price RPL linear radiant panel is selected.

This panel with 0.41 gpm will have a pipe velocity of 0.55 fps, which corresponds to a Reynolds number of 1900, which is in the laminar
range. For a better selection, the flow rate is increased to 1.3 gpm, which corresponds with a Reynolds number of 6400, which is in the
turbulent region. From the performance chart, this also increases the pressure drop from 0.31 ft to 3.7 ft, which will allow better flow
control of the panel.
Recalculating the temperature loss in the panel as well as the capacity:
This increase in capacity will result in only requiring 15.7 ft2, though it is more practical to stay with the original size in order to maintain
aesthetics (the panel will run the length of the perimeter) as well as a standard module size (24 in. wide). Panels can be designed to
have both active and inactive sections to maintain aesthetics.
When running the entire length of the room, the trim and series option will allow the panel to be trimmed on site if the room size varies
slightly during construction.
Panel
PATIENT ROOM
Corridor
H-16

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Example 1 - Patient Room (SI)

Consider the patient room shown in the figure below. The patient room includes a television, monitoring equipment and overhead
lighting. The temperature set-point is 24 C with a minimum relative humidity of 40%. The room is 3 m wide, 6 m long, and has a 3
m ceiling. There is one exterior wall and window. The supply air temperature in heating mode is reset to 35 C and the heating water
temperature is 72 C.
6m
PATIENT ROOM
Corridor
1.75 m
2.25 m
Determine
The water flow rate and pressure drop for the heating panels required to handle the heating load, assuming -10 C outdoor air temperature.
Overnight in winter, the envelope loss is 1400 W and the internal gains at that time are limited to the patient load:
Patient
50 W
Medical Staff/Visitors
Television
Medical Equipment
Overhead Lighting
Envelope
-1400 W
Total
-1350 W
Patient latent load
45 W
Determine the Ventilation Requirement

For this example, local code refers to ASHRAE Standard 170-2008 for the HVAC system. According to ASHRAE Standard 170-2008,
patient rooms with auxiliary heating require 4 ach of supply air, of which two are outdoor air.
Determine the required supply air dew-point temperature to remove the latent load
From equation L2:


H-17
3m
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

In this case, the supply air is a mix of the return air and the ventilation air. This mixture of outdoor air (at the outdoor conditions, assuming
saturated air at -10 C with a humidity ratio of 1.8 g/kg) and return air (assuming that it is at the design conditions of 24 C, 40% RH 7.4
g/kg), will have more than enough capacity to handle the latent load. In applications where humidity is critical, further analysis may be
done to determine the requirement of humidification. For more information refer to Chapter 5Introduction to Psychrometrics of the
Price Engineer's Handbook.
Determine the heating capacity of the supply air
Using equation L5:
Determine the heating required from the water side
Determine an appropriate temperature loss through the panels

Using a mean water temperature of:
Determine the heat transfer coefficients for the radiant panels

Using equation L.7 and the relation for Dh from equation L.8, the natural convection coefficient is determined:
Due to the configuration of the room, it can be assumed as a first estimation that the panels will be arranged at the perimeter where the
load is, and run the width of the exposure (3 m). Assuming also a 600 mm width of panel:
H-18

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

Using equation L11, the convective heat transfer per square foot to the panel is determined:
The outside air temperature has a significant impact on the inside surface temperatures of exterior walls. The exterior wall temperature
is determined with an h value, convective heat transfer coefficient of a vertical wall, of 8.29 W/(m2K) and a U value, overall heat transfer
coefficient, of 0.055 W/(m2K):
Calculating the radiant heat exchange:

Using equation L14:


H-19
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

Therefore, the assumption of panel size (1.8 m2) used to calculate the hydraulic diameter is appropriate.
The flow rate required to manage the load with a panel T of 5 K is:
For simplicity, a 600 mm 3000 mm RPL linear radiant panel is selected.

This panel with 0.027 kg/s will have a pipe velocity of 0.24 m/s, which corresponds to a Reynolds number of 4300 with a pressure drop
of 1.2 kPa, which is a good selection.
When running the entire length of the room, the trim and series option will allow the panel to be trimmed on site if the room size varies
slightly during construction.
Panel
PATIENT ROOM
Corridor
H-20

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Design Procedure Cooling

1. Determine the ventilation requirement
The ventilation requirement should be calculated to meet ventilation codes. For example, using ASHRAE Standard 62-2004 to determine
the minimum fresh air flow rate:
L1
2. Determine required supply air dew-point temperature to remove the latent load
L2
If the required humidity ratio is not practical, recalculate the supply air volume required with the desired humidity ratio.
3. Determine the supply air volume
The supply air volume is the maximum volume required by code for ventilation and the volume required for controlling the latent load:
4. Determine the sensible cooling capacity of the supply air

IP
L5
SI
L5
5. Determine the sensible cooling required from the water side

L6
6. Determine an appropriate temperature rise through the panels
A panel temperature correction is unnecessary because the temperature differential between the water and air is small in cooling mode.
For panels and sails that are designed well, the surface temperature can be approximated to be the mean water temperature:
L15
where
tw = mean water temperature, F [K]
tCHWS = chilled water supply temperature, F [K]
tout = chilled water return temperature, F [K]
7. Determine the heat transfer coefficients for the radiant panels
The natural convection coefficient is:
IP
L16
SI
L16


H-21
L4
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Design Procedure Cooling

The forced convection coefficient is:
IP
L9
SI
L9
The total convection coefficient is:

L10
8. Determine the specific capacity of the radiant panels
The convective heat transfer per square foot to the panel is determined:
L11
Assuming that the wall temperature is equal to the air temperature, the radiant heat exchange with the panel is determined:
IP
L12
SI
L12
The total heat transfer per unit of face area is:
L13
9. Determine the area of panels required

L14
H-22

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Example 2 - Small Office (IP)

Consider a small office with a southern exposure. The space is designed for two occupants, a computer with LCD monitor, T8 florescent
lighting, and has a temperature set-point of 75 F. The room is 10 ft wide, 12 ft long, and 9 ft from floor to ceiling. The owner expressed
interest in using radiant panels.
Window
9 ft
10 ft
SMALL OFFICE
Space Considerations
One of the primary considerations when using a radiant heating and cooling system is humidity control. As previously discussed, it is
important to consider both the ventilation requirements and the latent load when designing the air-side of the system.
The assumptions made for the example are as follows:

Load/person is 250 Btu/h sensible and 155 Btu/h latent

Lighting load in the space is 6.875 Btu/h/ft
Computer load is 300 Btu/h (CPU and LCD Monitor)
Total skin load is 1450 Btu/h
Specific heat and density of the air are 0.24 Btu/lbF and 0.075 lb/ft respectively
Design conditions are 75 F, with 50% relative humidity
Design dew point is 55 F
Occupants
Set-Point
75 F
Floor Area
120 ft
Exterior Wall
108 ft
Volume
1080 ft
qoz
800 Btu/h
ql
825 Btu/h
qex
1450 Btu/h
qT
3075 Btu/h
Determine
a) The ventilation requirement.
b) The suitable supply air and supply water temperatures.
c) The total convective heat transfer coefficient for radiant panels.


H-23
12 ft
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

Solution
a) Determine the ventilation requirement
the minimum fresh air flow rate for a typical office space:
b) Determine required supply air dew-point temperature to remove the latent load
From equation L2:
From the figure below, the dew point corresponding to the humidity ratio is 40 F, which is too cool for standard equipment.
Evaluating the humidity ratio at several temperatures led to the selection of a dew point of 50 F in order to use less expensive common
equipment while also minimizing the supply air volume required to control humidity.
Humidity Ratio
Dew Point
lb/lb
gr/lb
40
0.00543
38
45
0.0065
46
50
0.0075
53
55
0.0095
67
65
60
0.030
50
0.028
Relative Humidity
85
0.026
Volume - ft3/lb of Dry Air

45
Saturation Temperature, F
0.024
40
0.020
0.018
70
%
14.5
0.016
65
25
60
80
0.014
70
60
0.012
50
40%
0.010
30%
14.0
20
55
50
20%
0.0075
15
45
13.5
40
35
Humidity Ratio, lbw /lbDA
-B
0.022
75
30
En
py
l
ha
of
Ai
35
lb
u/
y
Dr
15.0
80
90
At the design conditions (75 F, 50% RH), the humidity ratio is 65 gr/lb, requiring a difference in humidity ratio between the supply and
room air of:
0.006
10%
0.004
13.0
12.5
0.002
0.000
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
Dry Bulb Temperature, F
H-24

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

The required air volume to satisfy the latent load is:
c) Determine the heat transfer coefficients for the radiant panels

For panels and sails that are designed well, the surface temperature can be approximated to be the mean water temperature.
Assuming a chilled water supply temperature 2 F above the dew point in order to minimize the potential for condensation and a
temperature rise of 4 F through the panel leads to a mean water temperature of:
Using equation L16, the natural convection coefficient is determined:


H-25
The supply air volume to the office is the maximum volume required by code for ventilation and the volume required for controlling
the latent load:
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Example 2 - Small Office (SI)

Consider a small office with a southern exposure. The space is designed for two occupants, a computer with LCD monitor, T8 florescent
lighting, and has a design temperature set-point of 24 C. The room is 3 m wide, 4 m long, and 3 m from floor to ceiling. The owner
expressed interest in using radiant panels.
Window
3m
3m
SMALL OFFICE
4m
Space Considerations
One of the primary considerations when using a radiant heating and cooling system is humidity control. As previously discussed, it is
important to consider both the ventilation requirements and the latent load when designing the air-side of the system.
The assumptions made for the example are as follows:

Load/person is 65 W sensible and 55 W latent

Lighting load in the space is 25 W/m
Computer load is 80 W (CPU and LCD Monitor)
Total skin load is 425 W
Specific heat and density of the air are 1.007 kJ/kgK and 1.3 kg/m respectively
Design conditions are 24 C, with 50% relative humidity
Design dew point is 13 C
Occupants
Set-Point
24 C
Floor Area
12 m
Exterior Wall
12 m
Volume
36 m
qoz
210 W
ql
300 W
qex
425 W
qT
935 W
Determine
a) The ventilation requirement.
b) The suitable supply air and supply water temperatures.
c) The total convective heat transfer coefficient for radiant panels.
H-26

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

Solution
a) Determine the ventilation requirement
the minimum fresh air flow rate for a typical office space:
b) Determine required supply air dew-point temperature to remove the latent load
From equation L2:
From the figure below the dew point corresponding to the humidity ratio is 5 C, which is too cool for standard equipment.
Evaluating the humidity ratio at several temperatures led to the selection of a dewpoint of 10 C in order to use less expensive equipment
while also minimizing the supply air volume required to control humidity.
Humidity Ratio
Dew Point
g/kg
5.5
7.5
6.75
10
12.5
9.25
110
105
105
125
0.96
95
Volume - m3/kg of Dry Air

90
Saturation Temperature, C
30
30
100
Relative Humidity
120
115
25
85
yA
Dr
of
kg
J/
60
90
%
40
30
10
30%
0.86
10
20%
0.84
20
15
50
15
25
0.90
40
15
80
70
%
-k
py
al
th
20
50
10%
0.82
Humidity Ratio, gw /kgDA
60
55
45
35
20
65
0.92
En
25
0.94
ir
75
70
0.80
0.78
0
0
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Dry-Bulb Temperature, C


H-27
At the design conditions (24 C, 50% RH), the humidity ratio is 9.5 g/kg of dry air, requiring a difference in humidity ratio between the
supply and room air of:
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

The required air volume to satisfy the latent load is:
The supply air volume to the office is the maximum volume required by code for ventilation and the volume required for controlling
the latent load:
c) Determine the heat transfer coefficients for the radiant panels

For panels and sails that are designed well, the surface temperature can be approximated to be the mean water temperature. Assuming
a chilled water supply temperature 1 K above the dew point in order to minimize the potential for condensation and a temperature rise
of 2 K through the panel leads to a mean water temperature of:
Using equation L16, the natural convection coefficient is determined:
H-28

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Product Selection
Performance
100
Radiant panels performance depends on

several factors:
Figure 19 shows the effect on the flow

rate, indicated by Reynolds number, on
the capacity of a typical radiant panel. As
indicated on the chart, increasing the flow
rate into the transitional range (Re > 2300,
shown in blue on the graph) increases the
output of the panel.

80
70
60
50
40
0
2000
4000
6000
Re
8000
10000
12000
Figure 19: Radiant panel capacity vs. water flow

The water flow rate is largely dependent on the
pressure drop and return water temperatures
acceptable to the designer. In most cases
the water flow rate should be selected to
be fully turbulent (Re > 4000) under design
conditions. The difference between the mean
water temperature is defined as:
L17
and the room/surrounding surface
temperatures are the primary driver
of panel performance. The larger this
difference is, the greater the radiant and
convective transfer rates are. As noted in
equation L12, the radiant energy exchange
between two surfaces is based on the
absolute temperature to the fourth power.
Conversely, a lower temperature difference
will reduce the amount of potential energy
exchange, and thereby capacity. As a result,
it is desirable from a capacity standpoint
to select entry water temperatures as low
as possible in cooling, while maintaining it
above the dew point in the room to ensure
sensible cooling only.
The location of radiant panels relative to

loads in the space influences their capacity
and is greatly dependent on the view factor
of the panel to the objects that are to be
conditioned. When used in spaces with
high solar gain, such as perimeter zones,
the capacity increases as the surrounding
surface temperature increases. As surface
temperatures change throughout the
day, panel capacity changes accordingly.
Furthermore, as the distance between the
panel and the affected surface increases, the
view factor diminishes, thus reducing direct
radiant exchange between the two surfaces.
Panel placement is based on a combination
of surface temperature and distance to the
occupant in order to ensure an effective
operative temperature is achieved. Locating
panels along glass perimeters without low
emissivity coatings may have a negative
effect on energy use as some energy will be
lost to the outdoors through the glass.

H-29
The higher the flow rate, the closer the

discharge temperature will be to the
inlet, thereby changing the average water
temperature imposed on the panel. As
the separation between the mean water
temperature and the surrounding room
temperature (T) increases, so does the
capacity. In heating, the T is limited by
thermal comfort. In cooling, the T is also
limited by two factors, thermal comfort and
condensation prevention. Good practice
for panel selection in cooling avoids
condensation by limiting the entering
water temperature to the rooms dew
point + 2 F [1 K]. The most common
design condition for spaces in cooling is
75 F [24 C] at 50% RH, producing a dew
point of 55 F [13 C] and limiting entering
water temperature to a minimum of 57 F
[14 C].
90
Capacity, %
The difference in surface temperatures

between the panel and the surrounding
surfaces
The mean water temperature and the
panel thermal resistance
View factor of the panel to the surfaces
to be cooled/heated
Water flow rate
Emissivity and absorption of affected
surfaces
The water flow rate in the coil affects
two performance factors. First, the heat
transfer between the water and the panel is
dependent on whether the flow is laminar
(poor), transitional (inconsistent) or
turbulent (good). Secondly, it also affects
the mean water temperature.
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Example 3 - Small Office Panel Selection (IP)

Consider the small office presented in the previous example.
Window
9 ft
10 ft
SMALL OFFICE
12 ft
Occupants
Set-Point
75 F
Floor Area
120 ft
Exterior Wall
108 ft
Volume
1080 ft
qoz
800 Btu/h
ql
825 Btu/h
qex
1450 Btu/h
qT
3075 Btu/h
0.823 Btu/hftF
Qs
38 cfm
Ts
50 F
tCHWS
57 F
tpanel
59 F
c, total
Determine
a) The area of panels required.
b) The area of panels required assuming 95 F outdoor air temperature.
c) The flow rate for the panels from (b).
d) A practical layout and piping arrangement for the panels from (b).
H-30

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

Solution
a) Determine the sensible cooling capacity of the supply air
Using equation L5:
Determine the sensible cooling required from the water-side
Using equation L12 and assuming that the wall temperature is equal to the room air set-point temperature, the radiant heat exchange
with the panel is determined:

Using equation L14:
Using multiples of 4 ft2, which is a standard ceiling tile sized at 2 ft 2 ft, the total area required is 76 ft2.


H-31
Using equation L11, the convective heat transfer to the panel is determined:
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

b) The area of panels required assuming 95 F outdoor air temperature
The exterior wall temperature is determined with an h value, convective heat transfer coefficient, of 1.46 Btu/(hft2F) and a U value, overall
heat transfer coefficient, of 0.693 Btu/(hft2F):
Recalculating the radiant heat exchange and total heat transfer from (a):

Using equation L14:
H-32

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

c) The flow rate for the panels from (b)
d) A practical layout and piping arrangement for the panels from (b)
In order to fit the panels from (b) in a lay-in ceiling, a 48 in. 24 in. RPM modular panel is selected. Referring to the product data
sheet, a flow rate of 1.02 (~1 gpm) has a water pressure drop of 0.17 ft.
Using these panels would require a quantity of:
Panel
Panel
If these panels are connected in series, the total loop pressure drop would be:
Panel
Light
Panel
Panel
Panel
Light
Panel
SMALL OFFICE

Panel
Panel

H-33
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Example 3 - Small Office Panel Selection (SI)

Window
3m
3m
SMALL OFFICE
4m
Occupants
Set-Point
24 C
Floor Area
12 m
Exterior Wall
12 m
Volume
36 m
qoz
210 W
ql
300W
qex
425 W
qT
935 W
4.71 W/m2K
Qs
22.5 L/s
c, total
Ts
10 C
tCHWS
14 C
tpanel
15 C
Determine
a) The area of panels required.
b) The area of panels required assuming 35 C outdoor air temperature.
c) The flow rate for the panels from (b).
d) A practical layout and piping arrangement for the panels from (b).
H-34

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

Solution
a) Determine the sensible cooling capacity of the supply air
Using equation L5:
Determine the sensible cooling required from the water-side
Using equation L12 and assuming that the wall temperature is equal to the room air set-point temperature, the radiant heat exchange
with the panel is determined:

Using equation L14:
Using multiples of 0.36 m2, which is a standard ceiling tile sized at 600 mm 600 mm, the total area required is 6.48 m2.


H-35
Using equation L11, the convective heat transfer to the panel is determined:
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

b)The area of panels required assuming 35 C outdoor air temperature
The exterior wall temperature is determined with an h value, convective heat transfer coefficient, of 0.255 W/(m2K) and a U value, overall
heat transfer coefficient, of 0.121 W/(m2K):
Recalculating the radiant heat exchange and total heat transfer from (a):

Using equation L14:
H-36

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide

c) The flow rate for the panels from (b)
d) A practical layout and piping arrangement for the panels from (b)
In order to fit the panels from (b) in a lay-in ceiling, a 1200 mm x 600 mm RPM modular panel is selected. Referring to the product data
sheet, a flow rate of 0.07 (~0.075 kg/s) has a water pressure drop of 0.69 kPa.
Using these panels would require a quantity of:
Panel
Panel
If these panels are connected in series, the total loop pressure drop would be:
Panel
Light
Panel
Panel
Panel
Light
Panel
SMALL OFFICE

Panel
Panel

H-37
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Example 4 - Small Office Chilled Sail Selection (IP)

Window
9 ft
10 ft
SMALL OFFICE
12 ft
Occupants
Set-Point
75 F
Floor Area
120 ft
Exterior Wall
108 ft
Volume
1080 ft
qoz
800 Btu/h
ql
825 Btu/h
qex
1450 Btu/h
qT
3075 Btu/h
Cooling Capacity of Hydronic System
2049 Btu/h
tCHWS
57 F
tpanel
59 F
Determine
The required area and possible location of chilled sails.
Solution
The difference between the room air temperature and the mean panel temperature is:
Referring to the product data page, the specific capacity of the chilled sail is determined using this temperature difference:
H-38

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Example 4 - Small Office Chilled Sail Selection (IP)

24 in. 96 in. Price CSA
(troom - t w), F
Capacity, Btu/h
Water Flow Rate, gpm
Head Loss, ft
14
635
0.35
0.356
16
740
0.41
0.488
18
848
0.47
0.642
20
959
0.53
0.816
Based on 4 F water temperature drop

Determine the area of sails required
Using equation L14:
Selecting a sail that is 10 ft long and 4.5 ft wide provides 45 ft2 of sail area. From the performance table, this piped-in series will result
in a pressure drop of 2 ft.
Sail
SMALL OFFICE


H-39
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Example 4 - Small Office Chilled Sail Selection (SI)

Window
3m
3m
SMALL OFFICE
4m
Occupants
Set-Point
24 C
Floor Area
12 m
Exterior Wall
12 m
Volume
36 m
qoz
210 W
ql
300 W
425 W
qT
935 W
Cooling Capacity of Hydronic System
557 W
tCHWS
14 C
tpanel
15 C
ex
Determine
The required area and possible location of chilled sails.
Solution
The difference between the room air temperature and the mean panel temperature is:
Referring to the product data page, the specific capacity of the chilled sail is determined using this temperature difference:
H-40

Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
Example 4 - Small Office Chilled Sail Selection (SI)

600 mm 2908 mm Price CSA
(troom - t w), K
Capacity, W
Water Flow Rate, kg/h
Head Loss, kPa
186
79
1.06
217
93
1.46
10
249
107
1.92
11
281
120
2.44
Based on 4 C water temperature drop

Determine the area of sails required
Using equation L14:
Selecting a sail that is 3 m long and 1.5 m wide provides 4.5 m2 of sail area. From the performance table, this piped-in series will result
in a pressure drop of 6 kPa.
Sail
SMALL OFFICE


H-41
Radiant Products
Engineering Guide
References
ASHRAE (2004a). Standard 55-2004Thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy. Atlanta, GA: American

Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
ASHRAE (2004b). Standard 62.1-2004Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality. Atlanta, GA: American Society for

Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
ASHRAE (2005). Standard 138-2005Method of testing for rating ceiling panels for sensible heating and cooling.

Atlanta, GA: American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
ASHRAE (2007). Humidity control design guide. Atlanta, GA: American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air
Conditioning Engineers.
ASHRAE (2008a). ASHRAE handbookApplications. Atlanta, GA: American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and

Air-Conditioning Engineers.
ASHRAE (2008b). Standard 170-2008Ventilation of health care facilities. Atlanta, GA: American Society for Heating,

Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers.
ASHRAE (2009). ASHRAE handbookFundamentals. Atlanta, GA: American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and

Air-Conditioning Engineers.
ASHRAE (2010). Standard 55-2010Thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy. Atlanta, GA: American

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SECTION H

ENGINEERING GUIDE - RADIANT PRODUCTS

Introduction To Radiant Heating and Cooling

service both the ventilation requirement as

Management of heat loads can generally

Hybrid systems have two components: an

of the supply air system is ventilation as

All Metric dimensions ( ) are soft conversion.

Copyright Price Industries Limited 2011.

Concepts and Benefits

There are many benefits to heating and

Copyright Price Industries Limited 2011.

Figure 1: Examples of radiant heating and cooling

Reduced Mechanical Footprint

Depending on the application, under

The increased cooling capacity of water

Radiant systems do not usually have

Lower Maintenance Costs

All Metric dimensions ( ) are soft conversion.

ENGINEERING GUIDE - RADIANT PRODUCTS

Green Buildings Hospitals

When To Use Radiant Systems

ENGINEERING GUIDE - RADIANT PRODUCTS

1 cfm/ft2 [5 L/s m2]

0.15 cfm/ft2 [0.75 L/s m2]

1.5 cfm/ft2 [7.5 L/s m2]

0.5 cfm/ft2 [2.5 L/s m2]

2 cfm/ft2 [10 L/s m2]

1 cfm/ft2 [5 L/s m2]

Hospitals are unique applications in that

There are several areas in a building where

Furthermore, because these systems are

Other applications may have high air flow/

All Metric dimensions ( ) are soft conversion.

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Products - Radiant Panels

The heat transfer through a radiant panel can

ENGINEERING GUIDE - RADIANT PRODUCTS

Because radiant panels can handle the

Figure 2: Radiation pathways

AUST = Area-weighted temperature

T panel, outer insulation

Towards room and occupants

Copper tubing with

Figure 3: Thermal resistance circuit diagram of a modular radiant panel

With Thermal Paste

Figure 4: Surface temperature distribution of a radiant panel

All Metric dimensions ( ) are soft conversion.

Products - Radiant Panels

ENGINEERING GUIDE - RADIANT PRODUCTS

Figure 5: Components of a linear radiant

Radiant panels can be applied to virtually

Figure 6: Components of a modular radiant

1. Linear Radiant Panels

Figure 7: Series connection details for linear radiant panels

All Metric dimensions ( ) are soft conversion.

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Products - Chilled Sails

A general air flow diagram of an exposed

Towards room and occupants

Copper tubing with

Figure 9: Thermal resistance circuit diagram of a chilled sail

As seen in Figure 10, a chilled sail transfers

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