US EPA

6862969 

Journal Article 

Underfloor heating with latent heat storage 

Farid, M; Kong, WJ; , 

2001 

Yes 

Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Proceedings. Part A: Journal of Power and Energy
ISSN: 0957-6509 

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING PUBLISHING LTD 

BURY ST EDMUNDS 

601-609 

WOS:000172490600007 

Underfloor heating is known for its comfort due to the low and favourable temperature gradient in the heated space above the large floor area available for heating. This paper addresses the idea of improving the existing underfloor heating system by using an encapsulated phase change material (PCM) that melts and solidifies at about 28 degreesC, placed in the concrete floor during construction. The objective is to minimize the fluctuation in the floor surface temperature and to have sufficient heat storage so that heating can be done during the off-peak electricity period only. Two concrete slabs (0.5 m x 0.5 in x 0.095 m) were constructed with a hot water pipe embedded in both of them to provide the required heating. Nodules having a diameter of 75 nun and containing CaCl2. 6H(2)O were placed in one of the concrete slabs prior to its moulding. Unlike the plain concrete slab, the concrete-PCM slab showed a much lower surface temperature fluctuation and maintained an acceptable surface temperature during the whole da even though the heating process was done for only 8 h. A simple one-dimensional model was developed to simulate the underfloor heating system, so that it can be used to optimize its design. Comparison between the measured and predicted performance of the two slabs for 3 days showed a reasonable agreement.