How can we simulate the fin-enhanced radiant panel heating-cooling system in large-scale indoor space?

Abstract

Fin-enhanced radiant panel heating-cooling systems (FRPHCS), a promising air conditioning method, are increasingly being applied in large-scale indoor spaces such as stadiums. This study aims to develop a numerical simulation approach based on Building Energy Simulation (BES) to quantitatively analyze such cases. Dimensionless numbers from fluid mechanics and thermodynamics were applied to determine the convective heat transfer coefficient of the panels. Two simplified models were proposed to reflect the unique geometry of the panels, and a partitioning approach using hypothetical internal walls and ceilings was introduced to improve the representation of thermal stratification in large spaces. Experimental measurements were conducted to validate the proposed methods, and the accuracy and applicability of each method were compared. The results show that, for summer temperature predictions, both simplified models achieved a mean absolute error (MAE) below 0.9°C, and the partitioning approach improved prediction accuracy. For summer humidity predictions, only the model with an internal cavity structure performed adequately, achieving a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 2.8 % for absolute humidity and 8.5 % for dehumidification capacity, while the impact of partitioning on humidity prediction was minimal. In winter temperature predictions, the use of an appropriate partitioning method successfully corrected the vertical temperature gradient trend. The effectiveness of the proposed methods was confirmed, providing a practical reference for the simulation and analysis of panel-based systems in large-scale indoor environments.