The effect of floor structure on heat transfer of radiant floor heating system with air-source heat pump (ASHP)

This paper presents numerical simulation for heat transfer of radiant floor heating system, whose heat source is air-source heat pump (ASHP). The results of simulation for heat transfer show that: 1) With the increasing of the tube spacing in floor layer, the average floor surface temperature decreases and temperature fluctuations enlarge, in the same time practical experiments show that the simulation results are reliable.2) The thinner the floor layer structure, the higher the floor surface temperature, and the more thermal inertia and cost of floor, but the less capacity of heat storage. The thickness of the floor layer structure should be decided by actual design requirements for space heating.3) Floor radiant heating capacity will be significantly reduced with the decreasing of thermal conductivity of floor surface layer. The material of floor surface layer, whose heat transfer coefficient is small, should be avoided to be use in practical engineering.