Performance factor for floor heating systems using new analytical formula

Paper in proceeding, 2016

A recently developed analytical formula for the self-regulation ability of low temperature water-based floor heating systems is experimentally validated. By controlling the feed-forward supply temperature, keeping it rather constant during the year, any thermal perturbance is counteracted by a corresponding shift in the opposite direction of the supplied heat flux. This will give a more stable indoor temperature and an enhanced use of heat gains. Buildings with small heat losses, such as well insulated single-family houses, in combination with a high equivalent thermal conductance from the supply of the pipe circuit towards the interior, yield a high self-regulation utilization factor. Hence, self-regulation is an integrated phenomenon that depends on both the design of the floor heating element and the building. The theory behind self-regulation floor heating is outlined and an experimental setup using climate chambers is presented. Both light and heavy floor heating systems with embedded hydronic pipes are studied. Steady-state and dynamical tests are used in the validation.