Detailed measurements and modelling of thermo active components using a room size test facility

This paper describes an investigation of thermo active components based on prefabricated hollow core concrete decks. Recent years have given an increased awareness of the use of thermo active components as an alternative to mechanical cooling systems in office buildings. The investigation covers measurements in an office sized test facility with thermo active ceiling and floor as well as modelling of similar conditions in a computer program designed for analysis of building integrated heating and cooling systems. A method for characterizing the cooling capacity of thermo active components is described based on measurements of the energy balance of the thermo active deck. A cooling capacity of around 60W/m² at a temperature difference of 10K between room and fluid temperature has been found. It is also shown, that installing a lowered acoustic ceiling covering around 50% of the ceiling surface area only causes a reduction in the cooling capacity of around 10%. At the same time, the simulation model is able to reproduce the results from the measurements. Especially the heat flows are well predicted with a deviation of only a few percent, while the temperatures are not as well predicted, though typically within 1-2K of the measured results. The simulation model, whose room model splits up the radiative and convective heat transfer between room and surfaces, can also be used to predict the dynamical conditions, where especially the temperature rise during the day is important for designing buildings with thermo active components. This means that the model can be used to help predict and design buildings with thermo active components.