Radiant Heating Panel Technology
Ceiling mounted Radiant Heating Panel Systems are very similar
to other air-water systems in respect to the arrangement of
the components, however, the significant difference being
that the thermal comfort in the room is maintained by radiant
heat instead of convective heat, the importance of this is
illustrated in the following analogy:
“You are walking outdoors on a brisk winter day in
bright sunshine. The sun then goes behind a cloud. Although
you feel an immediate chill, the outside temperature does
not change when the sun disappears behind the cloud; it is
just that you were, until that instant, being bathed in a
warming radiant field”
Radiant ceiling panels create a radiant field, similar to
the sun but of lower intensity, inside the occupied space.
Ceiling Mounted Panels
Panels are generally mounted in the ceiling to allow the
panel to “see” the objects they are trying to
heat and provide a better distribution of heat. It also allows
higher surface temperatures to be used than wall mounted radiators,
making them comparatively more effective radiators.
Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Heat can be transferred in many ways:
Conduction - heat transferred by objects that are touching
each other.
Convection - heat that is carried from a warmer to a cooler
body by an intermediate fluid such as air.
Radiation – heat transferred to all items “seen”
by the panel which are at a lower absolute temperature than
the panel itself.
Most conventional tube and fin “radiators” are
in fact, convectors. They heat a space by warming the air
that passes by the heated fins. The air now rises due to bouancy,
this is known as free convection. When air is moved past the
fins using a fan, it is called forced convection. Both principles
are the same, they compensate for perimeter heat loss by circulating
warm air within the space.
Typical Applications
Radiant panel technology is not new to the HVAC industry.
It has been used in Europe for over 100 years most notably
in Hospitals, Schools, Laboratories and Institutional applications.
Panels can be supplied in Modular and Linear
forms to replace standard 595mm x 595mm ceiling tiles or as
a perimeter ceiling mounted heating system. We also provide
Security Panels for prisons and secure units
and also Cooled Ceiling Systems
For more information on selection and design of Radiant Panels
Systems, contact one of our regional offices or download the
product catalogue's above. |
