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Applicability of high-temperature cooling systems in different European countries from the view of the condensation risk

Building Simulation volume 14, pages 1453–1466 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Due to the different approaches in determining the ventilation airflow rate per person for workspaces, where high-temperature air conditioning systems are used for air conditioning, problems with the condensation of water vapour on the cold surfaces of the system can occur. The article analyses the risk of condensation in various European cities using the available climatic data. Systems with cooling ceilings and cooling beams with a ventilation device operating in parallel are taken into account. Different ventilation airflow rates per person were analysed. On the example of a room equipped with high-temperature cooling, an energy simulation calculation is performed, which includes a ventilation and air-conditioning system with the possibility of capacity control. It is clear from the results that the condensation of water vapour can be prevented by technical measures at the cost of reducing the cooling capacity, which can affect the achievement of the thermal comfort of those present. In the end, suitable solutions are discussed, which should already be adopted at the time the device is designed so that the risk of condensation is not a major obstacle in the operation of these energy-efficient systems. An irreplaceable role in the operation of high-temperature cooling systems is played by a measurement and control system with a suitable algorithm to prevent condensation.

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Abbreviations

c :

specific heat [J/(kg·K)]

CR:

condensation risk [%]

h :

enthalpy [kJ/kg]

Ṁ :

mass flow rate [kg/s]

MRT:

mean radiant temperature [°C]

PMV:

predicted mean vote [—]

\(\dot V\) :

volume airflow rate [m3/h]

\(\dot Q\) :

heat flux [W]

RH:

relative humidity [%]

t :

temperature [°C]

W :

humidity ratio [g/kg]

ρ :

air density [kg/m3]

a:

air

c:

cooling coil

crit:

critical

dp:

dew point

i:

indoor

lat:

latent

o:

outdoor

p :

person

sen:

sensible

s:

supply

v:

water vapour

w:

water

wb:

wet bulb

w1:

inlet water

w2:

return water

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Technicka 4, 160 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic

    Vladimír Zmrhal & Martin Barták

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  1. Vladimír Zmrhal
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  2. Martin Barták
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Correspondence to Vladimír Zmrhal.

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Zmrhal, V., Barták, M. Applicability of high-temperature cooling systems in different European countries from the view of the condensation risk. Build. Simul. 14, 1453–1466 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-020-0753-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-020-0753-8

Keywords

  • ventilation
  • air-conditioning
  • cooled ceilings
  • chilled beams
  • low energy cooling
  • risk of condensation