Temperature calibration and Annual performance of cooling for ceiling panels

Abstract

In this paper, the annual energy usage and emission efficiency of ceiling panels for cooling were assessed with IDA ICE building performance simulation software. The models were calibrated against measurements carried out in the autumn of 2021 at the nZEB test facility in Tallinn University of Technology. Calibrated models were then used to investigate the energy performance of the systems with annual simulations with the Estonian test reference year and energy simulation input data for office buildings in EN 16798-1:2019. The simulations were conducted on a room model with fixed geometry and boundary conditions. The goal of the control strategy was to maintain a specified operative temperature within the room. The annual cooling energy need of the test room was compared with the same value obtained using an ideal cooler with 100% convective heat emission. Additionally, a single-value performance indicator in the form of an air temperature set-point deviation was obtained for the device and each configuration, as the result of this research, to be used in further hourly, monthly, or annual cooling energy usage calculations. The imperfections in air stratification within the room (temperature gradient), the surface temperature of the panels, and additional temperature deviation from the set-point to achieve the desired operative temperature level are the effective parameters on the performance indicator. Further analysis is needed to determine if room temperature set-point deviation can be applied with varying room geometry, boundary conditions, and cooling control principles.