Three-dimensional numerical analysis of thermal output of a steel panel radiator

Abstract

Nowadays, new developments in the properties of insulation materials used in buildings and international regulations lead to the use of more efficient heating systems. On the other hand, the increased energy efficiency of modern buildings makes necessary the use of low-temperature heating systems. Thus, we need to design a new generation of energyefficient radiators which have a low capacity of water volume and low weight compared to conventional radiators. Moreover, the standards defined for the testing procedures of the thermal output of steel panel radiators have been changed depending on the objectives of energy efficiency. In this context, a detailed thermal analysis of a panel radiator should be performed to meet the needs for these objectives. Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a useful tool for the thermal analysis of a steel panel radiator. In this study, three-dimensional numerical calculations of the thermal output of a steel panel radiator, in accordance with TS EN442, was performed by using CFD analysis based on the finite volume method. The numerical calculations were performed under steady-state conditions. The results obtained from the numerical simulations were in good agreement with the experimental data available in the literature.