Kris Jeppesen

Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

1995

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor

Charles Remund

Abstract

Common slab-on-grade insulating design practices for Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating (HRFH) vary anywhere from using only vertical insulation completely along the outdoor perimeter, complete vertical insulation and under-floor insulation a short distance in from the outdoor perimeter, and complete vertical and under-floor insulation throughout the entire floor (radiant panels). Additional insulation is one of the most cost contributing factors in this type of installation making it essential to know its effects on energy loss. Experiments were designed which will examine the effects of these insulation schemes on the magnitude of energy lost to the ground for a HRFH system. These experiments were field installed during the construction of a slab-on-grade building which utilizes the concrete floor as radiant panels. The experiment testing outdoor perimeter effects (energy losses outside of footing) was also modeled in the finite element analysis software program SYS. Modeling of the experiment indicated a 21 percent energy savings with the addition of just vertical insulation, up to a maximum of 66 percent energy savings for complete vertical and complete under-floor insulation. Field testing data were also logged and evaluated for this experiment.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Hot-water heating
Radiant heating
Insulation (Heat)
Floors

Format

application/pdf

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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Rights Statement

In Copyright