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- NRC Institute for Research in Construction
- NRC Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences
- National Research Council Canada
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Project Leaders
Iain Macdonald
Phone: 613-993-9676
Fax: 613-954-3733
Email: Iain.Macdonald@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Boualem Ouazia
Phone: 613-993-9613
Fax: 613-954-3733
Email: Boualem.Ouazia@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating
Objectives
To investigate a hydronic radiant floor heating system.
NRC Two-Storey Research House - back
Background
Radiant floor heating proponents claim fuel savings of 15-20% over forced-air systems. A hydronic system can transport a given amount of heating energy using less than 5% of the energy used by a conventional motor and fan in a forced-air system. Combined with forced-air system, a hydronic system may improve comfort and save energy.
Statement of Work
- Installed, instrumented and commissioned a fully zoned hydronic radiant heating system.
- Investigated the performance of hydronic radiant floor heating system, the investigation included a review of available information on radiant floor heating and also on hybrid heating systems that combine radiant and forced-air heating
Outcomes
- Literature review report on hydronic heating systems: technology, experimental evaluation and simulation. This review validated claims that radiant heating systems are more energy efficient, and that radiant heating systems provide greater comfort for occupants. It also identified promising alternatives to forced-air systems.
- Report on tracer gas measurements, air change rate of a house with different heat delivery; forced-air and hydronic radiant heating systems.
- More experimental work to evaluate the performance of the hydronic radiant heating system is under discussion with the Canadian Hydronic Council.
Partners
Panel on Energy Research and Development, Natural Resources Canada, and Roth Canada Inc.
Start/Completion Dates
The project began in 2004 and was completed in 2008.
Publications
Ventilation and wall research house
Maref, W. Ouazia, B. Reardon, J.T. Rousseau, M.Z.
Performance of Exterior Envelope of Whole Buildings X Conference (Clearwater, Florida, 2007-12-01)
pp. 1-8. 2007-12-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Comparison of the performance of a forced-air and a radiant floor residential heating system connected to solar collectors
Haddad, K. Purdy, J. Laouadi, A.
Journal of Solar Energy Engineering,
pp. 468-472. 2007-11-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Heating and ventilating research at NRC-IRC
Saint-Martin, L.
Home Builder, 20 (5)
pp. 24. 2007-09-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Hybrid heating
Reardon, J.T. Ouazia, B. Booth, D.G. Nong, G. Macdonald, I.A.
Construction Innovation, 11 (4)
pp. 4, 9. 2006-12-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Hybrid heating research for houses
Reardon, J.T.
Solplan Review, (129)
pp. 18-19. 2006-07-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
