Conditioning using ceramic floor panels with capillary tube mats and solar thermal panels on the Mediterranean coast: Energy savings and investment amortisation

Radiant floor conditioning installations that distribute water through PPR capillary tube mats bring about significant energy savings and high standards of comfort. Their design usually includes air-water heat pumps and fan-coil dehumidification. They also allow incorporating solar thermal panel energy. In summer mode, they can also be combined with absorption systems with lithium bromide, or solar cold based on lithium chloride. In this way, annual energy demand is further reduced by low water channel transport and reduced heat flows through the enclosures. This study focused on the application of large-format radiant floor thermal ceramic panels (TCP), with capillary tube mats, in the Museum of the University of Alicante (MUA). The water distribution system was made of two heat pumps combined with a solar thermal panel rooftop installation. Using thermal simulation tools, the MUA's annual energy demand was quantified over various scenarios. An energy saving of 24.91% was obtained compared to conventional all-air systems, and a 60.79% saving was obtained with the use of solar panels. User comfort levels and the energy consumptions of the various elements of the installation were also comparatively quantified. To finish, we calculated the investment amortisation periods for the TCP panels and solar panels.This research has been funded by the projects “Generation of knowledge on the multisensory interaction of human beings with the environments for the development of new products and services in the ceramics sector (4SENSES)” (ACOMP/2010/040). Complementary aid for R + D + i projects. Generalitat Valenciana. Ministry of Education. Spain, 2010; and “Research on sustainable architectural and bioclimatic conditioning solutions using ceramic materials (ASCER1-17I)”. Spanish Association of Manufacturers of Ceramic Tiles and Flooring (ASCER). 2015–2017