PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF LOW EXERGY SYSTEMS DEPICTING DECENTRALIZED DEDICATED OUTDOOR AIR SYSTEM COUPLED WITH RADIANT COOLING IN THE TROPICS

Abstract

The energy consumption of buildings? air conditioning systems is of prime concern in tropical cities. The Low exergy concept in the tropics promotes high temperature cooling strategy using raised chilled water temperature compared to the conventional design. This scheme could be a more energy efficient design compared to all air system, considering the facts that less energy is required for providing the raised chilled water temperature and water is a more efficient medium for heat exchange compared to air. A decentralized dedicated outdoor air system coupled with radiant ceiling panel (DDOAS-RCP) has been designed based on low exergy concept for tropical buildings. The experimental setup was conducted in the BubbleZERO laboratory in which the low exergy cooling systems have been installed. The results of the environmental measurements have shown that DDOAS-RCP can provide healthy and comfortable indoor space in tropical buildings under different indoor/outdoor scenarios. Based on results of this thesis, collections of system components and control strategies were suggested for actual implementation and operation of high temperature cooling systems in tropical buildings.