Constructal design of flow channels for radiant cooling panels

The main thrust of this study is to bring insight into the influence of the flow channels layouts on the global performance of suspended radiant cooling panels. The flow passages, set on the upper side of a metal plate, represent the crucial part of the panel. Water is conveyed to the panel via these channels to extract the heat flux absorbed by the underneath plate. Therefore, the distribution of the flow over the surface of panel is the key toward efficient panels design. Applying a Constructal approach, the objective of the present work, is to explore the thermal and hydraulic performances of radiant panels equipped with different flow architectures. Including the standard serpentine configuration, branching flow designs are investigated. The flow architectures are categorized into two groups according to the location of the inlet and outlet of the working fluid and further subcategorized based on the flow arrangements. The influence of the Reynolds number is reported. It is concluded that the proposed Constructal flow structures have the potential of improving the overall efficiency of radiant panels in terms of temperature distribution, cooling capacity, and pumping power demand.