• KIEAE Journal
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.89-95
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• 2012

At present, many countries are trying to reduce green gas emissions to mitigate the effects of these gases on climate change. Year after year, there have been efforts to cut energy use for heating and cooling. Heating and cooling systems, common in all forms of housing, are increasing due to the constant supply of new housing resulting from improvements in economic growth and the quality of life. Thus, studies related to the design of cooling and heating systems to improve energy efficiency are expanding. Among the new designs, radiant floor cooling and heating systems which use capillary tubes are becoming viable means of reducing energy use. Radiant floor cooling and heating systems which use capillary tubes are creative and sustainable systems in which cool and hot water is circulated into capillary tube which has small diameter. In this study, the cooling and heating performance of this type of capillary tube system is investigated in an experimental study and a simulation using TRNSYS. The results of the experimental study show that under a peak load, a capillary tube radiant floor cooling system using geothermal energy can achieve desired indoor temperature without an additional heat source. The set room air temperature is maintained while the floor surface temperature, PMV and PPD remain within the comfort range. Also, this system is more economic than a packaged air conditioner system due to its higher COP. The results of the simulation show that the capillary tube radiant floor heating system maintains set temperature more stable than a PB pipe radiant floor heating system due to its lower supply temperature of hot water. In terms of energy consumption, the capillary tube radiant floor heating system is more efficient than the PB pipe radiant floor heating system.