Underfloor heating - QuickField simulation example
Example of a heat transfer simulation for an underfloor heating system.
How to calculate temperature distribution and efficiency of an underfloor heating system?
Answer Typical applications Geometry
Given
Task
Solution
Results
Engineering question
Solve the steady temperature field with the heating cable as a volumetric heat source, then calculate efficiency as the upward heat flux divided by the total generated heat.
electric floor heating systems, embedded heating cables, radiant floor heaters
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Simulation problem
Problem Type
Plane-parallel problem of Heat Transfer.
Air temperature above the floor = 18°C;
Air temperature below the floor = 20°C;
Convection coefficient α = 5 W/m²-K;
Radiation coefficient β = 0.4;
Cable heat power q = 100 W/m.
Thermal conductivity of materials:
Cement 1.4 W/m-K;
Insulation 0.05 W/m-K;
Cable (copper) 401 W/m-K;
Floor slab 1.69 W/m-K;
Calculate the distribution of temperature for underfloor heating and evaluate the efficiency of heating.
The model represents only a small part of the floor with a size of 1m x 1m.
QuickField takes input of heat power as volume power density in [W/m³], which can be calculated as:
Q = q/Sc, where Sc = π*d²/4 - cable cross-sectional area, d - cable diameter (5 mm).
Floor temperature distribution and heating efficiency of an underfloor-heating system, including the useful upward heat flow and losses directed downward.
The cable is laid in such a way that the total heat power is 100 W/m². The upward-directed heat flux is 83% of the total power produced by the cable. Then 17% of the heat flux goes downward.
The average floor surface temperature is 29°C.
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