Characterization of a Novel Radiant Floor Panel and a Caisson-Based Geothermal System

The present work investigates two novel technologies: a radiant floor panel and foundation caisson enhanced with phase change material (PCM). The outcome of the research and study on the lightweight novel radiant panel demonstrates several advantages such as retrofittability, ability to respond quickly to building load fluctuations, minimization of unwanted heat transfer towards the ground, cost-effectiveness, and energy savings compared to traditional radiant floor systems seen on the market. The numerical model developed to characterize a foundation caisson enhanced with the PCM demonstrated its ability to address the issue of thermal imbalance when subjected to cooling or heating dominant load profiles. Based on the results of this research, it is expected that without compromising the structural integrity of the foundation caisson and with the selection of an appropriate PCM (considering thermal diffusivity, melting point temperature range, viscosity etc.), an improvement in the thermal performance of the configuration can be demonstrated.