NIGHT COOLED WATER FOR

MODULAR RADIANT COOLING

PROTOTYPE IN MALAYSIAN
BUILDING
Product Description
Energy intensive conventional air conditioner could be replaced
with highly energy efficient hydronic radiant cooling system
charged with night cooled chill water source. A night cooling
device was developed to produce free renewable chill water to
be supplied to a indoor hydronic radiator. Low cost and custom
built wall and ceiling hydronic radiator or heat absorber is
retrofitted in the building to provide indoor cooling via radiant
heat exchange as shown in Figure 1.

Commercial/Potential

Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of night cooling device with indoor radiant panel or heat absorber

Electrical energy saving up to 85%.

Refrigeration component such as mechanical
chillers or compressor is eliminated.
Acceptable thermal comfort condition according to
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55 and MS/ISO 7730.
Quick payback period and low operating cost
during life cycle.
Reliable and safe with no high tech and expensive
components therefore easy user maintenance.
Low cost system components.
Locally available material at a fraction of imported
material cost.
Low maintenance and operation cost.
Create business and work opportunity in the green
technology market.
New opportunity for industries.
System can cater for existing or new residential
building.
Increase property market competiveness with
added green tech feature.
Creating an economy that is based on sustainable
solution.
Creation of local expertise in Green Technology.

Novelty/Invention
Fig. 2 Indoor zone operative temperature improvement by radiant and earth tube hybrid system

In this system, building surface is converted

to radiant heat transfer panel that can be
used for cooling application. The long wave
radiation cools the surrounding surfaces, the
room air as well as the occupants. The
cooling impact could be maximized with the
use of earth tube heat exchanger (ETHE)
which pumps outdoor ventilation air through
the cool ground before entering the building.
The overall indoor thermal improvement is
shown in Figure 2. The improved indoor
thermal condition complies to thermal
comfort standard such as ASHRAE 55 and
MS/ISO 7730.

Energy efficient design

-In line with National Green
Technology Policy 2009.
-Use of renewable sources (free
chill water and precooled air)
-Low energy consumption and
conserve energy
- Radiant cooling system could
be used in hybrid mode with
ETHE for improved cooling
performance
-reduce electricity utility bill
greatly
-Minimize negative impact to
the environment.
-Reduce strain to the energy
supply chain.

Researchers:
Azhaili Baharun, Muhammad Syukri Imran,
Siti Halipah Ibrahim , Wan Azlan Wan Zainal Abidin

NIGHT COOLED WATER FOR MODULAR RADIANT COOLING

Design, build and operated in an ecological and resource efficient manner

Material efficiency
-Use of cheaper local material for
panel construction
- Locally available plumbing and
irrigation parts for system
construction
- No material import required

Natural heat sink for building

cooling
-Night sky cooling to produce chill
water
-Ground cooling to produce
precooled ventilation air (ETHE
hybrid) up to 10 ACH

Occupant health + safety

-Converting internal surface into
cooling surface
-Provide inexpensive indoor cooling
-Acceptable thermal comfort
standard
-Reliable and safe
- Easy user maintenance

Water efficiency
-Can double as rainwater harvester
- Additional tank to store rainwater
for non-drinking use
- reduce water utility bill

Acknowledgement:
Centre for Renewable Energy (CREN) UNIMAS