Are radiators ready for the challenges of the future: A review of advancements in radiators

Abstract

Radiators play an important role in providing a comfortable and safe indoor environment while maintaining high-energy efficiency. In the perspective of future climate change with expected larger temperature fluctuations and the rapidly changing heat supply and demand, it is required that the current radiator technology is adaptable. The heat supply is changing towards a lower supply temperature to enable an increase in energy efficiency and an increase in the share of renewable energy. Simultaneously, both the heat supply and demand are expected to have more variations in the future. An additional concern that has come into more focus after the experience with the COVID 19 pandemic is the prevention of the spread of infection in indoor environments. Researchers have extensively studied several innovations in radiator technologies and their deployment that addresses these challenges. Some of the solutions available in the literature include floor heating, ceiling heating, ventilation radiator, stratum ventilation. Researchers have used advanced modeling and experimental techniques to understand how to deploy different types of radiator technologies. This review summarizes solutions in the literature that address these challenges and identifies knowledge gaps that need to be addressed. In particular, this study explores the gaps in knowledge of practical issues, such as the position of furniture and the position of people, which have received less attention in the literature. Research that addresses the effect of radiators on ventilation and a healthy indoor environment is also of particular interest in this review.