Analysis of Thermal Response Characteristics of Radiant Floor Heating Systems According to Pipe Pitch Variation and Their Applicability as Baseline Data for Predictive Control in Multi-Family Housing

In-Tae Hwang; Jong-Sung Lee

doi:10.22696/jkiaebs.20260023

All Issue

2026 Vol.20, Issue 4 Preview Page Next Page

Research Article

Analysis of Thermal Response Characteristics of Radiant Floor Heating Systems According to Pipe Pitch Variation and Their Applicability as Baseline Data for Predictive Control in Multi-Family Housing 공동주택 바닥난방 코일피치 변화에 따른 열응답 특성 분석 및 예측제어 기초자료 활용 가능성

30 August 2026. pp. 279-296

PDF XML

Abstract

This study analyzes the thermal response characteristics of radiant floor heating systems in multi-family housing according to pipe pitch variation and examines their applicability as baseline data for predictive control. Analytical and experimental data from a previous study on floor-heating pipe pitch were reorganized by defining pipe pitch, supply hot-water temperature, and heating load as input conditions, and floor surface temperature, heat flux, and indoor- temperature reaching time as response variables. The results showed that upward heat emission decreased as pipe pitch increased under the same supply hot-water temperature. At 40°C, the upward heat emission decreased from approximately 76.8 W/m² at 200 mm to 43.4 W/m² at 400 mm. The indoor-temperature reaching time was expressed as a regression correlation using supply hot-water temperature, indoor temperature, indoor–outdoor temperature difference, and pipe pitch. The correlation showed high predictive reliability, with R² values greater than 0.991 and MAPE values ranging from 2.855% to 5.337%. In addition, a fixed 60-minute pre-heating strategy resulted in a mean absolute mismatch of approximately 8.5 minutes and a maximum mismatch of 19 minutes across the analyzed cases. These results indicate that pipe- pitch-based thermal response data can be used as physics-based baseline data for estimating heating start time, operation duration, and supply-temperature control in future predictive control applications.

Keywords

Multi-family housing

Radiant floor heating

Pipe pitch

Thermal response

Indoor-temperature reaching time

Predictive control

Energy optimization

키워드

공동주택

바닥난방

코일피치

열응답

실내온도 도달시간

예측제어

에너지 최적화

References

Aghili, S.A., Haji Mohammad Rezaei, A., Tafazzoli, M., Khanzadi, M., Rahbar, M. (2025). Artificial Intelligence Approaches to Energy Management in HVAC Systems: A Systematic Review. Buildings, 15(7), 1008. DOI: 10.3390/buildings15071008.

10.3390/buildings15071008

Al Sayed, K., Boodi, A., Sadeghian Broujeny, R., Beddiar, K. (2024). Reinforcement Learning for HVAC Control in Intelligent Buildings: A Technical and Conceptual Review. Journal of Building Engineering, 95, 110085. DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2024.110085.

10.1016/j.jobe.2024.110085

Arsecularatne, B., Rodrigo, N., Chang, R. (2024). Digital Twins for Reducing Energy Consumption in Buildings: A Review. Sustainability, 16(21), 9275. DOI: 10.3390/su16219275.

10.3390/su16219275

Cho, J.K., Park, B.Y., Lee, Y.J., Chong, W.H. (2018). Experimental Study on a Low-Temperature Hot Water Capillary Radiant Floor Heating System. Korea Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering (KJACR), 30(2), 68-82.

10.6110/KJACR.2018.30.2.068

Cho, S.H., Zaheer-uddin, M. (2003). Predictive control of intermittently operated radiant floor heating systems. Energy Conversion and Management, 44, 1333-1342.

10.1016/S0196-8904(02)00116-4

Joe, J., Karava, P. (2019). A model predictive control strategy to optimize the performance of radiant floor heating and cooling systems in office buildings. Applied Energy, 245, 65-77.

10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.03.209

Jung, Y.K., Kim, S.E., Yoo, M.S., Song, Y.W., Park, J.C. (2022). Chamber Experiment by PCM Melting Temperature of Underfloor Radiant Heating System. Korea Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering (KJACR), 34(8), 353-358.

10.6110/KJACR.2022.34.8.353

Kim, D., Lee, J., Do, S., Mago, P.J., Lee, K.H., Cho, H. (2022). Energy Modeling and Model Predictive Control for HVAC in Buildings: A Review of Current Research Trends. Energies, 15(19), 7231. DOI: 10.3390/en15197231.

10.3390/en15197231

Lee, Y.C., Chung, K.S. (2002). An Experimental Study on the Optimum Zone of Thermal Comfort Index in Radiant Floor Heating System. Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea (JAIK), 18(3), 137-143.

Lim, S.-H., Park, S.-J., Kim, M.-H., Kim, K.-W. (2026). Implementation and Validation of the ISO 52016-1 Monthly Energy Demand Calculation Based on BESTEST Case 940. Journal of KIAEBS, 20(2), 107-119.

Park, S.H., Chang, Y.S., Kim, E.J. (2018). Parameter Optimization of an RC Model for Simulating Floor Heating and Building Envelop Systems. Korea Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering (KJACR), 30(8), 366-375.

10.6110/KJACR.2018.30.8.366

Lee, J.S., Choi, H., Hwang, I.T. (2023). A Study on the Suitable Heating Pipe Pitch in a Floor Heating System in Apartment Housings. Land & Housing Research Institute, Research Report 2022-076.

Physibel. (2010). BISCO & VOLTRA User Manual, Physibel.

ISO 11855-1. (2021). Building environment design — Embedded radiant heating and cooling systems — Part 1: Definitions, symbols, and comfort criteria, International Organization for Standardization.

ISO 11855-2. (2021). Building environment design — Design, dimensioning, installation and control of embedded radiant heating and cooling systems — Part 2: Determination of the design heating and cooling capacity, International Organization for Standardization.

Information

Publisher :Korean Institute of Architectural Sustainable Environment and Building Systems
Publisher(Ko) :한국건축친환경설비학회
Journal Title :Journal of Korean Institute of Architectural Sustainable Environment and Building Systems
Journal Title(Ko) :한국건축친환경설비학회논문집
Volume : 20
No :4
Pages :279-296
Received Date : 2026-06-03
Revised Date : 2026-06-10
Accepted Date : 2026-07-13
DOI :https://doi.org/10.22696/jkiaebs.20260023

Journal of Korean Institute of Architectural Sustainable Environment and Building Systems ISSN:1976-6483(Print) 2586-0666(Online) 한국건축친환경설비학회논문집

All Issue