Panel heating systems offer various advantages in sensible space conditioning. These include, but are not limited to, energy-saving potential and favourable tie-in capabilities, with low-temperature and low-intensity energy sources such as solar systems and heat pumps. In order to predict and implement the attributes of panel systems, a comprehensive, yet simple model is necessary so that designers will find it practical. An analytical heat diffusion model was developed. Summarises the fundamentals of this model, explains the proposed algorithm, and compares it with finite-element solutions.

KEYWORDS: year 1995, calculating, designing, radiant panels, floor heating, slabs, panel heating, algorithms, comparing, heat flow, temperature distribution, water temperature, surface temperature, temperature swing