Masterarbeit von Vasimraza Kaji bei Lukas Wille: Energy Saving Potential of IR Heating with Reflective Walls Compared to Conventional Systems: A Building Energy Simulation Study

Abstract

This thesis evaluates an infrared heating strategy combined with reflective wall surfaces as an alternative to conventional heating systems. EnergyPlus simulations are performed for a high- demand single zone house and a low-demand hotel guestroom. The new heating approach is assessed across different envelope qualities, climate types, and occupancy patterns. The infrared heater is controlled via an Energy Management System based on a PMV regression function. The results show that the proposed strategy can significantly reduce heating energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and operational fuel costs. Particularly, the combination of cold climate, poor insulation, and short duration occupancy produced the largest absolute savings. The highest energy savings of 37% for the house model and 56% for the hotel guestroom are noticed. Across all scenarios, maximum absolute reductions of about 31% in GHG emissions and 24% in operational fuel costs are observed. However, longer operating hours of the IR heater increase fuel costs and reduce these benefits. Overall, the findings demonstrate the strong potential of this new infrared heating as an efficient and low-emission solution for building heating applications.