A Review of Thermally Activated Building Systems (TABS) as an Alternative for Improving the Indoor Environment of Buildings

María M. Villar-Ramos, Iván Hernández-Pérez (), Karla M. Aguilar-Castro, Ivett Zavala-Guillén, Edgar V. Macias-Melo, Irving Hernández-López and Juan Serrano-Arellano
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María M. Villar-Ramos: Doctorado en Ciencias en Ingeniería, División Académica de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco (DAIA-UJAT), Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa de Méndez km. 1, Cunduacán 86690, Tabasco, Mexico
Iván Hernández-Pérez: División Académica de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco (DAIA-UJAT), Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa de Méndez km. 1, Cunduacán 86690, Tabasco, Mexico
Karla M. Aguilar-Castro: División Académica de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco (DAIA-UJAT), Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa de Méndez km. 1, Cunduacán 86690, Tabasco, Mexico
Ivett Zavala-Guillén: Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada CICESE, Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana No. 3918, Zona Playitas, Ensenada 22860, Baja California, Mexico
Edgar V. Macias-Melo: División Académica de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco (DAIA-UJAT), Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa de Méndez km. 1, Cunduacán 86690, Tabasco, Mexico
Irving Hernández-López: Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Metalurgia, Universidad de Sonora (UNISON), Blvd. Luis Encinas y Rosales S/N, Col. Centro, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico
Juan Serrano-Arellano: División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Tecnológico Nacional de México/IT de Pachuca, Carretera Mexico-Pachuca km. 87.5, Colonia Venta Prieta, Pachuca de Soto 42080, Hidalgo, Mexico

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-31

Abstract: Among the alternatives for improving the thermal comfort conditions inside buildings are the thermally activated building systems (TABS). They are embedded in different building components to improve the indoor air temperature. In this work, a review and analysis of the state of the art of TABS was carried out to identify their potential to improve thermal comfort conditions and provide energy savings. Furthermore, this study presents the gaps identified in the literature so that researchers can develop future studies on TABS. The articles found were classified and analyzed in four sections, considering their implementation in roofs, walls, floors, and the whole envelope. In addition, aspects related to the configuration of the TABS and the fluid (speed, temperature, and mass flow rate) were analyzed. It was found that when TABS are implemented in roofs, walls, and floors, a reduction in the indoor temperature of a building of up to 14.4 °C can be obtained. Within the limitations of the TABS, the complexity and costs of their implementation compared to the use of air conditioning systems are reported. However, the TABS can provide energy savings of up to 50%.

Keywords: thermally activated building systems; thermal comfort; thermal mass; energy savings; radiant envelope; heat exchanger pipes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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