Activating and Enhancing the Energy Flexibility Provided by a Pipe-Embedded Building Envelope: A Review
Building thermal mass offers a cost-effective solution to enhance the integration of energy supply and demand in dynamic energy systems. Thermally activated building systems (TABS), incorporating embedded heat tubes, shows strong potential for energy flexibility. However, the significant thermal ine...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2793 |
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| author | Xiaochen Yang Yanqing Li Xiaoqiong Li Khaled A. Metwally Yan Ding |
| author_facet | Xiaochen Yang Yanqing Li Xiaoqiong Li Khaled A. Metwally Yan Ding |
| author_sort | Xiaochen Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Building thermal mass offers a cost-effective solution to enhance the integration of energy supply and demand in dynamic energy systems. Thermally activated building systems (TABS), incorporating embedded heat tubes, shows strong potential for energy flexibility. However, the significant thermal inertia of TABS also imposes challenges to precise load shift and indoor climate control. This review synthesizes key research on the effective demand-side management of TABS from multiple perspectives. It examines and compares various TABS configurations, including floor, ceiling, and wall systems. Differences in heat transfer performance between heating and cooling result in distinct application preferences for each type. The integration of advanced materials, such as phase change materials (PCM), can further enhance energy flexibility. TABS flexibility is primarily activated through adjustments to indoor operative temperature, with relevant influencing factors and regulatory constraints analyzed and discussed. Key aspects of optimizing building energy flexibility, including simulation methods and control strategies for TABS, are reviewed from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The energy and economic performance of TABS under various control strategies is analyzed in detail. This review provides insights to support the optimal design and operation of TABS within dynamic energy systems and to enhance the energy flexibility of building envelopes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-861cacc2d0a44cc5a3544cd894a1ae03 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-861cacc2d0a44cc5a3544cd894a1ae032025-08-20T03:02:55ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-08-011515279310.3390/buildings15152793Activating and Enhancing the Energy Flexibility Provided by a Pipe-Embedded Building Envelope: A ReviewXiaochen Yang0Yanqing Li1Xiaoqiong Li2Khaled A. Metwally3Yan Ding4Tianjin Key Laboratory of Built Environment and Energy Application, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Built Environment and Energy Application, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Energy Conversion, National User-Side Energy Storage Innovation Research and Development Center, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Technology and Development, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, EgyptTianjin Key Laboratory of Built Environment and Energy Application, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaBuilding thermal mass offers a cost-effective solution to enhance the integration of energy supply and demand in dynamic energy systems. Thermally activated building systems (TABS), incorporating embedded heat tubes, shows strong potential for energy flexibility. However, the significant thermal inertia of TABS also imposes challenges to precise load shift and indoor climate control. This review synthesizes key research on the effective demand-side management of TABS from multiple perspectives. It examines and compares various TABS configurations, including floor, ceiling, and wall systems. Differences in heat transfer performance between heating and cooling result in distinct application preferences for each type. The integration of advanced materials, such as phase change materials (PCM), can further enhance energy flexibility. TABS flexibility is primarily activated through adjustments to indoor operative temperature, with relevant influencing factors and regulatory constraints analyzed and discussed. Key aspects of optimizing building energy flexibility, including simulation methods and control strategies for TABS, are reviewed from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The energy and economic performance of TABS under various control strategies is analyzed in detail. This review provides insights to support the optimal design and operation of TABS within dynamic energy systems and to enhance the energy flexibility of building envelopes.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2793TABSenergy flexibilityradiant systemmodel predictive controlenergy performance |
| spellingShingle | Xiaochen Yang Yanqing Li Xiaoqiong Li Khaled A. Metwally Yan Ding Activating and Enhancing the Energy Flexibility Provided by a Pipe-Embedded Building Envelope: A Review Buildings TABS energy flexibility radiant system model predictive control energy performance |
| title | Activating and Enhancing the Energy Flexibility Provided by a Pipe-Embedded Building Envelope: A Review |
| title_full | Activating and Enhancing the Energy Flexibility Provided by a Pipe-Embedded Building Envelope: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Activating and Enhancing the Energy Flexibility Provided by a Pipe-Embedded Building Envelope: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Activating and Enhancing the Energy Flexibility Provided by a Pipe-Embedded Building Envelope: A Review |
| title_short | Activating and Enhancing the Energy Flexibility Provided by a Pipe-Embedded Building Envelope: A Review |
| title_sort | activating and enhancing the energy flexibility provided by a pipe embedded building envelope a review |
| topic | TABS energy flexibility radiant system model predictive control energy performance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2793 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xiaochenyang activatingandenhancingtheenergyflexibilityprovidedbyapipeembeddedbuildingenvelopeareview AT yanqingli activatingandenhancingtheenergyflexibilityprovidedbyapipeembeddedbuildingenvelopeareview AT xiaoqiongli activatingandenhancingtheenergyflexibilityprovidedbyapipeembeddedbuildingenvelopeareview AT khaledametwally activatingandenhancingtheenergyflexibilityprovidedbyapipeembeddedbuildingenvelopeareview AT yanding activatingandenhancingtheenergyflexibilityprovidedbyapipeembeddedbuildingenvelopeareview |