Experimental assessment and 3D numerical simulation of the thermal performance of a direct solar floor heating system installed in a bathroom in Casablanca city, Morocco: parametric, economic, and environmental analysis

The installation of direct solar floor (DSF) heating systems in Morocco is highly efficient due to its abundant solar potential, making it an optimal location for the implementation of solar energy systems. This system allows residential buildings to be heated in an environmentally friendly manner while reducing electrical energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This article aims to study the thermal and energy behavior of a test cell equipped with a direct solar floor located in a Moroccan city under a Mediterranean climate, to analyze the thermal and dynamic behavior of the heating system and its interaction with the indoor environment. A novel 3D numerical model of a floor heating system connected to a test cell was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics software to evaluate how altering multiple parameters affects the thermal response of the system. The simulation results demonstrate that the spiral tube network, mass flow rate \({{q}_{m}}_{3}\) ${q_m}_3$ , and 75 mm thick screed layer based on concrete are more favorable for the proper operation of the heating system in a traditional bathroom. Furthermore, the results and temperature distributions show that the floor heating system ensures a more uniform distribution of temperature and a more homogeneous distribution of the layers of the isotherms, contrary to the radiator. The economic study shows that the direct solar floor can save about 17.88% of energy compared to a conventional heating system, with an expected payback period of approximately 5 years. Additionally, from an environmental perspective, the direct solar floor system can reduce CO₂ emissions by about 22.61% compared to an electric heating system.