Patent Publication Number: US-6220523-B1

Title: For radiant floor, wall and ceiling hydronic heating and/or cooling systems using metal plates that are heated or cooled by attached tubing that is fed hot or cold water, techniques of improving performance and avoiding condensation when cooling

Description:
This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/862,441, filed May 23, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,381. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to hydronic heating and/or cooling systems for dwellings, offices, etc. having heating or cooling loops that consist of tubing or pipes fed hot or cold water, held in the floor, walls or ceiling of a room by panels that contain a metal radiation plate that: radiates heat to the room when the tubing is fed hot water, to heat the room; or absorbs heat from the room by radiation when the tubing is fed cold water, to cool the room; the tubing being secured in the panels in intimate thermal contact with the radiation plate and covered by a finished floor, wall or ceiling of the room. In particular, the installation includes special adaptations that improve performance for heating and cooling and avoid hot and/or cold spots on the surface of the finished floor, wall or ceiling and avoids condensation on the finished floor, wall or ceiling when cooling during humid conditions. 
     DRY MODULAR PANEL RADIANT HYDRONIC HEATING 
     Hydronic radiant floor heating (RFH), radiant wall heating (RWH) and radiant ceiling heating (RCH) are techniques of heating a room in a dwelling or commercial building for human and creature comfort. It is believed by many that hydronic radiant heating is the ideal way to warm the human body and superior to forced hot air heating. 
     Typical hydronic heating systems require a supply of hot water from a boiler and means for modulating the temperature of the water from the supply that is fed to the heating loops of the system, which include tubing and heating elements. This is particularly the case where modular panels are used in a dry installation in the floor for RFH, in the wall for RWH or in the ceiling for RCH. For example, if the supply water temperature is 180° F. for laundry, it must be modulated to about 100° F. (or lower) for RFH. A suitable system for reducing and controlling the supply water temperature for RFH, RWH and RCH is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,988, issued Jun. 09, 1992, entitled “Hydronic Heating Water Temperature Control System, to Joachim Fiedrich, the inventor herein. In that patent a three-way, modulated diverting or by-pass valve is provided in the return line to the boiler, for diverting some of the cooler return water to the hot supply water to reduce the temperature of the supply water feeding the heating loop supply header. This is sometimes called temperature dilution and the diverting valve is modulated by a feedback signal derived from the diluted water temperature. 
     Modular panel heating elements for RFH, RWH and RCH are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,065, issued Mar. 8, 1994, entitled “Radiant Floor And Wall Hydronic Heating Systems”, to Joachim Fiedrich, the inventor herein. The panel elements include a metal radiation plate or sheet attached to two spaced apart boards for holding the tubing in the space between the boards in intimate thermal contact with the radiation plate, so that the plate is heated by conduction of heat from the tubing, and the plate has a substantial radiating surface that radiates heat to the room. 
     Thermal conduction from the tubing to the plate and mechanical attachment of the tubing to the panel are insured by a resilient thermally conductive filler material as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,996, issued Dec. 3, 1996, entitled “Radiant Floor And Wall Hydronic Heating Systems”, also to Joachim Fiedrich, the inventor herein. 
     A mechanical adaptation that increases further the thermal path from the tubing to the plate consists of an undercut in each of the holding boards immediately adjacent the plate and the space for holding the tubing, that is filled with the thermally conductive filler material, providing a greater “thermal footprint” for the tubing on the plate. This mechanical adaptation is described in currently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/500,069, filed Jul. 10, 1995, entitled Radiant Floor And Wall Hydronic Heating System Tubing Attachment To Radiant Plate, also by Joachim Fiedrich, the inventor herein. 
     Hydronic heating systems using the modular panel heating elements described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,292,065 and 5,579,996 and in the aforementioned pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/500,069 to cool as well as heat are described in currently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/862,441 , filed May 23, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,381, entitled “Hydronic Heating And/Or Cooling Systems Using Metal Radiation Plates That Are Heated Or Cooled By Attached Tubing Fed Hot Or Cold Water” by Joachim Fiedrich, the inventor herein. The systems described in that pending application include floor, wall and ceiling installations of modular panel elements and tubing. The floor installations are particularly effective for heating and can also be used for cooling; the ceiling installations are particularly effective for cooling and can also be used for heating; and the wall installations are effective for both heating and cooling. 
     Cooling is done by feeding cool water to the tubing to reduce the temperature of the radiation plate in the modular panel, to below room temperature so that heat is radiated from the room to the plate and conducted from the plate to the cool water in the tubing, heating the water slightly and the water is fed to a heat exchanger where it gives up the heat and is fed back to the panels. This circulation of cool water is continuous and may be a closed system. Systems for heating, systems for cooling and systems for doing both are described in that application. 
     In any of the systems described in the aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/862,441 , now U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,381, hot and/or cold spots on the surface of the finished floor, wall or ceiling that covers the modular panels sometimes occurs. These spots are identified as being hotter during heating or cooler during cooling than elsewhere on the finished surface, whereas uniform surface temperature is preferred. Cold spots on the finished covering during cooling can be particularly troublesome, because when the temperature of the cold spot falls below the dew point in the room, undesirable condensation occurs on the surface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and means of improving the heat flow path between the tubing and the plate in said modular panel for RFH, RWH and RCH and, particularly for eliminating “hot spots” on the surface of the adjacent finished floor, wall or ceiling. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method and means of improving the heat flow path between the plate and the tubing in said modular panel for RFC, RWC and RCC and particularly for eliminating “cold spots” on the surface of the adjacent finished floor, wall or ceiling. 
     It is another object in conjunction with the above to provide a method and means of improving the heat flow path between the tubing and the plate in said modular panel used for heating and cooling for RFH, RWH, RWC and RCC and particularly for eliminating “hot spots” on the surface of the adjacent finished floor, wall or ceiling that occur during heating and for eliminating “cold spots” on the surface of the floor, wall or ceiling that occur during cooling. 
     Thus, the modular panel heating element described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,292,065 and 5,579,996 and in the aforementioned pending U.S. applications Ser. No. 08/500,069 and 08/862,441 can be used to cool as well as heat. The present invention describes several structures and methods which are adaptations of the modular panel elements and the installations thereof described in the aforementioned patents and pending patent applications, whereby undesired “hot spots” that occur during heating are reduced or eliminated and/or undesired “cold spots” that occur during cooling are reduced or eliminated. 
     According to particular embodiments of the present invention, the modular heating and/or cooling panels that contain the radiation plate are installed with tubing mounted therein carrying hot water for heating or cold water for cooling. The panels are arranged line attached to the sub-flooring for RFH/RFC, the wall studs for RWH/RWC and the ceiling rafters, joists or strapping for RCH/RCC. Then the tubing is inserted into the aligned holding slots of the panels and may be secured therein by thermally conductive resilient filler material. One end of the tubing is fed water from a supply header and the other end feeds water to a return header. At that point, the installation is ready for a finished floor, wall or ceiling covering. However, before that, a thermal barrier is provided between the tubing and the finished floor, wall or ceiling to reduce direct thermal conduction between them and so prevent undesired “hot spots” during heating and “cold spots” during cooling. 
     Thus, RFH/RFC and RWH/RWC and RCC are installed “dry” (without wet concrete, cement or plaster embedding the tubing) and can be accessed later by simply removing the finished floor, wall or ceiling covering and the thermal barrier. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 (Prior Art) is a perspective view of the assembly of radiation plate and holder providing the first type of modular panel element, according to the aforementioned US Patents and currently pending US Patent Applications; 
     FIG. 2 (Prior Art) is an enlarged end view showing an assembly of the first type of panel elements on top of the sub-floor, the tubing inserted and secured thereto with compliant thermally conductive filler material and the finished flooring attached directly on top, as taught in the aforementioned US Patents and pending US Patent Applications, and illustrating where the “hot spots” and “cold spots” are likely to occur; 
     FIG. 3 is a further enlarged end view showing the first type of modular panel element installed on top of the sub-floor, provided with undercuts as taught in the aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/500,069, with thermally conductive filler material securing the inserted tubing against the radiation plate and the finished floor covering attached on top, and with a thermal barrier between the tubing and the finished floor covering, according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 showing a modular panel element installed on top of the sub-floor, provided with the undercuts, with thermally conductive filler material securing the inserted tubing against the plate, the finished floor covering attached on top, and with a thermal barrier between the tubing and the finished floor covering according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 showing a modular panel element installed on top of the sub-floor, provided with the undercuts, with thermally conductive filler material securing the inserted tubing against the plate and the finished floor covering attached on top, and with a thermal barrier between the tubing and the finished floor covering according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is similar to FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 , provided with the undercuts, with thermally conductive filler material securing the inserted tubing against the plate and the finished floor covering attached on top, and with a thermal barrier between the tubing and the finished floor covering according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is an edge view of an RFH/RFC installation on top of the floor showing several of the first type of modular panels arranged side by side and the tubing inserted as described and with thermal barriers thereon to inhibit direct thermal conduction between the tubing and the finished floor covering according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the RFH/RFC installation of FIG. 7 showing several of the first type of modular panels of different kinds (some for straight runs of tubing and some for turns of the tubing), arranged side by side and end to end on top of the sub-floor, the tubing installed, the thermal barrier structure of the fifth embodiment installed and ready for installation of the finished floor covering; 
     FIG. 9 (Prior Art) is a perspective view of the second type of modular panel element that is preferred for use in walls and ceilings, because the radiation plate thereof is insulated from the inside of the wall or ceiling by the plate holder boards of the panel, the panel being installed horizontally across the wall studs; 
     FIG. 10 (Prior Art) is an enlarged end view of the second type of modular panel installed as shown in FIG. 9, with the tubing inserted in the slot in the radiation plate, and the finished wall covering attached directly to the panel, and illustrating where the “hot spots” and “cold spots” are likely to occur on the surface of the finished wall covering; 
     FIG. 11 is a further enlarged end view showing the second type of modular panel element installed on wall studs for RWH/RWC or on ceiling rafters for RCH/RCC, with resilient thermally conductive filler material securing the inserted tubing in the radiation plate slot and the finished wall or ceiling covering attached, and with a thermal barrier between the tubing and the finished covering according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is like FIG.  11  and with a thermal barrier between the tubing and the finished wall or ceiling covering according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is like FIGS. 11 and 12 and with a thermal barrier between the tubing and the finished wall or ceiling covering according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 14 is a front view of the RWH/RWC installation of any of FIGS. 11 12  or  13  showing the wall sole plate, studs and top plate with several horizontal courses of the panels and tubing ready for installation of the thermal barrier and then the finished wall covering. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     First Type Modular Panel 
     A typical modular panel of the first type, denoted  10 , is shown in FIG.  1 . It is composed of two lengths  16  and  17  of plywood, particle board or other rigid material that is not thermally conductive and, for some embodiments herein is the same thickness as the outside diameter of the tubing that it holds; but for other embodiments may be greater thickness to allow space for a thermal barrier between the tubing and the finished floor. The two lengths  16  and  17  of wood holder pieces hold the heat conducting radiation plate  12  against the top of sub-flooring  70  and provide a tubing containment space  14 , the length thereof for holding the tubing  1  that is inserted against the plate. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the tubing containment space  14  is the space between holder boards  16  and  17  and is closed on the bottom side by the plate  12  and so the tubing is inserted into this space from the top side of the space. Then the finished floor covering  21  is installed on top of the panels and tubing. The finished floor covering may be wood, ceramic tile, vinyl, carpet, etc. All such coverings are fully supported at all points by the panel and can be used. However, a “hot spot” during heating and/or a “cold spot” during cooling are likely to occur on the surface  21   a  of the covering above the tubing where shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The radiation plate  12  is made of highly thermally conductive material such as aluminum, copper or steel. For example, it can be made of a relatively thin sheet of 0.008 gage, 3003 alloy aluminum and is attached to boards  16  and  17  by a suitable glue or epoxy or nailing, stapling or staking. For example, it may be attached by staking as taught in presently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/746,458 filed Nov. 12, 1996, entitled “Apparatus And Method of Attaching Radiating Plate To Holders of Modular Unit For Radiant Floor And Wall Hydronic Heating Systems” by Joachim Fiedrich, the inventor herein. 
     First Embodiment—Panels of the First Type 
     FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment of the present invention using panels of the first type. As shown, the tubing containment space  24  of modular panel  30  is the space between holder boards  26  and  27  and resilient filler material  20  secures the inserted tubing  1  against the plate  22  over a broad area thereof provided by the undercuts  32  and  33   
     The inside edges of the holder boards  26  and  27  define the space  24  into which the tubing is inserted and held against the plate  22 . Those edges  28  and  29  are preferably beveled slightly as shown and provide a tight fit for the tubing. The purpose of the bevel of edges  28  and  29  is to taper the entrance walls to space  24  so that it becomes slightly wider toward the plate. Thus, the tubing must be forced into the space from the open side thereof and once forced into the space is held firmly therein against plate  22  even without the filler material  20 . The tubing is further held securely in space  24  in intimate thermal contact with the plate by the compliant thermally conductive filler material  20 . According to the first embodiment of the present invention a grid structure  31  is provided between the installed panels and tubing and the finished floor covering  34  so that the direct contact area with the finished floor covering is reduced and trapped air spaces  35  are formed. 
     By reducing thermal conduction between the panels and tubing and the finished floor covering, the floor covering surface is less subject to variations in temperature across the surface. For example, for RFH, the temperature on the surface of the finished floor covering immediately over the tubing is likely to be significantly higher than elsewhere. The grid structure  31  creates trapped air spaces  35  between the panels (and tubing) and the finished floor covering and those air spaces are thermal barrier to direct thermal conduction. The result is that “hot spots” on the finished floor covering surface (shown in FIG. 2) are diminished or eliminated and the floor surface temperature is more even and comfortable. 
     A similar result is achieved for RFC where the temperature of the finished floor covering immediately over the tubing is likely to be significantly colder than elsewhere. Here again, the grid structure  31  creates trapped air spaces between the panels and tubing and the finished floor covering and the trapped air spaces are thermal barriers to direct thermal conduction. The result is that “cold spots” on the finished floor covering surface (shown in FIG. 2) are reduced, the floor surface temperature is more even and comfortable and condensation on the finished floor surface during humid conditions is less likely. 
     Second Embodiment—Panels of the First Type 
     FIG. 4 shows a similar modular panel  50  in which the tubing containment space  44  between holder boards  36  and  37  is closed on the bottom side by the radiation plate  41 , also for top of the sub-floor installation, and so the tubing  1  is inserted into this space from the top side. The filler material  20  secures the inserted tubing  1  against the plate  41  over a broad area thereof provided by the undercuts  42  and  43 . In this second embodiment, direct thermal contact between the tubing and the finished floor covering  40  is reduced by thermal insulation strip  45  that covers the tubing and part of the holder boards immediately next to the tubing. The insulation strip  45  is a barrier to heat conduction directly from the tubing to the finished floor covering and so reduces hot spots when the system is used for RFH and reduces “cold spots” when the system is used for RFC. 
     Other strips  46  are like  45  may be provided between strips  45  for even mechanical support and need not be thermally insulating. 
     Third Embodiment—Panels of the First Type 
     FIG. 5 shows the third embodiment using a similar modular panel  60  in which the tubing containment space  54  is the space between holder boards  56  and  57  and is closed on the bottom side by radiation plate  51  for top of the sub-floor installation and so the tubing  1  must be inserted into this space from the open top side. The filler material  20  secures the inserted tubing  1  against the plate  51  over a broad area thereof provided by the undercuts  52  and  53 . 
     In this embodiment, the holder boards  56  and  57  are substantially thicker than the diameter of the tubing so that there is a significant space  55  between the top of the tubing and the top surface  58  of the panel. The space  55  is preferably filled with a mechanically supportive thermal insulator  59  so that the surface  58  is even and mechanically supportive at all points thereof. Then the finished floor covering can be thin and/or flexible like vinyl or carpet. The thermal insulator  59  is a barrier to direct heat conduction between the tubing and the finished floor covering and provides mechanical support for the finished floor covering. 
     Fourth Embodiment—Panels of the First Type 
     FIG. 6 shows the fourth embodiment using a similar modular panel  74  in which the tubing containment space  75  is the space between holder boards  72  and  73  and is closed on the bottom side by radiation plate  71  for top of the sub-floor installation and so the tubing  1  must be inserted into this space from the open top side. The filler material  20  secures the inserted tubing  1  against the plate  71  over a broad area thereof provided by the undercuts  62  and  63 . 
     In this embodiment, the holder boards  72  and  73  are substantially thicker than the diameter of the tubing so that there is a significant longitudinal space  66  defined by walls  64  and  65  between the top of the tubing and the top surface  76  of the panel. The space  66  contains thermal insulation strip  67  that is a thermal barrier between the tubing  1  and the finished floor covering  77  and also provides mechanical support even with panel surface  76  for the floor covering at all points thereof. Then the finished floor covering can be thin and/or flexible like vinyl or carpet. 
     Fifth Embodiment—Panel of the First Type 
     This embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 uses panels such as  30  (FIG. 3) or  50  (FIG. 4) and an array of small spacers  76  distributed evenly on top of the panels to provide an even distribution of trapped air spaces between the installed panels and tubing and the finished floor covering. The spacers need not be highly thermally insulating and can be made of wood. It is preferred that they not be placed directly over the tubing and be distributed evenly to provide even mechanical support for the finished floor covering. 
     FIG. 7 is an end view of an RFH/RFC installation of the modular panels  86  on top of the sub-floor  70 , showing several modular panels arranged side by side and end to end on the sub-flooring, on an area thereof in a room. Fill boards  88  between the modular panels bring the surface of the installation even throughout for the finished floor covering  34 . 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the same room. showing several of the modular tubing holding boards  86  and  87  of different kinds, arranged side by side and end to end on the sub-floor  70  of the room over an area of the floor defined by vertical corner lines  85   a  to  85   c . The modular panels hold tubing  1  as a continuous length laid down serpentine fashion from panel to panel, embedded in the holding spaces of the modular panels and held securely therein by the space structure itself and the filler material  20  therein. 
     Panels of the Second Type 
     A panel of the second type is shown in FIGS. 9 to  10 . A horizontal installation of the panels and tubing on the studs  89  of a wall is illustrated in these Figures and the installation is completed when the finished wall covering  99  is attached to the panels. 
     The panel  90  is an assembly of a radiation plate  91  and holding boards  96  and  97 , which may be plywood, particle board or other rigid material, about the same thickness as the outside diameter of the tubing  1  that is inserted into it. The two boards  96  and  97  support the radiation plate  91 , which has a uniform longitudinal slot  95  the length thereof and the tubing fits snugly into the slot. The plate and slot can be made of a unitary piece of sheet metal bent to form slot  94  having sides  92  and  93  and bottom  94 . As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the plate slot  95  fits between the spaced apart boards  96  and  97  and defines a loop, which is as deep as the thickness of the boards and in which the tubing  1  fits at installation. The plate is made of highly thermally conductive material such as aluminum, copper or steel. For example, it can be made of a sheet as thin as 0.008 gauge, 3003 alloy aluminum; and is attached to sleepers  31  and  32  by a suitable glue or epoxy or by nailing stapling or staking. 
     The slot  95  formed in such a sheet of aluminum can be distorted as the panels are handled. To avoid this, a piece of reinforcing mat  98  is attached to both sleeper pieces, bridging the space and so insuring a degree of lateral dimensional stability of the panel. The mat  98  may be fiberglass or other strong flexible thermally insulating material that is attached by glue, epoxy, staples, etc. to the boards as shown. The completed modular panel  90 , shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is substantially rigid longitudinally and can flex slightly along slot  95 . 
     Sixth Embodiment—Panels of the Second Type 
     FIG. 11 shows the sixth embodiment of the present invention using panels of the second type. The panel  100  is an assembly of a radiation plate  101  and holding boards  106  and  107 , which are about the same thickness as the outside diameter of the tubing  1  that is inserted into longitudinal slot  105  of the plate. The two boards  106  and  107  support the radiation plate  101  and the tubing fits snugly into slot  105 . The plate and slot can be made of a unitary piece of sheet metal bent to form slot  105  having sides  102  and  103  and bottom  104 . 
     As shown, the plate slot  105  fits between the spaced apart boards  106  and  107  and defines a loop, which is as deep as the thickness of the boards and in which the tubing  1  fits at installation. A piece of reinforcing mat  111  is attached to both boards  106  and  107 , bridging the space and so insuring lateral dimensional stability of the panel and so the completed modular panel is substantially rigid longitudinally and can flex slightly along slot  105 . 
     The inside edges  108  and  109  of the holder boards  106  and  107 , respectively, define the space into which the plate slot  105  is inserted and held to receive the tubing. Those edges  108  and  109  are preferably beveled slightly as shown and provide a tight fit for the tubing inside the plate slot. The bevel tapers the entrance walls to the space between the boards so that it becomes slightly wider toward the bottom of the slot. Thus, the tubing must be forced into the slot from the open side thereof and once forced in is held firmly therein and is further secured by the filler material  20 . 
     According to this sixth embodiment a grid structure  115  is provided between the installed panels and tubing and the finished wall covering  112  so that direct thermal contact of the tubing with the finished wall covering is reduced and trapped air spaces  116  are formed. 
     By reducing thermal conduction between the tubing and the finished wall covering, the wall covering surface  114  has less temperature variation across it. For example, for RWH and RCH, the temperature on the surface of the finished covering immediately over the tubing is likely to be significantly higher than elsewhere. The grid structure creates trapped air spaces  116  are thermal barrier to direct thermal conduction. The result is that “hot spots” on the finished wall or ceiling covering surface are diminished or eliminated and the surface temperature thereof is more even and comfortable. 
     A similar result is achieved for RWC and RCC where the temperature of the finished covering immediately over the tubing is likely to be significantly colder than elsewhere. Here again, the grid structure  111  creates trapped air spaces  116  between the panels and tubing and the finished covering and the trapped air spaces are thermal barriers to direct thermal conduction. The result is that “cold spots” on the finished covering surface are reduced, the surface temperature is more even and comfortable and condensation on the surface during humid conditions is less likely. 
     Seventh Embodiment—Panels of the Second Type 
     FIG. 12 shows the seventh embodiment of the present invention using panels of the second type. Here the panel is the same as panel  100  is the sixth embodiment (FIG. 11) and all reference numbers on the panel with tubing  1  inserted and secured with compliant thermally conductive filler material  20  are the same as in FIG.  11  and so that part of the description hereinabove with reference to FIG. 11 applies also to FIG.  12 . 
     According to this seventh embodiment, direct thermal contact between the tubing and the finished floor covering  122  is reduced by thermal insulation strip  125  that covers the tubing and part of the holder boards immediately next to the tubing. The insulation strip  125  is a barrier to heat conduction directly from the tubing to the finished floor covering  122  Other strips  126  like  125  may be provided for even mechanical support and need not be thermally insulating. By reducing thermal conduction between the tubing and the finished wall covering, the all covering surface  124  has less temperature variation across it. For example, for RWH and RCH, the temperature on the surface of the finished covering immediately over the tubing is likely to be significantly higher than elsewhere. The strips also create trapped air spaces  123  that are thermal barriers to direct thermal conduction. The result is that “hot spots” on the finished wall or ceiling covering surface  124  are diminished or eliminated and the surface temperature thereof is more even and comfortable. 
     A similar result is achieved for RWC and RCC where the temperature of the finished covering immediately over the tubing is  10  likely to be significantly colder than elsewhere. Here again, the strips create trapped air spaces  123  between the panels and tubing and the finished covering and the trapped air spaces are thermal barriers to direct thermal conduction and the result is that “cold spots” on the finished covering surface are reduced, the surface temperature is more even and comfortable and condensation on the surface during humid conditions is less likely. 
     Eighth Embodiment—Panels of the Second Type 
     FIG. 13 shows the seventh embodiment of the present invention using panels of the second type. Here the panel is the same as panel  100  is the sixth and seventh embodiment (FIGS. 11 and 12) and all reference numbers on the panel with tubing  1  inserted and secured with compliant thermally conductive filler material  20  are the same as in those Figures and that part of the description herein with reference thereto applies also to FIG.  13 . 
     According to this eighth embodiment, direct thermal contact between the tubing and the finished floor covering  132  is reduced by uniform blanket of thermal insulation  135  that covers the entire installation of panels and tubing on the wall or ceiling. The insulation blanket strip  125  is a barrier to heat conduction directly from the tubing to the finished floor covering  122   
     Other strips  126  like  125  may be provided for even mechanical support and need not be thermally insulating. By reducing thermal conduction between the tubing and the finished wall covering, the wall covering surface  124  has less temperature variation across it. 
     For example, for RWH and RCH, the temperature on the surface of the finished covering immediately over the tubing is likely to be significantly higher than elsewhere. The strips also create trapped air spaces  123  that are thermal barriers to direct thermal conduction. The result is that “hot spots” on the finished wall or ceiling covering surface  124  are diminished or eliminated and the surface temperature thereof is more even and comfortable. 
     A similar result is achieved for RWC and RCC where the temperature of the finished covering immediately over the tubing is likely to be significantly colder than elsewhere. Here again, the strips create trapped air spaces  123  between the panels and tubing and the finished covering and the trapped air spaces are thermal barriers to direct thermal conduction and the result is that “cold spots” on the finished covering surface are reduced, the surface temperature is more even and comfortable and condensation on the surface during humid conditions is less likely. 
     RWH/RWC—Panels And Tubing Horizontal Over Studs 
     A typical wood frame construction wall structure is shown in FIG.  14  and denoted  140 . It includes a wall sole plate  141 , studs  142  to  150  and top plate  121  with several of the straight run modular panels- 186  (like panel  100  in FIGS. 11 to  13 ) and U turn modular panels  187  (serving the same function as  180  degree panels  87  in FIG.  8 ), arranged side by side and end to end on the studs, providing a horizontal arrangement of several passes of the tubing across the studs and ready for covering by a finished wall covering. 
     RCH/RCC—Panels And Tubing Across Rafters, Joists, Etc. 
     Radiant hydronic cooling described herein is effective when installed in the ceiling, because the cooled air against the ceiling falls to the floor creating a convection flow that is favorable to providing even cooling throughout the room. In typical wood frame construction the ceiling of a room before the finished ceiling is installed is bare rafters, joists or strapping. Such a ceiling installation would be essentially the same as the wall installation shown in FIG. 14, except it would be on the rafters, joists, etc. of the ceiling instead of the wall studs  99  as in FIG.  14 . 
     Compliant Thermally Conductive Filler Material 
     The compliant filler material  20  around the tubing held in the tubing holding space in any of the embodiments herein is applied to the space before the tubing is inserted or forced into the space. A purpose of the filler material is to hold the tubing in the space as an adhesive, while at the same time allowing the tubing to expand and contract longitudinally within the space of successive modular pieces that hold a length of tubing at installation. The tubing must be free to expand and contract, while the modular pieces are fixed by staples, nails, screws, etc. to the sub-floor, wall studs or ceiling rafters. Another purpose of the filler material is to reduce noise created by expansions and contractions of the tubing in the space. Yet another and important purpose is to provide a medium of thermal conduction from the tubing to the plate. A suitable filler material for any of these purposes is silicone rubber. 
     A convenient form of silicone rubber that can be used in the installations described herein is available commercially as a sealant or a caulking in viscous liquid form, usually dispensed from a tube by-simply forcing it out of a nozzle on the tube. Such a sealant/caulking is usually a prepared mix of silicone dioxide, methanol and ammonia. A commercial source of this sealant/caulking mix is a General Electric product called SILICONE II that remains resilient for many years after it is applied. 
     CONCLUSIONS 
     While the invention described herein is described in connection with several preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. It is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations of those embodiments and their features as may be made by those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.