A fan coil utilizes what method to distribute heating or cooling to a space?

A fan coil utilizes forced convection to distribute heating or cooling to a space. This method involves the use of a fan to move air across the coil, which is either heated or cooled by the circulating water within it. As the air passes over the coil, it picks up heat when the coil is heated or loses heat when the coil is cooled. This ensures a consistent and efficient transfer of temperature-controlled air into the living space, effectively maintaining comfort levels.

In contrast, other methods such as radiation or conduction are not employed by a fan coil system. Radiation relies on the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves without the need for a medium, which is not applicable here as fan coils depend on moving air. Conduction, on the other hand, involves heat transfer through direct contact between materials, which does not effectively move air or change temperatures in an entire room. Natural convection is driven by the natural movement of air due to temperature differences, whereas the fan in a forced convection system actively moves the air, enhancing the speed and efficiency of heating or cooling distribution.