Experimental studies on the applications of PCMs and nano-PCMs in buildings: A critical review

Abstract Thermal energy storage (TES) systems with phase change materials (PCMs) as a known energy storage technology have a high potential for increasing the energy efficiency of buildings. In fact, the use of PCMs with various approaches, either active or passive, in the building helps to maintain the temperature in the thermal comfort range for occupants through decreasing the temperature swings, and lower energy consumption by the load reduction/shifting. Due to the significance of this issue, many research works have been carried out on the application of PCMs in buildings. In this study, the experimental works in the fields of PCMs in buildings are taken into account. The papers are classified based on heating, cooling, and air-conditioning. Besides these, the applications of nano-PCMs in buildings are reviewed. According to what has been carried out up to now, the gaps are identified and analyzed for preparing useful suggestions for future works. The recommendations and suggestions are presented at the end of the chapters as well as the conclusion, and the literature is summarized in some tables.

[1]  Xiangfei Kong,et al.  Experimental research on a novel energy efficiency roof coupled with PCM and cool materials , 2016 .

[2]  Rasmus Lund Jensen,et al.  Experimental investigation of heat transfer during night-time ventilation , 2010 .

[3]  Mohammed M. Farid,et al.  A Review on Energy Conservation in Building Applications with Thermal Storage by Latent Heat Using Phase Change Materials , 2021, Thermal Energy Storage with Phase Change Materials.

[4]  Necib Hichem,et al.  Experimental and Numerical Study of a Usual Brick Filled with PCM to Improve the Thermal Inertia of Buildings , 2013 .

[5]  Arild Gustavsen,et al.  Phase Change Materials for Building Applications: A State-of-the-Art Review , 2010 .

[6]  H. Paksoy,et al.  Review on using microencapsulated phase change materials (PCM) in building applications , 2015 .

[7]  Nasrudin Abd Rahim,et al.  Review of PCM based cooling technologies for buildings , 2012 .

[8]  R. Ruoff,et al.  Enhanced thermal conductivity of phase change materials with ultrathin-graphite foams for thermal energy storage , 2014 .

[9]  Jay M. Khodadadi,et al.  Thermal conductivity enhancement of nanostructure-based colloidal suspensions utilized as phase change materials for thermal energy storage: A review , 2013 .

[10]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Experimental study of using PCM in brick constructive solutions for passive cooling , 2010 .

[11]  Sašo Medved,et al.  Correlation between the local climate and the free-cooling potential of latent heat storage , 2008 .

[12]  L. Domenech,et al.  Improvement of a heat pump based HVAC system with PCM thermal storage for cold accumulation and heat dissipation , 2014 .

[13]  D. Feldman,et al.  Full scale thermal testing of latent heat storage in wallboard , 1996 .

[14]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Use of microencapsulated PCM in concrete walls for energy savings , 2007 .

[15]  D. Buddhi,et al.  Thermal performance assessment of encapsulated PCM based thermal management system to reduce peak energy demand in buildings , 2016 .

[16]  Mario A. Medina,et al.  On the use of plug-and-play walls (PPW) for evaluating thermal enhancement technologies for building enclosures: Evaluation of a thin phase change material (PCM) layer , 2015 .

[17]  David Reay,et al.  Novel ventilation system for reducing air conditioning in buildings. Part II: testing of prototype , 2001 .

[18]  Shi-Chune Yao,et al.  Experimental and numerical investigation of the cross-flow PCM heat exchanger for the energy saving of building HVAC , 2017 .

[19]  S. Kalaiselvam,et al.  Energy efficient PCM-based variable air volume air conditioning system for modern buildings , 2010 .

[20]  Maria A. Founti,et al.  Treatment of natural stones with Phase Change Materials: Experiments and computational approaches , 2012 .

[21]  R. Velraj,et al.  Effect of double layer phase change material in building roof for year round thermal management , 2008 .

[22]  Miguel Azenha,et al.  Experimental and numerical studies of hybrid PCM embedded in plastering mortar for enhanced thermal behaviour of buildings , 2016 .

[23]  M. Frey,et al.  Towards nearly zero-energy buildings: The state-of-art of national regulations in Europe , 2013 .

[24]  George A. Lane.  Adding strontium chloride or calcium hydroxide to calcium chloride hexahydrate heat storage material , 1981 .

[25]  Sašo Medved,et al.  Efficiency of free cooling using latent heat storage integrated into the ventilation system of a low energy building , 2007 .

[26]  Ahmet Sarı,et al.  Synthesis and characterization of micro/nano capsules of PMMA/capric–stearic acid eutectic mixture for low temperature-thermal energy storage in buildings , 2015 .

[27]  Zhengguo Zhang,et al.  Experimental and numerical investigations on the thermal performance of building plane containing CaCl2·6H2O/expanded graphite composite phase change material , 2017 .

[28]  Oliver Kornadt,et al.  Temperature reduction due to the application of phase change materials , 2008 .

[29]  Manuel Carmona,et al.  Polymeric-SiO2-PCMs for improving the thermal properties of gypsum applied in energy efficient buildings , 2014 .

[30]  Maciej Jaworski,et al.  Thermal performance of building element containing phase change material (PCM) integrated with ventilation system – An experimental study , 2014 .

[31]  Joseph Virgone,et al.  In-situ study of thermal comfort enhancement in a renovated building equipped with phase change material wallboard , 2011 .

[32]  Andreas K. Athienitis,et al.  PCM Thermal Energy Storage in Buildings: Experimental Study and Applications☆ , 2015 .

[33]  Javier Mazo,et al.  Modeling a radiant floor system with Phase Change Material (PCM) integrated into a building simulation tool: Analysis of a case study of a floor heating system coupled to a heat pump , 2012 .

[34]  M. A. Medina,et al.  Assessing the integration of a thin phase change material (PCM) layer in a residential building wall for heat transfer reduction and management , 2015 .

[35]  D. W. Etheridge,et al.  Novel ventilation cooling system for reducing air conditioning in buildings.: Part I: testing and theoretical modelling , 2000 .

[36]  Joseph Virgone,et al.  Energetic efficiency of room wall containing PCM wallboard: A full-scale experimental investigation , 2008 .

[37]  A. Sari.  Composites of polyethylene glycol (PEG600) with gypsum and natural clay as new kinds of building PCMs for low temperature-thermal energy storage , 2014 .

[38]  G. Zannis,et al.  Experimental thermal characterization of a Mediterranean residential building with PCM gypsum board walls , 2013 .

[39]  S. Kalaiselvam,et al.  Experimental investigation of solidification and melting characteristics of composite PCMs for building heating application , 2014 .

[40]  Mario A. Medina,et al.  Evaluation of the thermal performance of frame walls enhanced with paraffin and hydrated salt phase change materials using a dynamic wall simulator , 2010 .

[41]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  In situ thermal and acoustic performance and environmental impact of the introduction of a shape-stabilized PCM layer for building applications , 2016 .

[42]  S. Kalaiselvam,et al.  Enhanced thermal performance and study the influence of sub cooling on activated carbon dispersed eutectic PCM for cold storage applications , 2017 .

[43]  Per Heiselberg,et al.  Review of thermal energy storage technologies based on PCM application in buildings , 2013 .

[44]  Xu Liu,et al.  Experimental study on cool storage air-conditioning system with spherical capsules packed bed , 2010 .

[45]  Adeel Waqas,et al.  Thermal performance of latent heat storage for free cooling of buildings in a dry and hot climate: A , 2011 .

[46]  Maria Telkes.  Remarks on “thermal energy storage using sodium sulfate decahydrate and water” [1] , 1978 .

[47]  M. Hamdan,et al.  Thermal energy storage using a phase change material , 1996 .

[48]  Paul Cooper,et al.  Development and evaluation of a ceiling ventilation system enhanced by solar photovoltaic thermal collectors and phase change materials , 2014 .

[49]  X. Shi,et al.  Experimental Investigation of PCM-LWA Composite for Building Wallboard , 2012 .

[50]  Nirmal-Kumar C. Nair,et al.  Impact of Energy Storage in Buildings on Electricity Demand Side Management , 2011, Thermal Energy Storage with Phase Change Materials.

[51]  A. Elgafy,et al.  Effect of carbon nanofiber additives on thermal behavior of phase change materials , 2005 .

[52]  Mario A. Medina,et al.  On the importance of the location of PCMs in building walls for enhanced thermal performance , 2013 .

[53]  Lv Shilei,et al.  Impact of phase change wall room on indoor thermal environment in winter , 2006 .

[54]  John J. J. Chen,et al.  Application of Weather Forecast in Conjunction with Price-Based Method for PCM Solar Passive Buildings – An Experimental Study , 2016, Thermal Energy Storage with Phase Change Materials.

[55]  Nattaporn Chaiyat,et al.  Energy and economic analysis of a building air-conditioner with a phase change material (PCM) , 2015 .

[56]  Denis Bruneau,et al.  Experimental investigation and modelling of a low temperature PCM thermal energy exchange and storage system , 2014 .

[57]  A MANNIVANNAN,et al.  Simulation and experimental study of thermal performance of a building roof with a phase change material (PCM) , 2015, Sadhana.

[58]  Xiaosong Zhang,et al.  Experimental research on the dynamic thermal performance of a novel triple-pane building window filled with PCM , 2016 .

[59]  P. Chandrasekaran,et al.  Role of PCM based nanofluids for energy efficient cool thermal storage system , 2013 .

[60]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Phase change materials and thermal energy storage for buildings , 2015 .

[61]  K. Pavlou,et al.  Recent progress on passive cooling techniques: Advanced technological developments to improve survivability levels in low-income households , 2007 .

[62]  Hussain H. Al-Kayiem,et al.  Review on Nanomaterials for Thermal Energy Storage Technologies , 2013 .

[63]  Jiang Yi,et al.  Modeling and experimental study on an innovative passive cooling system—NVP system , 2003 .

[64]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Experimental Study of PCM Inclusion in Different Building Envelopes , 2009 .

[65]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Materials used as PCM in thermal energy storage in buildings: A review , 2011 .

[66]  Som S Shrestha,et al.  Combined experimental and numerical evaluation of a prototype nano-PCM enhanced wallboard , 2014 .

[67]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Improvement of a thermal energy storage using plates with paraffin–graphite composite , 2005 .

[68]  Na Zhu,et al.  Dynamic characteristics and energy performance of buildings using phase change materials: A review , 2009 .

[69]  R. Velraj,et al.  Review on free cooling of buildings using phase change materials , 2010 .

[70]  Yi Jiang,et al.  Preparation, thermal performance and application of shape-stabilized PCM in energy efficient buildings , 2006 .

[71]  André Bontemps,et al.  Thermal testing and numerical simulation of a prototype cell using light wallboards coupling vacuum isolation panels and phase change material , 2006 .

[72]  Sumin Kim,et al.  Preparation of energy efficient paraffinic PCMs/expanded vermiculite and perlite composites for energy saving in buildings , 2015 .

[73]  R. Velraj,et al.  Heat transfer and pressure drop studies on a PCM-heat exchanger module for free cooling applications , 2011 .

[74]  Zhenjun Ma,et al.  Nano-enhanced phase change materials for improved building performance , 2016 .

[75]  Katarzyna Nowak,et al.  Experimental Thermal Performance Analysis of Building Components Containing Phase Change Material (PCM) , 2015 .

[76]  Brent R. Young,et al.  Peak Load Shifting with Energy Storage and Price-Based Control System , 2015, Thermal Energy Storage with Phase Change Materials.

[77]  Wasim Saman,et al.  Thermal performance of PCM thermal storage unit for a roof integrated solar heating system , 2005 .

[78]  John L. Wilson,et al.  Investigation of PCM as retrofitting option to enhance occupant thermal comfort in a modern residential building , 2016 .

[79]  Brent R. Young,et al.  Application of PCM Energy Storage in Combination with Night Ventilation for Space Cooling , 2015, Thermal Energy Storage with Phase Change Materials.

[80]  Paulo Santos,et al.  Experimental evaluation of the heat transfer through small PCM-based thermal energy storage units for building applications , 2016 .

[81]  Shazim Ali Memon,et al.  Development of Composite PCMs by Incorporation of Paraffin into Various Building Materials , 2015, Materials.

[82]  Shuli Liu,et al.  A review on the air-PCM-TES application for free cooling and heating in the buildings , 2016 .

[83]  Alberto Giretti,et al.  Radiant floors integrated with PCM for indoor temperature control , 2011 .

[84]  Luis Pérez-Lombard,et al.  A review of HVAC systems requirements in building energy regulations , 2011 .

[85]  Andreas K. Athienitis,et al.  Investigation of the Thermal Performance of a Passive Solar Test-Room with Wall Latent Heat Storage , 1997 .

[86]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  PCM thermal energy storage tanks in heat pump system for space cooling , 2014 .

[87]  A. Lázaro,et al.  PCM–air heat exchangers for free-cooling applications in buildings: Experimental results of two real-scale prototypes , 2009 .

[88]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Review on thermal energy storage with phase change: materials, heat transfer analysis and applications , 2003 .

[89]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Improvement of the thermal inertia of building materials incorporating PCM. Evaluation in the macroscale , 2013 .

[90]  L. Cabeza,et al.  Free-cooling of buildings with phase change materials , 2004 .

[91]  A. Stoica,et al.  Latent heat nano composite building materials , 2010 .

[92]  T. Mahlia,et al.  Thermal properties of beeswax/graphene phase change material as energy storage for building applications , 2017 .

[93]  S. Kalaiselvam,et al.  Analytical and experimental investigations of nanoparticles embedded phase change materials for cooling application in modern buildings , 2012 .

[94]  Zhengguo Zhang,et al.  Fabrication and characterization of form-stable capric-palmitic-stearic acid ternary eutectic mixture/nano-SiO2 composite phase change material , 2017 .

[95]  Edwin Rodriguez-Ubinas,et al.  Influence of the use of PCM drywall and the fenestration in building retrofitting , 2013 .

[96]  Parviz Soroushian,et al.  Experimental and numerical study of shape-stable phase-change nanocomposite toward energy-efficient building constructions , 2014 .

[97]  Kamal Abdel Radi Ismail,et al.  PCM THERMAL INSULATION IN BUILDINGS , 1997 .

[98]  Savvas A. Tassou,et al.  Effectiveness of CFD simulation for the performance prediction of phase change building boards in the thermal environment control of indoor spaces , 2013 .

[99]  Ahmet Sarı,et al.  Development and thermal performance of pumice/organic PCM/gypsum composite plasters for thermal energy storage in buildings , 2016 .

[100]  Sašo Medved,et al.  Free cooling of a building using PCM heat storage integrated into the ventilation system , 2007 .

[101]  Mohamed El Mankibi,et al.  Optimization of an Air-PCM heat exchanger and elaboration of peak power reduction strategies , 2015 .

[102]  Ian Paul Knight,et al.  The use of phase change material (PCM) to improve the coefficient of perform - ance of a chiller for meeting domestic cooling in Wales , 2007 .

[103]  Farah Souayfane,et al.  Phase change materials (PCM) for cooling applications in buildings: A review , 2016 .

[104]  S. K. Tyagi,et al.  Phase change material (PCM) based thermal management system for cool energy storage application in building: An experimental study , 2012 .

[105]  Chunxiang Qian,et al.  Reduction of interior temperature of mass concrete using suspension of phase change materials as cooling fluid , 2012 .

[106]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Life cycle assessment of the inclusion of phase change materials (PCM) in experimental buildings , 2010 .

[107]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Thermal loads inside buildings with phase change materials: Experimental results , 2012 .

[108]  K. Nagano,et al.  Development of a ventilation system utilizing thermal energy storage for granules containing phase change material , 2004 .

[109]  Xin Wang,et al.  Review on thermal performance of phase change energy storage building envelope , 2009 .

[110]  R. Saravanan,et al.  Preparation, thermal and rheological properties of hybrid nanocomposite phase change material for thermal energy storage , 2014 .

[111]  Sheikh Ahmad Zaki,et al.  A review on phase change material (PCM) for sustainable passive cooling in building envelopes , 2016 .

[112]  Beat Lehmann,et al.  Development of a thermally activated ceiling panel with PCM for application in lightweight and retrofitted buildings , 2004 .

[113]  Neil Hewitt,et al.  The development of a finned phase change material (PCM) storage system to take advantage of off-peak electricity tariff for improvement in cost of heat pump operation , 2010 .

[114]  John J. J. Chen,et al.  Application of PCM underfloor heating in combination with PCM wallboards for space heating using price based control system , 2015 .

[115]  Xiaosong Zhang,et al.  Effects of PCM state on its phase change performance and the thermal performance of building walls , 2014 .

[116]  S. Kalaiselvam,et al.  Energy conservative air conditioning system using silver nano-based PCM thermal storage for modern buildings , 2014 .

[117]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Experimental study of a ventilated facade with PCM during winter period , 2013 .

[118]  Diane Bastien,et al.  PCM thermal storage design in buildings: Experimental studies and applications to solaria in cold climates , 2017 .

[119]  Hong He,et al.  Preparation and application effects of a novel form-stable phase change material as the thermal storage layer of an electric floor heating system , 2009 .

[120]  Katsunori Nagano,et al.  Thermal characteristics of a direct heat exchange system between granules with phase change material and air , 2004 .

[121]  Frédéric Kuznik,et al.  Experimental investigation of natural convection near a wall containing phase change material , 2016 .

[122]  Atila Novoselac,et al.  Compact PCM-based thermal stores for shifting peak cooling loads , 2015 .

[123]  H. Mehling,et al.  Solar heating and cooling system with absorption chiller and low temperature latent heat storage: Energetic performance and operational experience , 2009 .

[124]  Zia Ud Din,et al.  Phase change material (PCM) storage for free cooling of buildings—A review , 2013 .

[125]  Huann-Ming Chou,et al.  A new design of metal-sheet cool roof using PCM , 2013 .

[126]  Zhu Neng,et al.  Experimental study and evaluation of latent heat storage in phase change materials wallboards , 2007 .

[127]  F. Kuznik,et al.  Experimental assessment of a phase change material for wall building use , 2009 .

[128]  Takuji Nakamura,et al.  Study of a floor supply air conditioning system using granular phase change material to augment building mass thermal storage—Heat response in small scale experiments , 2006 .

[129]  Feng Xing,et al.  Development of structural-functional integrated energy storage concrete with innovative macro-encapsulated PCM by hollow steel ball , 2017 .

[130]  Haifeng Guo,et al.  A new kind of phase change material (PCM) for energy-storing wallboard , 2008 .

[131]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Use of microencapsulated PCM in buildings and the effect of adding awnings , 2012 .

[132]  Frédéric Kuznik,et al.  Experimental assessment of a PCM to air heat exchanger storage system for building ventilation application , 2014 .

[133]  Uroš Stritih,et al.  Experimental investigation of PCM cold storage , 2009 .

[134]  Paulo Santos,et al.  Review of passive PCM latent heat thermal energy storage systems towards buildings’ energy efficiency , 2013 .

[135]  Mohamed Khayet,et al.  Experimental tile with phase change materials (PCM) for building use , 2011 .

[136]  Fitsum Tariku,et al.  Phase change material's (PCM) impacts on the energy performance and thermal comfort of buildings in a mild climate , 2016 .

[137]  Uroš Stritih,et al.  PCM thermal storage system for ‘free’ heating and cooling of buildings , 2015 .