Numerical Analysis of Building Envelope with Movable Phase Change Materials for Heating Applications

Latent heat storage materials have been tested by several researchers for decades to be used as passive heating and cooling systems in buildings but their implementation into building components is still stacked as is facing specific technical limitations related to difficulties to be charged both in heating and cooling periods. This paper presents a numerical analysis to evaluate the potential of a disruptive system, which is designed to solve the main drawbacks and to convert phase change materials (PCM) passive heating technology into a competitive solution for the building sector. The novel technology moves PCM layer with respect to the insulation layer inside the building component to maximize solar benefits in winter and be able to actively provide space heating. Design variables such as PCM melting point and control schemes were optimized. The results demonstrated that this technology is not only able to limit heat losses towards outdoors but it can provide space heating from stored solar energy when required. The promising numerical results endorse the possibility to build a future experimental prototype to quantify more in detail the benefits of this system.

[1]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Thermal energy storage in building integrated thermal systems: A review. Part 2. Integration as passive system , 2016 .

[2]  José Antonio Almendros-Ibáñez,et al.  A numerical study of external building walls containing phase change materials (PCM). , 2012 .

[3]  Mario A. Medina,et al.  Development of a thermally enhanced frame wall with phase‐change materials for on‐peak air conditioning demand reduction and energy savings in residential buildings , 2005 .

[4]  Standard Ashrae.  Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy , 1992 .

[5]  O. Šikula,et al.  Insulation panels for active control of heat transfer in walls operated as space heating or as a thermal barrier: Numerical simulations and experiments , 2018 .

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

[7]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Development and characterization of new shape-stabilized phase change material (PCM)—Polymer including electrical arc furnace dust (EAFD), for acoustic and thermal comfort in buildings , 2013 .

[8]  Jlm Jan Hensen,et al.  Climate adaptive building shells: state-of-the-art and future challenges , 2013 .

[9]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Simulation-based optimization of PCM melting temperature to improve the energy performance in buildings , 2017 .

[10]  R. Lehtiniemi,et al.  Numerical and experimental investigation of melting and freezing processes in phase change material storage , 2004 .

[11]  V. Tyagi,et al.  Integration of passive PCM technologies for net-zero energy buildings , 2018, Sustainable Cities and Society.

[12]  Peter Schossig,et al.  Micro-encapsulated phase-change materials integrated into construction materials , 2005 .

[13]  Pérez Cabrera,et al.  Caracterización del comportamiento higromórfico de un material responsivo de dos capas en madera bajo condiciones de humedad relativa de la ciudad de Bogotá , 2020 .

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

[15]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Energy savings due to the use of PCM for relocatable lightweight buildings passive heating and cooling in different weather conditions , 2016 .

[16]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Numerical study on the thermal performance of a ventilated facade with PCM , 2013 .

[17]  Riccardo Poli,et al.  Particle swarm optimization , 1995, Swarm Intelligence.

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

[19]  Alvaro de Gracia,et al.  Dynamic building envelope with PCM for cooling purposes – Proof of concept , 2019, Applied Energy.

[20]  amordadsolaradmin.  codigo-tecnico-de-la-edificacion , 2015 .

[21]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Experimental set-up for testing active and passive systems for energy savings in buildings – Lessons learnt , 2018 .

[22]  D. Cóstola,et al.  Assessing the performance potential of climate adaptive greenhouse shells , 2019, Energy.

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

[24]  Andra Blumberga,et al.  Evaluation of climate adaptive building shells: multi-criteria analysis , 2017 .

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

[26]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Thermal behaviour of insulation and phase change materials in buildings with internal heat loads: experimental study , 2015 .

[27]  D. W. Yarbrough,et al.  Dynamic thermal performance analysis of fiber insulations containing bio-based phase change materials (PCMs) , 2012 .

[28]  Kaamran Raahemifar,et al.  Application of passive wall systems for improving the energy efficiency in buildings: A comprehensive review , 2016 .

[29]  B. Rudolf,et al.  World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated , 2006 .

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