Abstract
The generation and use of energy are significant contributors to CO2 emissions. Globally, approximately 30% to 40% of all energy consumption can be directly or indirectly linked to buildings. Nearly half of energy usage in buildings is linked to maintaining the thermal comfort of the inhabitants. Therefore, finding solutions that are not only technically but also economically feasible is of utmost importance. Though much research has been conducted to address this issue, most solutions are still costly for developing countries to implement practically. This study endeavors to find a less expensive yet straightforward methodology to achieve thermal comfort while conserving energy. This study takes a broader view of multiple habitat-related CO2 emission issues in developing regions and describes a hybrid solution to address them. New technologies and innovative concepts are being globally examined to benefit from the considerable potential of PCMs and their role in thermal energy storage (TES) applications for buildings. The current study numerically investigates the thermal response of a hybrid building envelope consisting of PCM and local organic waste materials for low-cost low-energy buildings. The local organic waste materials used are those whose disposal is usually done by burning, resulting in an immense amount of greenhouse gases. In the first phase, different waste materials are characterized to determine their thermophysical properties. In the second phase, a low-cost, commonly available PCM calcium chloride hexahydrate, CaCl2·6H2O, is integrated with a brick and corn husk wall to enhance the thermal storage in the building envelope to minimize energy consumption. Temperature distribution plots are primarily used for analysis. The results show a marked improvement in thermal comfort by maintaining a maximum indoor temperature of 27 °C when construction is performed with a 6% corn husk composite material embedded with the PCM, while under similar conditions, the standard brick construction maintained a 31 °C indoor temperature. It is concluded that the integration of the PCM layer with the corn husk wall provides an adequate solution for low-cost and low-energy buildings.
Highlights
The buildings and construction sectors utilize one-third of global energy consumption and are the primary source of carbon emissions globally [1]
Passive techniques employing phase change material (PCM) to minimize energy consumption in the building sector have increased over time [7,8]
Yasiri and Szabo provided a thorough analysis of PCMs utilization in buildings and energy savings associated with the applications [11]
Summary
The buildings and construction sectors utilize one-third of global energy consumption and are the primary source of carbon emissions globally [1]. The latent heat thermal energy storage capabilities of PCMs make them suitable for applications in low-cost, lightweight buildings with lesser heat storage capacity. Passive techniques employing PCMs to minimize energy consumption in the building sector have increased over time [7,8]. Various experimental and numerical studies have been performed to evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing PCMs. Zhang et al, studied the suitable PCMs with appropriate incorporation methods to assess the latent heat thermal energy storage in buildings [9]. Gracia and Cabeza have given a thorough review of PCM in passive TES applications in buildings [10]. Yasiri and Szabo provided a thorough analysis of PCMs utilization in buildings and energy savings associated with the applications [11]. The main criteria for selecting appropriate PCMs are their phase change temperature and heat of fusion, depending on the particular applications [13]
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