Effect of Phase Change Materials on the Thermal Performance of Residential Building Located in Different Cities of a Tropical Rainforest Climate Zone

Almas Sheriyev,Shazim Ali Memon,Jong Kim,Indira Adilkhanova

doi:10.3390/en14092699

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the thermal performance of PCM and PCM combined with nighttime natural (NV) and mechanical ventilation (MV) applied to a residential building located in eight cities of tropical rainforest climate zone (Af). The analysis was accomplished using numerical simulations and developing a unique methodology for selecting the PCM melting temperature based on the thermal comfort limits. The thermal performance of the PCM integrated building was quantitatively evaluated using the concept of peak temperature drop. Additionally, a novel indicator of Total Temperature Drop (TTD) was introduced to determine the overall impact of the PCM and PCM combined with NV/MV on the thermal comfort conditions inside the building. The results showed that PCM 28 was the most efficient in improving the thermal performance of the building located in the Af climate zone, achieving a TTD of up to 356 °C per year. The usage of PCM 28 combined with nighttime natural ventilation improved the TTD values by up to 15%, whereas the integration of PCM 28 combined with mechanical ventilation resulted in a TTD values increase of up to 45%. Conclusively, mechanical ventilation showed its superiority over natural ventilation in the tropical rainforest climate, and PCM 28 applied together with mechanical ventilation could be used as the optimum combination for the whole climate zone.

Highlights

Accepted: 26 April 2021Due to fast-growing economic development and high living standards, a considerable increase in energy consumption can be observed worldwide
Based on the results presented in this can be concluded thatofthe mechanical ventilation on the peak temperature drop and Temperature Drop (TTD) value
This study investigated the impact of the PCM on the thermal performance of a building located in eight cities of the Af climate zone: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Padang (Indonesia), Davao (Philippines), Belem (Brazil), Iquitos (Peru) and Georgetown (Guyana)

Summary

Introduction

Accepted: 26 April 2021Due to fast-growing economic development and high living standards, a considerable increase in energy consumption can be observed worldwide. According to energy consumption reports, around 80% of the global energy consumed comes from fossil fuel combustion [1], which is the primary source of carbon dioxide emissions, significantly contributing to environmental pollution and climate change. The building sector is one of the main energy consumers and contributors to carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. It is responsible for over one-third of the final global energy consumption and 40% of global CO2 emissions [2]. There are predictions that the amount of energy consumed by the building sector will keep on increasing due to more frequent use of energy-consuming devices, better access to energy in developing countries, and the growing construction of buildings worldwide [2]. PCMs represent a type of thermal energy storage materials that possess a large amount of energy during their phase change process [3,4]

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Conclusion