Improve Thermal Comfort in Concrete Buildings by Using Phase Change Material

Abstract

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) have been considered for thermal storage in buildings since 1980’s. With the advent of PCM implemented in gypsum board, plaster, concrete or other wall covering material, thermal storage can be part of the building structure even for light weight buildings. The new techniques of microencapsulation opened many possibilities in buildings applications. An innovative concrete with PCM was developed using a commercial microencapsulated PCM, with a melting point of 26°C and a phase change enthalpy of 110 kJ/kg. The first experiment was the inclusion of a microencapsulated PCM in concrete and the construction of a small room-sized cubicle with this new PCM-concrete. A second cubicle with the exact same characteristics and orientation, but built with standard concrete, was located next to the first one as the reference case. In 2005 and 2006 the behaviour of such cubicles was tested. Later on, a Trombe wall was added to the cubicles to investigate its influence during autumn and winter. The increase of the numbers of hours at which the cubicle with PCM is within the comfort zone defined by ASHRAE with respect to the cubicle without PCM is given.