Improved simulation of phase change processes in applications where conduction is the dominant heat transfer mode

Abstract

This paper reports on the development, experimental validation and application of a semi-empirical model for the simulation of the phase change process in phase change materials (PCM). PCMs are now increasingly being used in various building materials such as plasterboard, concrete or panels to improve thermal control in buildings and accurate modelling of their behaviour is important to effectively capture the effects of storage on indoor thermal conditions. Unlike many commercial simulation packages that assume very similar melting and freezing behaviour for the PCM and no hysteresis, the methodology employed treats the melting and freezing processes separately and this allows the inclusion of the effect of hysteresis in the modelling. As demonstrated by the results in this paper, this approach provides a more accurate prediction of the temperature and heat flow in the material, which is of particular importance in providing accurate representation of indoor thermal conditions during thermal cycling. The difference in the prediction accuracy of the two methods is a function of the properties of the PCM. The smaller the hysteresis of the PCM, the lower will be the prediction error of the conventional approach, and solution time will become the determining factor in selecting the simulation approach in practical applications.