Leakproof phase-change glass window: Characteristics and performance

Abstract

A phase-change window is a type of energy-saving window that is filled with phase change material (PCM). It can store solar radiant heat and effectively adjust room temperature. In this study, a type of phase-change gel with relatively high melting enthalpy is prepared with n-octadecane and styrene-b-ethylene-b-styrene (SEBS). This gel exhibits better leakproof characteristic and cycle stability compared with n-octadecane. We fill a double-layer glass with this gel to make a novel phase-change gel window (PCGW). Compared with a normal PCM window (PCMW), the phase-change gel will not leak out of the window during solid-liquid phase transition, and it exhibits an equivalent light transmittance during its melting state. Experimental results show that the PCGW achieves better thermal insulation than the PCMW. It can delay the time to reach peak temperature and lower the peak temperature. The temperature regulation performance of the PCGW is determined by its thickness and solar radiation intensity. When the thickness of the gel increases from 4 mm to 8 mm, the peak temperature of the inner surface of the PCGW is reduced by approximately 5.89% after being exposed to 700 W/m2 solar radiation for 120 min. When solar radiation intensity increases from 600 W/m2 to 800 W/m2, the peak temperature of the inner surface of the PCGW increases by approximately 3.25 °C. The PCGW can effectively regulate indoor temperature and benefit from natural light during daytime. It exhibits high application prospect in green energy buildings.