Abstract
The use of phase change materials (PCMs) in building elements has gained increasing popularity in recent years because of the potential energy savings that result from the heat stored during variable temperature–time histories. This paper describes the results of non-linear numerical analyses on sandwich panels characterized by different geometry and consisting of an innovative concrete, i.e., lightweight concrete with aggregates containing PCMs. The amount of embedded PCMs has no equal in the literature, and this calls for a detailed assessment of its thermal performance within a typical building element. The heat transfer process inside the panels is modelled via finite elements in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the addition of PCMs with regard to insulation. The results show that adding PCMs may significantly reduce (by up to 20%) the energy required for cooling in the hot season, while the reduction of the energy required for heating in the cold season is lower (up to 10%). Moreover, there is a significant reduction in the instantaneous power required, both for heating and cooling.
Highlights
Buildings use 40% of the total European Union (EU) energy consumption and generate 36%of the Union’s CO2 emissions [1]; the U.S Department of Energy (DoE) [2] estimates that the building envelope typically impacts 57% of a building’s thermal loads
The main contributions that are usually considered in the heat balance of a dwelling room are shown in Figure 2: besides the heat transferred through the envelope, there are the contributions of windows and openings (QW ), the effect of infiltration and ventilation (Q I/V ), and the power supplied by heating and air conditioning systems (Q HVAC )
Since the analyses presented are primarily focused on the assessment of the thermal behaviour of precast cladding that are typically used for industrial and commercial buildings, the two contributions QW and Q I/V that usually depend on the characteristics of the room under consideration and on the difference between the inside and outside ambient temperatures (Ta and Tamb respectively) are neglected
Summary
Buildings use 40% of the total European Union (EU) energy consumption and generate 36%. Of the energy consumption in the EU is due to dispersion through building envelopes, and similar figures hold for greenhouse gases Within this context, cladding plays a crucial role for increasing energy saving in buildings, which are responsible for a major contribution to emissions in the EU. The aim of E4iBuildings was to develop and investigate innovative lightweight aggregates for concrete containing embedded phase change materials (PCMs). The addition of PCMs to concrete brings an increase in the ability of cladding to store thermal energy within building envelopes by reducing and delaying the peak amplitude of heat fluxes, and .
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