Numerical investigation of the integration of new bio-based PCM in building envelopes during the summer in Algerian cities

Abstract

This paper investigates the integration of a new bio-based phase-change material (PCM) into walls to improve energy storage in buildings. Three PCMs with ecological and highly renewable properties, combined by blending local vegetable oils with purified beeswax are investigated. The numerical study, using the optimal sample, concentrated on representative Algerian cities over a three-month summer period. A COMSOL software model is developed to solve the non-linear equations governing the physical phenomena. The results indicate that the use of bio-based PCM significantly improves energy storage capacity in all the cities studied. The performance of bio-based PCM energy storage highly depends on the specific climatic conditions of each city. The optimal location of the PCM layer in the walls is determined for all cities. The PCM is decreasing the maximum temperature of the inner surface, with differences of 3.95 °C, 3.25 °C, 3.17 °C and 2.98 °C respectively for Bachar, Tamanrasset, Constantine and Annaba. Those results enable the use of the developed bio-based material for building walls.