Peak indoor air temperature reduction for buildings in hot-humid climate using phase change materials

Abstract

A hot-humid climate, which is characterized by uniform diurnal temperature throughout the year, can provide a year-round opportunity to benefit from phase change materials (PCMs) for buildings' application. However, the small diurnal temperature fluctuation might restrict the PCMs' performance and efficiency. This paper investigates the capability of PCMs to decrease the peak indoor air temperature (Tᵢ) of naturally conditioned buildings in a hot-humid climate region by storing night coolness. To this end, field measurement has been conducted in existing buildings to identify the appropriate transition temperatures' range for PCM. Then, a macro-encapsulated PCM with different transition temperatures and quantities has been numerically examined. The results showed a considerable reduction in peak Tᵢ, particularly when using PCMs with lower transition temperatures and higher quantities. Although uncompleted PCM freezing was observed when lower transition temperatures were used, it was tackled by combining night ventilation. Moreover, the PCMs showed effective year-round performance and achieved a reduction in the peak Tᵢ reached up to 4.87 °C. The optimal performance was achieved when using a combination of NV and PCMs with the lowest transition temperature that ensured complete PCMs freezing. Therefore, the PCMs’ freezing temperature should be considered when selecting PCMs for such conditions.