Phase Change Material Wallboard (PCMW) melting temperature optimisation for passive indoor temperature control

Abstract

Incorporating PCMs into traditional building envelops is an effective way to minimise indoor temperature fluctuations and maximise thermal comfort in summertime. PCMW is of particular interest due to its ease of installation. This paper presents a theoretical analysis in which both outdoor air temperature and solar radiation are considered to predict the optimal melting temperature of an internal PCMW for passive indoor temperature control. Key factors influencing the selection of optimal melting temperature are studied including outdoor temperature, solar radiation, window size, air change rate (ACH), and external wall and window U-values. A case study was carried out on a lightweight building using real weather data for the summer months in the UK. The simulation was developed in EnergyPlus with the potential to reduce energy use while maintain the desired internal temperatures determined. The optimal melting temperature was found to be 23.4 °C during summer in the UK from a theoretical analysis, which showed good agreement with the numerical simulations performed. In summer, the percentage energy savings can be as high as 40% compared with a similar building without PCMWs and the period which temperatures are maintained within the thermal comfort range can be improved by up to 7.2%.