Preparation and investigation of a prefabricated salt hydrate phase change material partition for passive solar buildings

Abstract

The incorporation of phase change material (PCM) into building structures offers a pathway for passive energy storage, enabling adaptable indoor temperature control and alleviating energy consumption. Despite these advantages, the widespread adoption of PCM in building structures faces challenges due to extended payback periods. In this study, a novel and cost-effective salt hydrate PCM composite, comprised of calcium chloride hexahydrate–potassium chloride (CCH–KCl), was developed. Melamine foam (MF) and strontium chloride hexahydrate (SCH) were synergistically utilized to address phase separation and supercooling issues. Numerical simulations were conducted to assess the performance of the developed salt hydrate PCM composite in building partition walls. Specifically, incorporating a 20 mm-thick composite resulted in peak temperature reductions of 0.72 °C during normal operation and 1.01 °C during power outages compared to structures without PCM, accompanied by a substantial reduction in energy consumption by 5376.68 kWh/year. Moreover, the cost of the developed salt hydrate PCM is 89.33 % lower than industrial paraffin, and it reduces CO2 emissions by 1.40 kg/year/m2 compared to paraffin's 1.11 kg/year/m2. In summary, the developed salt hydrate PCM composite exhibits commendable thermal regulation and economic advantages in building applications, serving as a pivotal contributor to emission reduction efforts.