Abstract
Buildings contribute greatly to global energy use and consumption. The energy consumption of buildings is significant due to the integration of heating, ventilation, and cooling systems. Evidently, the utilization of phase change materials (PCMs) in building design can adequately reduce air-conditioning costs of buildings by diminishing external heat gains and losses. Moreover, the adoption of natural, eco-friendly, and cost-effective materials, such as terracotta bricks, can be valuable from an environmental point of view. This paper intends to assess the air-conditioning cost-saving potential of several PCM stuffed terracotta brick configurations. In that respect, the encapsulated PCMs were filled in the hollows of terracotta bricks. For the aims of this study, five different types of PCMs were considered, in relation to the thermophysical properties of their solid and liquid state (OM18: organic mixture, HS22: hydrated salt, OM29, OM32, and OM37). In addition, three PCM-stuffed terracotta brick configurations were examined with reference to the number of the PCM layers (PCMTB-A with one PCM layer, PCMTB-B with two PCM layers, and PCMTB-C with three PCM layers). Therefore, fifteen PCM-stuffed terracotta brick configurations were analysed numerically, related to environmental conditions that refer to two different scenarios in India (hot dry and composite climates). Results have unveiled that the OM32 PCM assemblies have shown better thermoeconomic performance compared to the other types of PCM. With respect to the most advantageous number of PCM layers, the evidence of this analysis has exposed that the PCMTB-C case has shown the highest annual air-conditioning cost-savings and the highest yearly carbon emission mitigations in both climates (Ahmedabad and Lucknow). In hot-dry climates, the PCMTB-C with OM32 PCM exhibited the highest annual air-conditioning cost-saving ($ 74.7), the highest annual carbon emission mitigation (1.43 ton/kWh), and the moderate payback period (22.5 years) compared to the other cases. To conclude, the findings of this study suggest a suitable way to improve the decision-making process of building design, while bridging the performance gap in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability.
Highlights
Climate change and environmental degradation pose a fundamental threat to mankind
Buildings constitute about 40% of global consumption of electricity, with residential buildings accounting for three-quarters of the overall energy consumption and one-third of world GHG emissions [1]
The current study aims to analyze numerically three different configurations of phase change materials (PCMs) stuffed terracotta bricks; in addition, five different types of PCMs, such as OM18, HS22, OM29, OM32, and OM37, were assessed for two different scenarios in India. e thermophysical properties of the assumed PCMs were measured experimentally for both solid and liquid phases. is paper explores the unsteady thermal characteristics of PCM stuffed terracotta bricks and utilizes an unsteady thermal transmittance methodology to determine the air-conditioning cost-saving within buildings
Summary
Climate change and environmental degradation pose a fundamental threat to mankind. Commercial and residential buildings require a large amount of energy for heating, ventilation, and cooling systems, while they are responsible for global warming and depletion of nonrenewable fossil fuels. Advances in Civil Engineering e traditional means of building thermal conveniences are mechanical air-conditioning systems that are energyintensive and detrimental to the environment In this regard, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly techniques applied to boost thermal comfort at a zero or low power consumption are passive heating and cooling systems [3, 4]. E literature revealed that there is no significant information on the air-conditioning cost-saving potential, carbon emission mitigation, and payback period by adopting PCM stuffed terracotta bricks in buildings. In this respect, the current study aims to analyze numerically three different configurations of PCM stuffed terracotta bricks; in addition, five different types of PCMs, such as OM18, HS22, OM29, OM32, and OM37, were assessed for two different scenarios in India (hot dry and composite climates). Is paper presents the mitigation of carbon emissions and the resulted payback periods for all analysed PCM stuffed terracotta brick buildings. e findings of this study help in the design of energy-efficient buildings with PCM integrated terracotta bricks
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