Thermal performance of a window shutter with a phase change material as a passive system for buildings in warm and cold climates of México

Abstract

This paper shows the thermal performance of a window system with a shading cover made out of a phase change material (window-PCM shutter). The analysis was the numerical study where conjugated heat transfer was considered on the whole system window-PCM shutter. The modeling was conducted under warm (Merida) and cold weather (Toluca) conditions in México for the warmest and coldest day. Two different phase change materials (PCMs) were selected for the study: Paraffin wax - MG29 and n-octadecane. The results show that the n-octadecane and the MG29 were capable of keeping the inside comfort temperature for 14:35 and 16:23 h, respectively.The n-octadecane and MG29 reduced the energy of the window-PCM shutter inside surface by 67.3 and 71.6%, respectively, compared to a conventional window. Under cold weather conditions also occurred reductions of heat fluxes by 87.2 (n-octadecane) and 83% (MG29) with the window-PCM shutter system compared to a conventional window, causing non-comfort temperatures. The use of a window-PCM shutter is highly recommended under warm weather conditions, given that it showed to be a viable option for energy savings in buildings; however, for its implementation under cold weather conditions of México, it becomes necessary further investigations with other PCMs.