Thermal Performance Optimization of Shape Stabilized Phase Change Material Used in Building Envelopes

Abstract

Integrating phase change materials (PCM) with building envelopes is an effective way to reduce the cooling or heating loads, improve indoor thermal comfort and save building energy consumptions. In this paper, the heat transfer model of building envelopes with shape stabilized PCM is established and the optimal phase change temperature and enthalpy of PCM for internal walls are determined. Moreover, different PCM locations in external walls are compared based on the evaluation index of integrated uncomfortable degree. The results shows that to improve indoor thermal comfort, it is preferable to put the PCM in the middle of external wall. It also indicates that the overall integrated uncomfortable degree in a whole year decreases with increasing thickness of the inserted shape stabilized PCM plate. This work is of great significance in guiding the optimization design of building envelopes with PCM for practical applications.