IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v162y2016icp207-217.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy performance of building envelopes integrated with phase change materials for cooling load reduction in tropical Singapore

Author

Listed:
  • Lei, Jiawei
  • Yang, Jinglei
  • Yang, En-Hua

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) are capable to absorb massive heat during a phase transition in a narrow temperature range, which have great potential to be incorporated into building envelopes to prevent heat penetration into buildings and reduce cooling loads. The efficiency and selection of PCMs, however, are highly subject to the climate where they are applied. This study focused on the energy performance of building envelopes integrated with PCMs for cooling load reduction in tropical climate through numerical simulations. Studies were carried out to reveal the efficacy and factors that govern the performance of the PCM addition for cooling load reduction in Singapore. The results showed that PCM can effectively reduce heat gains through building envelopes throughout the whole year, indicating the significant advantage of the use of PCMs in tropics over other regions where PCMs are only effective in certain seasons. The selection of PCM with suitable phase change temperature is critical. PCMs applied to the exterior surfaces of walls showed better performance and the optimum phase change temperature is the lowest temperature allowing the full melting–solidification cycle of the entire PCM layer. A larger phase change temperature range improves the adaptivity of the PCMs to temperature variations, but may compromise the largest energy savings that the PCMs can achieve. While thicker PCM layer reduces heat gains through building envelope, thinner PCM layer shows higher efficiency and cost benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Lei, Jiawei & Yang, Jinglei & Yang, En-Hua, 2016. "Energy performance of building envelopes integrated with phase change materials for cooling load reduction in tropical Singapore," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 207-217.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:162:y:2016:i:c:p:207-217
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.10.031
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261915012581
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.10.031?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ascione, Fabrizio & Bianco, Nicola & De Masi, Rosa Francesca & de’ Rossi, Filippo & Vanoli, Giuseppe Peter, 2014. "Energy refurbishment of existing buildings through the use of phase change materials: Energy savings and indoor comfort in the cooling season," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 990-1007.
    2. Zhou, D. & Zhao, C.Y. & Tian, Y., 2012. "Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials (PCMs) in building applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 593-605.
    3. Kuznik, Frédéric & David, Damien & Johannes, Kevyn & Roux, Jean-Jacques, 2011. "A review on phase change materials integrated in building walls," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 379-391, January.
    4. Zhou, Guobing & Yang, Yongping & Wang, Xin & Zhou, Shaoxiang, 2009. "Numerical analysis of effect of shape-stabilized phase change material plates in a building combined with night ventilation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(1), pages 52-59, January.
    5. Waqas, Adeel & Ud Din, Zia, 2013. "Phase change material (PCM) storage for free cooling of buildings—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 607-625.
    6. Sadineni, Suresh B. & Madala, Srikanth & Boehm, Robert F., 2011. "Passive building energy savings: A review of building envelope components," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3617-3631.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Liu, Jiang & Liu, Yan & Yang, Liu & Liu, Tang & Zhang, Chen & Dong, Hong, 2020. "Climatic and seasonal suitability of phase change materials coupled with night ventilation for office buildings in Western China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 356-373.
    2. Akeiber, Hussein & Nejat, Payam & Majid, Muhd Zaimi Abd. & Wahid, Mazlan A. & Jomehzadeh, Fatemeh & Zeynali Famileh, Iman & Calautit, John Kaiser & Hughes, Ben Richard & Zaki, Sheikh Ahmad, 2016. "A review on phase change material (PCM) for sustainable passive cooling in building envelopes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1470-1497.
    3. Barzin, Reza & Chen, John J.J. & Young, Brent R. & Farid, Mohammed M., 2015. "Application of PCM energy storage in combination with night ventilation for space cooling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 412-421.
    4. Abdul Mujeebu, Muhammad & Alshamrani, Othman Subhi, 2016. "Prospects of energy conservation and management in buildings – The Saudi Arabian scenario versus global trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1647-1663.
    5. Mavrigiannaki, A. & Ampatzi, E., 2016. "Latent heat storage in building elements: A systematic review on properties and contextual performance factors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 852-866.
    6. Long, Linshuang & Ye, Hong & Gao, Yanfeng & Zou, Ruqiang, 2014. "Performance demonstration and evaluation of the synergetic application of vanadium dioxide glazing and phase change material in passive buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 89-97.
    7. Qu, Yue & Chen, Jiayu & Liu, Lifang & Xu, Tao & Wu, Huijun & Zhou, Xiaoqing, 2020. "Study on properties of phase change foam concrete block mixed with paraffin / fumed silica composite phase change material," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 1127-1135.
    8. Zeinelabdein, Rami & Omer, Siddig & Gan, Guohui, 2018. "Critical review of latent heat storage systems for free cooling in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2843-2868.
    9. Kenisarin, Murat & Mahkamov, Khamid, 2016. "Passive thermal control in residential buildings using phase change materials," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 371-398.
    10. Aditya, L. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Rismanchi, B. & Ng, H.M. & Hasan, M.H. & Metselaar, H.S.C. & Muraza, Oki & Aditiya, H.B., 2017. "A review on insulation materials for energy conservation in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 1352-1365.
    11. Lizana, Jesús & Chacartegui, Ricardo & Barrios-Padura, Angela & Ortiz, Carlos, 2018. "Advanced low-carbon energy measures based on thermal energy storage in buildings: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3705-3749.
    12. Memon, Shazim Ali, 2014. "Phase change materials integrated in building walls: A state of the art review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 870-906.
    13. Kahwaji, Samer & Johnson, Michel B. & Kheirabadi, Ali C. & Groulx, Dominic & White, Mary Anne, 2016. "Stable, low-cost phase change material for building applications: The eutectic mixture of decanoic acid and tetradecanoic acid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 457-464.
    14. Brun, A. & Wurtz, E. & Hollmuller, P. & Quenard, D., 2013. "Summer comfort in a low-inertia building with a new free-cooling system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 338-349.
    15. Lei, Jiawei & Kumarasamy, Karthikeyan & Zingre, Kishor T. & Yang, Jinglei & Wan, Man Pun & Yang, En-Hua, 2017. "Cool colored coating and phase change materials as complementary cooling strategies for building cooling load reduction in tropics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 57-63.
    16. Ye, Hong & Long, Linshuang & Zhang, Haitao & Zou, Ruqiang, 2014. "The performance evaluation of shape-stabilized phase change materials in building applications using energy saving index," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1118-1126.
    17. Zeng, Cheng & Liu, Shuli & Shukla, Ashish, 2017. "Adaptability research on phase change materials based technologies in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 145-158.
    18. Cui, Shuang & Ahn, Chihyung & Wingert, Matthew C. & Leung, David & Cai, Shengqiang & Chen, Renkun, 2016. "Bio-inspired effective and regenerable building cooling using tough hydrogels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 332-339.
    19. Su, Weiguang & Darkwa, Jo & Kokogiannakis, Georgios, 2015. "Review of solid–liquid phase change materials and their encapsulation technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 373-391.
    20. Ascione, Fabrizio & Bianco, Nicola & De Masi, Rosa Francesca & de’ Rossi, Filippo & Vanoli, Giuseppe Peter, 2014. "Energy refurbishment of existing buildings through the use of phase change materials: Energy savings and indoor comfort in the cooling season," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 990-1007.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:162:y:2016:i:c:p:207-217. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.