Phase change materials integrated into building walls: An updated review

This paper is an updated, but totally new, version of “A review on phase change materials (PCMs) integrated in building walls”, an article published in 2011 in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Both numerical and experimental studies on building walls containing PCMs during the last ten years (2011–2020) are reviewed. The paper also summarizes the main PCMs used in this application and the recent progress in the integration techniques of PCMs in building construction elements. Most of the proposed studies (about 66%) are focused on PCM in walls. In addition, more than half of these studies are numerical where several assumptions are made such as the neglected of both the occupant presence in the building and its behaviour. Based on this review, it is concluded that the used PCMs in building walls showed good potential for reducing both indoor air temperature fluctuations and energy consumption. However, further numerical and experimental studies are needed that take other aspects into consideration, such as the real use of buildings with the occupant behaviour, the economic viability and the environmental impact. This review paper will help scientific researchers and engineers to update the integration techniques of PCM in building walls and to define potential future research works.