IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v12y2019i17p3286-d261155.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Temperature Control in (Translucent) Phase Change Materials Applied in Facades: A Numerical Study

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Tenpierik

    (Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Yvonne Wattez

    (Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Michela Turrin

    (Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Tudor Cosmatu

    (Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Stavroula Tsafou

    (Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) are materials that can store large amounts of heat during their phase transition from solid to liquid without a significant increase in temperature. While going from liquid to solid this heat is again released. As such, these materials can play an important role in future energy-efficient buildings. If applied in facades as part of a thermal buffer strategy, e.g., capturing and temporarily storing solar energy in so-called Trombe walls, the PCMs are exposed to high solar radiation intensities, which may easily lead to issues of overheating. This paper therefore investigates the melting process of PCM and arrives at potential solutions for countering this overheating phenomenon. This study uses the simulation program Comsol to investigate the heat transfer through, melting of and fluid flow inside a block of PCM (3 × 20 cm 2 ) with a melting temperature of around 25 °C. The density, specific heat and dynamic viscosity of the PCM are modeled as a temperature dependent variable. The latent heat of the PCM is modeled as part of the specific heat. One side of the block of PCM is exposed to a heat flux of 300 W/m 2 . The simulations show that once part of the PCM has melted convection arises transporting heat from the bottom of the block to its top. As a result, the top heats up faster than the bottom speeding up the melting process there. Furthermore, in high columns of PCM a large temperature gradient may arise due to this phenomenon. Segmenting a large volume of PCM into smaller volumes in height limits this convection thereby reducing the temperature gradient along the height of the block. Moreover, using PCMs with different melting temperature along the height of a block of PCM allows for controlling the speed with which a certain part of the PCM block starts melting. Segmenting the block of PCM using PCMs with different melting temperature along its height was found to give the most promising results for minimizing this overheating effect. Selecting the optimal phase change temperatures however is critical in that case.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Tenpierik & Yvonne Wattez & Michela Turrin & Tudor Cosmatu & Stavroula Tsafou, 2019. "Temperature Control in (Translucent) Phase Change Materials Applied in Facades: A Numerical Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:17:p:3286-:d:261155
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/17/3286/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/17/3286/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tyagi, Vineet Veer & Buddhi, D., 2007. "PCM thermal storage in buildings: A state of art," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 11(6), pages 1146-1166, August.
    2. Tay, N.H.S. & Belusko, M. & Liu, M. & Bruno, F., 2015. "Investigation of the effect of dynamic melting in a tube-in-tank PCM system using a CFD model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 738-747.
    3. Jegadheeswaran, S. & Pohekar, Sanjay D., 2009. "Performance enhancement in latent heat thermal storage system: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(9), pages 2225-2244, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jesus Fernando Hinojosa & Saul Fernando Moreno & Victor Manuel Maytorena, 2023. "Low-Temperature Applications of Phase Change Materials for Energy Storage: A Descriptive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-39, March.
    2. Stella Tsoka & Theodoros Theodosiou & Konstantia Papadopoulou & Katerina Tsikaloudaki, 2020. "Assessing the Energy Performance of Prefabricated Buildings Considering Different Wall Configurations and the Use of PCMs in Greece," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Wang, Dengjia & Hu, Liang & Du, Hu & Liu, Yanfeng & Huang, Jianxiang & Xu, Yanchao & Liu, Jiaping, 2020. "Classification, experimental assessment, modeling methods and evaluation metrics of Trombe walls," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    4. Xiao, Yuling & Zhang, Tao & Liu, Zihao & Fei, Fan & Fukuda, Hiroatsu, 2023. "Optimizing energy efficiency in HSCW buildings in China through temperature-controlled PCM Trombe wall system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PB).
    5. Lijun Gao & Yunze Li & Huijuan Xu & Xin Zhang & Man Yuan & Xianwen Ning, 2019. "Numerical Investigation on Heat-Transfer and Hydromechanical Performance inside Contaminant-Insensitive Sublimators under a Vacuum Environment for Spacecraft Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-21, November.

    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. Jacob, Rhys & Bruno, Frank, 2015. "Review on shell materials used in the encapsulation of phase change materials for high temperature thermal energy storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 79-87.
    2. Li, C. & Wang, R.Z., 2012. "Building integrated energy storage opportunities in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 6191-6211.
    3. 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.
    4. Cárdenas, Bruno & León, Noel, 2013. "High temperature latent heat thermal energy storage: Phase change materials, design considerations and performance enhancement techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 724-737.
    5. Huang, Xiang & Alva, Guruprasad & Jia, Yuting & Fang, Guiyin, 2017. "Morphological characterization and applications of phase change materials in thermal energy storage: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 128-145.
    6. Tay, N.H.S. & Liu, M. & Belusko, M. & Bruno, F., 2017. "Review on transportable phase change material in thermal energy storage systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 264-277.
    7. Soares, N. & Bastos, J. & Pereira, L. Dias & Soares, A. & Amaral, A.R. & Asadi, E. & Rodrigues, E. & Lamas, F.B. & Monteiro, H. & Lopes, M.A.R. & Gaspar, A.R., 2017. "A review on current advances in the energy and environmental performance of buildings towards a more sustainable built environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 845-860.
    8. Rao, Zhonghao & Wang, Shuangfeng & Zhang, Zhengguo, 2012. "Energy saving latent heat storage and environmental friendly humidity-controlled materials for indoor climate," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3136-3145.
    9. Soares, N. & Gaspar, A.R. & Santos, P. & Costa, J.J., 2015. "Experimental study of the heat transfer through a vertical stack of rectangular cavities filled with phase change materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 192-205.
    10. Zhang, Shudong & Wang, Zhenyang, 2018. "Thermodynamics behavior of phase change latent heat materials in micro-/nanoconfined spaces for thermal storage and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2319-2331.
    11. 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.
    12. Soares, N. & Santos, P. & Gervásio, H. & Costa, J.J. & Simões da Silva, L., 2017. "Energy efficiency and thermal performance of lightweight steel-framed (LSF) construction: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 194-209.
    13. 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.
    14. Sharif, M.K. Anuar & Al-Abidi, A.A. & Mat, S. & Sopian, K. & Ruslan, M.H. & Sulaiman, M.Y. & Rosli, M.A.M., 2015. "Review of the application of phase change material for heating and domestic hot water systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 557-568.
    15. Dutil, Yvan & Rousse, Daniel R. & Salah, Nizar Ben & Lassue, Stéphane & Zalewski, Laurent, 2011. "A review on phase-change materials: Mathematical modeling and simulations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 112-130, January.
    16. Li, W.Q. & Qu, Z.G. & Zhang, B.L. & Zhao, K. & Tao, W.Q., 2013. "Thermal behavior of porous stainless-steel fiber felt saturated with phase change material," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 846-852.
    17. Bąk, Agnieszka & Pławecka, Kinga & Bazan, Patrycja & Łach, Michał, 2023. "Influence of the addition of phase change materials on thermal insulation properties of foamed geopolymer structures based on fly ash," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    18. Borderon, Julien & Virgone, Joseph & Cantin, Richard, 2015. "Modeling and simulation of a phase change material system for improving summer comfort in domestic residence," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 288-296.
    19. Álvarez, Servando & Cabeza, Luisa F. & Ruiz-Pardo, Alvaro & Castell, Albert & Tenorio, José Antonio, 2013. "Building integration of PCM for natural cooling of buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 514-522.
    20. Arteconi, A. & Hewitt, N.J. & Polonara, F., 2012. "State of the art of thermal storage for demand-side management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 371-389.

    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:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:17:p:3286-:d:261155. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.