IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v14y2021i19p6194-d645375.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Explicit Finite Element Method for Thermal Simulations of Buildings with Phase Change Materials

Author

Listed:
  • Hongxia Zhou

    (Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden)

  • Åke Fransson

    (Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden)

  • Thomas Olofsson

    (Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden)

Abstract

The thermal performance of building envelopes is essential for building thermal comfort and the reduction of building energy requirements. Phase change materials (PCMs) implemented in building envelopes can improve thermal performance. An explicit finite element method (ex-FEM) has been developed based on a previous study to investigate the heat transfer performance through building walls with installed PCMs. For verification, we introduce an electrical circuit analogy (ECA) method. For model validation, at first, COMSOL is used. For comparison, data were collected from experiments using a small hotbox, part of the sides are covered by PCMs with different configurations. This work shows how the ex-FEM model can predict the wall’s temperature profile with and without incorporated PCM. With the implementation of PCMs, the work problematizes unpredictable influences for modeling. In addition, the study introduces results from simulations of sequencing of PCM layers in wall construction.

Suggested Citation

  • Hongxia Zhou & Åke Fransson & Thomas Olofsson, 2021. "An Explicit Finite Element Method for Thermal Simulations of Buildings with Phase Change Materials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:19:p:6194-:d:645375
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/19/6194/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/19/6194/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Jin, Xing & Medina, Mario A. & Zhang, Xiaosong, 2013. "On the importance of the location of PCMs in building walls for enhanced thermal performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 72-78.
    3. Navarro, Lidia & de Gracia, Alvaro & Colclough, Shane & Browne, Maria & McCormack, Sarah J. & Griffiths, Philip & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2016. "Thermal energy storage in building integrated thermal systems: A review. Part 1. active storage systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 526-547.
    4. He, Hongtao & Zhao, Pin & Yue, Qinyan & Gao, Baoyu & Yue, Dongting & Li, Qian, 2015. "A novel polynary fatty acid/sludge ceramsite composite phase change materials and its applications in building energy conservation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 45-52.
    5. Borreguero, Ana M. & Luz Sánchez, M. & Valverde, José Luis & Carmona, Manuel & Rodríguez, Juan F., 2011. "Thermal testing and numerical simulation of gypsum wallboards incorporated with different PCMs content," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(3), pages 930-937, March.
    6. Navarro, Lidia & de Gracia, Alvaro & Niall, Dervilla & Castell, Albert & Browne, Maria & McCormack, Sarah J. & Griffiths, Philip & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2016. "Thermal energy storage in building integrated thermal systems: A review. Part 2. Integration as passive system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1334-1356.
    7. Wijesuriya, Sajith & Brandt, Matthew & Tabares-Velasco, Paulo Cesar, 2018. "Parametric analysis of a residential building with phase change material (PCM)-enhanced drywall, precooling, and variable electric rates in a hot and dry climate," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 497-514.
    8. Xiao, Wei & Wang, Xin & Zhang, Yinping, 2009. "Analytical optimization of interior PCM for energy storage in a lightweight passive solar room," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(10), pages 2013-2018, October.
    9. Saffari, Mohammad & de Gracia, Alvaro & Fernández, Cèsar & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2017. "Simulation-based optimization of PCM melting temperature to improve the energy performance in buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 420-434.
    10. Darkwa, K. & O'Callaghan, P.W. & Tetlow, D., 2006. "Phase-change drywalls in a passive-solar building," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(5), pages 425-435, May.
    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. Liu, Bokai & Wang, Yizheng & Rabczuk, Timon & Olofsson, Thomas & Lu, Weizhuo, 2024. "Multi-scale modeling in thermal conductivity of Polyurethane incorporated with Phase Change Materials using Physics-Informed Neural Networks," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).

    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. Miroslava Kavgic & Yaser Abdellatef, 2021. "Temperature Control to Improve Performance of Hempcrete-Phase Change Material Wall Assemblies in a Cold Climate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Jin, Xing & Medina, Mario A. & Zhang, Xiaosong, 2013. "On the importance of the location of PCMs in building walls for enhanced thermal performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 72-78.
    3. Lamrani, B. & Johannes, K. & Kuznik, F., 2021. "Phase change materials integrated into building walls: An updated review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    4. 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.
    5. Luca Brunelli & Emiliano Borri & Anna Laura Pisello & Andrea Nicolini & Carles Mateu & Luisa F. Cabeza, 2024. "Thermal Energy Storage in Energy Communities: A Perspective Overview through a Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-27, July.
    6. Abednego Oscar Tanuwijava & Ching Jenq Ho & Chi-Ming Lai & Chao-Yang Huang, 2013. "Numerical Investigation of the Thermal Management Performance of MEPCM Modules for PV Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-15, August.
    7. 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.
    8. Pirasaci, Tolga, 2020. "Investigation of phase state and heat storage form of the phase change material (PCM) layer integrated into the exterior walls of the residential-apartment during heating season," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    9. Nelson, James & Johnson, Nathan G. & Chinimilli, Prudhvi Tej & Zhang, Wenlong, 2019. "Residential cooling using separated and coupled precooling and thermal energy storage strategies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.
    10. Zeyad Amin Al-Absi & Mohd Hafizal Mohd Isa & Mazran Ismail, 2020. "Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and Their Optimum Position in Building Walls," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-25, February.
    11. Wijesuriya, Sajith & Brandt, Matthew & Tabares-Velasco, Paulo Cesar, 2018. "Parametric analysis of a residential building with phase change material (PCM)-enhanced drywall, precooling, and variable electric rates in a hot and dry climate," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 497-514.
    12. Almalkawi, Areej T. & Soroushian, Parviz & Shrestha, Som S., 2019. "Evaluation of the Energy-Efficiency of an Aerated Slurry-Infiltrated Mesh Building System with Biomass-Based Insulation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 797-806.
    13. Mohammad S. Bagazi & Ammar A. Melaibari & Ahmed B. Khoshaim & Nidal H. Abu-Hamdeh & Abdulmohsen O. Alsaiari & Hani Abulkhair, 2021. "Using Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in a Hot and Humid Climate to Reduce Heat Gain and Energy Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-17, October.
    14. Lizana, Jesús & Chacartegui, Ricardo & Barrios-Padura, Angela & Valverde, José Manuel, 2017. "Advances in thermal energy storage materials and their applications towards zero energy buildings: A critical review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 219-239.
    15. Ye, Rongda & Lin, Wenzhu & Yuan, Kunjie & Fang, Xiaoming & Zhang, Zhengguo, 2017. "Experimental and numerical investigations on the thermal performance of building plane containing CaCl2·6H2O/expanded graphite composite phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 325-335.
    16. 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.
    17. 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.
    18. 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.
    19. Ling, Haoshu & Chen, Chao & Wei, Shen & Guan, Yong & Ma, Caiwen & Xie, Guangya & Li, Na & Chen, Ziguang, 2015. "Effect of phase change materials on indoor thermal environment under different weather conditions and over a long time," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 329-337.
    20. Parameshwaran, R. & Kalaiselvam, S. & Harikrishnan, S. & Elayaperumal, A., 2012. "Sustainable thermal energy storage technologies for buildings: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 2394-2433.

    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:14:y:2021:i:19:p:6194-:d:645375. 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.