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Numerical Thermal Characterization and Performance Metrics of Building Envelopes Containing Phase Change Materials for Energy-Efficient Buildings

Author

Listed:
  • Mingli Li

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58018-6050, USA)

  • Guoqing Gui

    (School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an 343009, Jiangxi, China)

  • Zhibin Lin

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58018-6050, USA)

  • Long Jiang

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58018-6050, USA)

  • Hong Pan

    (School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an 343009, Jiangxi, China)

  • Xingyu Wang

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58018-6050, USA)

Abstract

Residential and commercial buildings consume nearly 40 percent of total USA energy use and account for one-third of total greenhouse gas emissions. The challenges are how to effectively promote energy efficiency in buildings to respond to the high financial burden of energy consumption, while reducing pollution. Phase change materials (PCMs) have been used as passive energy storage for building systems. Along this vein, this study aims to numerically elucidate the design parameters of building envelopes strengthened by PCM layers, and unveil their impacts on building energy efficiency. Critical design variables, such as the thickness of the PCM layer, the latent heat of PCMs, or melting temperature of PCMs were selected for a parametric study, while performance metrics were used to assess building efficiency. Results revealed that PCM-enabled building walls exhibited different levels of improvement, in terms of reduction of peak temperature and temperature swings. Among the variables, the selection of the proper melting point for a PCM was identified as the most crucial parameter for determining building energy efficiency, while the heat of fusion was also observed as a critical property of PCM for building potential. Findings also demonstrated that the placement of the PCM near the interior wall surface could achieve higher efficiency, as compared to other cases. Results also showed that the thermal conductivity of PCM has a minimum contribution to energy storage capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • Mingli Li & Guoqing Gui & Zhibin Lin & Long Jiang & Hong Pan & Xingyu Wang, 2018. "Numerical Thermal Characterization and Performance Metrics of Building Envelopes Containing Phase Change Materials for Energy-Efficient Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-23, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:8:p:2657-:d:160561
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. El-Raheim, D. Abd & Mohamed, A. & Abou-Ziyan, H. & Fatouh, M., 2023. "The essential properties governing the appropriate selection of phase change materials integrated into heavy structure buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    2. Hiba Najini & Mutasim Nour & Sulaiman Al-Zuhair & Fadi Ghaith, 2020. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Green Building Codes in United Arab Emirates Based on a Case Study Office Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-22, October.
    3. Hana Charvátová & Aleš Procházka & Martin Zálešák, 2020. "Computer Simulation of Passive Cooling of Wooden House Covered by Phase Change Material," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Xu, Bin & Xie, Xing & Pei, Gang & Chen, Xing-ni, 2020. "New view point on the effect of thermal conductivity on phase change materials based on novel concepts of relative depth of activation and time rate of activation: The case study on a top floor room," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    5. Hana Charvátová & Aleš Procházka & Martin Zálešák, 2018. "Computer Simulation of Temperature Distribution during Cooling of the Thermally Insulated Room," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, November.

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