Thermal Comfort and Energy Savings Potential of Integrating Phase Change Materials (PCMs) into Building Envelopes

Subject Areas : Sociology, social sciences and economics

shirin anagheh ¹ , Roza Vakili-Nejad ² , Ahmad Reza Taheri Asl ³ , Lotfali Heshmati ⁴

1 - کارشناس‌ارشد دفتر فنی و مهندسی، تعاونی مسکن فرهنگیان ناحیه 5 اصفهان
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Shiraz University
3 - رییس کمسیون انرژی، استاندارد مصالح و محیط زیست نظام مهندسی ساختمان کشور
4 - Chairman of the Board of Directors, Provincial Housing Cooperatives Union, and CEO, Teachers' Housing Cooperative of District 5, Isfahan

Received: 2024-05-14 Accepted : 2024-07-04 Published : 2024-08-31

Keywords: , PCM-integrated buildings, Building Envelope, Thermal Comfort, Energy saving, Heating/cooling load reductio ,

Abstract :

Building envelopes, including walls, roofs, and other covering elements, play a crucial role in reducing energy consumption and enhancing thermal comfort for occupants. As the primary interface between the indoor and outdoor environment, these components significantly influence the thermal exchange between a building's interior and exterior. In the ongoing efforts to optimize building envelopes, one innovative technique explored in this study is the use of advanced and effective methods, with a particular focus on phase change materials (PCMs). Due to their unique ability to store and release thermal energy during the phase transition process, PCMs have emerged as a leading technology in the field of building energy optimization. Integrating these materials with traditional construction materials not only enhances the thermal capacity of building envelopes but also facilitates the automatic regulation of indoor temperatures, thereby reducing reliance on mechanical heating and cooling systems.This study provides an in-depth examination of the thermal behavior of various types of phase change materials, with a focus on key components such as roofs and walls. The analysis includes an evaluation of the general and desirable properties of these materials, the identification of their different applications, the key parameters influencing their performance, and an assessment of the techniques and methods for integrating them with other construction materials.Furthermore, through a comprehensive review and analysis of studies conducted in recent years, the research offers an evaluation of the practical potential of phase change materials in different geographical regions worldwide. This assessment highlights the considerable capabilities of these materials in meeting diverse climatic and architectural needs.Finally, the main findings of this study, with an emphasis on the effectiveness of phase change materials in reducing cooling and heating loads, achieving significant energy savings, and improving thermal comfort for occupants, are thoroughly discussed in the conclusion. These results aim to guide and facilitate future research and development in the application of advanced technologies within the construction industry

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