Phase change materials solutions for rehabilitation and energy efficiency

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2016

Authors

Sá, AV (Author) Other; Abrantes, V (Author) Other; Hipólito Sousa (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: REHABEND

Pages: 1535-1542

6th Euro-American Congress on Construction Pathology, Rehabilitation Technology and Heritage Management, REHABEND 2016

24 May 2016 through 27 May 2016

Indexing

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-Q1N

Abstract (EN): The high energy storage capacity per unit volume at a nearly constant temperature characterizes and distinguishes Phase Change Materials (PCM) from conventional building materials. In a given day, when the ambient temperature rises enough to reach the solid¿liquid transition temperature, the PCM, incorporated in a construction element, changes from solid to liquid with endothermic behavior (latent heat) thus limiting the heat flow towards the interior of the building. On the other hand, upon an environmental temperature decrease, the PCM, that is now in the liquid state, may reach the liquid¿solid transition temperature (melting temperature) again and shift to solid state, with energy liberation (exothermal process), thus delaying the cooling tendency inside the building. The permanence at a known melting temperature range will stabilize interior ambient temperatures thus influencing the thermal comfort sensation. In this study we propose the use of PCM for energy rehabilitation of buildings. Exploring different methods of PCM incorporation in building materials and studying its efficiency. This work consists on the study of the thermal behavior and energy consumption of a building when influenced by the incorporation of PCM. The case study is composed by the computer rooms located at the Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto ¿ FEUP, with the reason of the need of an intervention in those spaces, whose temperature reaches high uncomfortable values during the summer. To accomplish this goal, the building will be numerically simulated through a calculation engine complemented with a user friendly graphical interface. The numerical simulation allows the recreation of various scenarios in the computer rooms with the purpose of understanding the reaction of PCM subjected to different environments.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific