Modeling of phase change material peak load shifting

• Published in: Energy and buildings Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 298 - 305
• Main Authors: Halford, C.K., Boehm, R.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.03.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air conditioning peak shifting; Applied sciences; Building technical equipments; Buildings; Buildings. Public works; Environmental engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Heat conduction model; Phase change material (PCM); Ventilation. Air conditioning; Phase change material (PCM); Air conditioning peak shifting; Heat conduction model; Air conditioning; Performance evaluation; Peak load; Heat flow; Numerical simulation; PCM material; Modeling; Thermal conduction
• ISSN: 0378-7788
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2006.07.005

This paper addresses potential peak air conditioning load shifting strategies using encapsulated phase change materials. The materials being considered here are designed to be installed within the ceiling or wall insulation to assist in delaying the peak air conditioning demand times until later in the evening. To assist in understanding the behavior of this material, an idealized model has been developed which uses the one-dimensional diffusion equation driven by time varying temperature functions imposed at the boundaries. In developing the model, the phase change temperature is a critical parameter, as is the latent heat of melting. These variables are treated parametrically. Other variables such as the characteristic ambient temperature variations and the thermostat set point are varied relative to the phase change temperature. Comparisons are made to the temporal variations of the heat flows without the application of the phase change material to those with the phase change material.