Thermal Performance Analysis of Multi-Phase Change Material Layer-Integrated Building Roofs for Energy Efficiency in Built-Environment

• Published in: Energies (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 9; p. 1367
• Main Authors: Reddy, K., Mudgal, Vijay, Mallick, Tapas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2017
• Subjects: Buildings; Built environment; Construction materials; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; Energy storage; Heat; Heat of fusion; Heating; Integration; PCM thickness; phase change material (PCM); Phase change materials; Phase transitions; roof layer; Roofing; Roofs; Temperature effects; Thermal energy; Thickness; Transition temperature
• ISSN: 1996-1073; 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en10091367

Thermal energy storage using phase change materials (PCMs) plays a significant role in maintaining thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption in a building because of its ability to absorb/release heat within small temperature variations. In this paper, the thermal performance of roofs has been investigated based on various factors like the integration of a single PCM layer, integration of a double PCM layer, the thickness of the PCM, phase transition temperature and heat of fusion of the PCM. The analysis shows that integration of a single PCM layer of different thickness and phase transition temperature and heat of fusion in roof structures is unable to maintain a comfortable constant temperature inside the building due to incomplete solidification and melting of the PCM. However, the analysis shows that with multi-PCM layers of appropriate thickness it is possible to maintain a constant comfortable temperature of about 28 °C in the building throughout the day in Chennai, India. The analysis also shows that there is reduction in heat gain by 17 to 26% for a single PCM layered roof and 25 to 36% for a double PCM layered roof compared to the roof without PCM layer for the different months of the year.