Numerical analysis of effect of shape-stabilized phase change material plates in a building combined with night ventilation

• Published in: Applied energy 2009, Vol.86 (1), p.52-59
• Main Authors: Zhou, Guobing, Yang, Yongping, Wang, Xin, Zhou, Shaoxiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air conditioning. Ventilation; Applied sciences; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Heating, air conditioning and ventilation; Latent heat thermal energy storage; Latent heat thermal energy storage Shape-stabilized phase change material Night ventilation; Night ventilation; Shape-stabilized phase change material; Techniques, equipment. Control. Metering; Transport and storage of energy; Ventilation
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2008.03.020

Effect of shape-stabilized phase change material (SSPCM) plates combined with night ventilation in summer is investigated numerically. A building in Beijing without active air-conditioning is considered for analysis, which includes SSPCM plates as inner linings of walls and the ceiling. Unsteady simulation is performed using a verified enthalpy model, with time period covering the summer season. Effects of the following factors on room air temperature are investigated: the thermophysical properties of the SSPCM, the thickness of SSPCM plate and air change per hour (ACH) at both nighttime and daytime. The results show that the SSPCM plates could decrease the daily maximum temperature by up to 2 °C due to the cool storage at night. The appropriate values for melting temperature, heat of fusion, thermal conductivity and thickness of SSPCM plates need to be considered and calculated according to the climate conditions and building structure. The ACH at night needs to be as high as possible but the ACH at daytime should be controlled.