Énergie innovante et recherche

Abstrait

Analysis of Solar Heat Gains and Environmental Impact of the Phase Change Material (PCM) Wall

Subbiah M*

Solar thermal energy can be effectively stored in walls of a building by incorporating Phase Change Materials (PCMs) within them. Plasterboards containing PCM can be used to absorb and store solar heat gains during daytime and release stored heat during nighttime. A wall fitted with plasterboards containing PCM is usually called a PCM wall. In this study, south façade of a test room was constructed using PCM walls covered with novel triple glass for heating the test room by means of solar thermal energy. Solar heat gains and environmental impact of the PCM wall were evaluated. The PCM wall reduced CO2 emission from the test room. The reduction in CO2 on a monthly basis varied in the range of 70% to 4% from October to March, and was 14% on an annual basis.