This paper reports on the experimental and numerical analysis of the optical and thermal aspects of PCM (Phase Change Material) RT27 when subjected to an irradiation source of energy. The analysis is separated into the thermal and optical characterisation of the PCM using the T-history method and spectrophotometry principles, respectively, and the experimental and numerical performance evaluation of a PCM-Glazed unit. Various relationships describing the variations in the extinction, scattering and absorption coefficients with respect to the liquid fraction/ temperature within the phase change region were developed from the experimental setup, and were validated in a numerical CFD model. The results show that: i) during rapid phase changes, the transmittance spectra from the PCM are unstable, while under stable conditions a visible transmittance value of 90% and 40% are obtained for the liquid and phases, respectively; ii) the radiation scattering effects are more prominent in the solid phase of the PCM, while radiation absorption dominates in the liquid phase; iii) the optical/ radiation performance of PCM can be successfully modelled using the liquid fraction term as the main variable, in a similar way that the enthalpy porosity method is employed for phase change processes; iv) relative to a standard double glazed unit, the addition of PCM improves the thermal mass of the unit during phase change, but depending on specific

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Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are increasingly being used in the area of energy sustainability. Thermal characterization is a prerequisite for any reliable utilization of these materials. Current characterization methods including the well-known T-history method depend on accurate temperature measurements. This paper investigates the impact of different thermistor linearization techniques on the temperature uncertainty in the T-history characterization of PCMs. Thermistor sensors and two linearization techniques were evaluated in terms of achievable temperature accuracy through consideration of both, nonlinearity and self-heating errors. T-history measurements of RT21 (RUBITHERM Ò GmbH) PCM were performed. Temperature measurement results on the RT21 sample suggest that the SerialeParallel Resistor (SPR) 1 linearization technique gives better uncertainty (less than AE0.1 C) in comparison with the Wheatstone Bridge (WB) 1 technique (up to AE1.5 C). These results may considerably influence the usability of latent heat storage density of PCMs in the certain temperature range. They could also provide a solid base for the development of a T-history measuring device.

Alternate energy technologies are developing rapidly in the recent years. A significant part of this trend is the development of different phase change materials (PCMs). Proper utilization of PCMs requires accurate thermal characterization. There are several methodologies used in this field. This paper stresses the importance of accurate temperature measurements during the implementation of T-history method. Since the temperature sensor size is also important thermistors have been selected as the sensing modality. Two thermistor linearization techniques, one based on Wheatstone bridge and the other based on simple serialparallel resistor connection, are compared in terms of achievable temperature accuracy through consideration of both, nonlinearity and self-heating errors. Proper calibration was performed before T-history measurement of RT21 (RUBITHERM® GmbH) PCM. Measurement results suggest that the utilization of serial-parallel resistor connection gives better accuracy (less than ±0.1°C) in comparison with the Wheatstone bridge based configuration (up to ±1.5°C).