Performance analysis of PCM curtain for thermal comfort

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to analyse the variations of thermal comfort inside a building space by using different curtains. Design/methodology/approach Phase change materials (PCMs) such as wax, sand and mixture of sand and wax were used with cotton curtain to compare the results of PCM curtains with the performance of normal cotton curtain against constant heat exposure. Heat exposure was provided with halogen to simulate the solar radiation. Further simulation was performed on ANSYS and experimental results were compared with the simulation results. In addition to this, the results were analysed for optimized performance by calculation root mean square error. Findings It was found that PCM used curtains that have better performance than normal curtain. Furthermore, sand curtain was proved as the best curtain and mixture of sand and wax curtain could replace the sand curtain where there is limitation of weight; also, there was less error between experimental and simulation was reported for sand curtain as compare to other curtains. Research limitations/implications Layers of different PCMs were used before cotton curtain and in modelling assumptions such as one-dimensional heat transfer, uniform thermal conductivity. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no such study that was performed earlier.

Systematic literature review of software tools for modeling heat transfer in phase change materials for building applications

“…In terms of model scale -most (23) of the selected studies analysed PCM enriched systems in small scale [2], [3], [8], [12]- [29], followed by room size models (10) [10], [13]- [16], [18], [19], [39]- [41]. The various model scales, from small-scale laboratory settings to room-sized simulations, correspond to the complexity of building envelopes.…”

“…8 of studies explored PCM in HVAC systems -ventilation systems [11], [12], [26]- [28], [34], [35], [42], heat exchangers [20], [25], [30]- [33], [36], [38] and other elements [20]; other 31 publications focused on walls [10], [13], [15], [17], [19], [21]- [24], [37], [39], [40], [43], [44], roofs [14], [18], [29], [37], floors [24], windows ( [41]). In 20 studies models were validated using experimental data [10]- [12], [14], [16], [17], [20], [22], [25]- [27], [29], [31], [32], [34]- [38], [40], 1 used analytical validation [45], 4 based validation on findings in other studies in scient...…”

Preparation and characterization of graphene antibacterial phase change energy storage viscose fibers

“…Mengmeng Zhao 16 used two types of n-alkane based phase change material (PCM) microcapsules to treat 100% cotton fabrics, by a knife over roll method, the treated fabrics had the ability to regulate thermal effect. Shubham Srivastava 17 used Phase change materials (PCMs) such as wax, sand and mixture of sand and wax were used with cotton curtain to compare the results of PCM curtains with the performance of normal cotton curtain against constant heat exposure. They analyze the variations of thermal comfort inside a building space by using different curtains.…”