Thermal performance of buildings integrated with phase change materials to reduce heat stress risks during extreme heatwave events

Ramakrishnan, Sayanthan; Wang, Xiaoming; Wilson, John L.

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.04.084

Cited by 207 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…This highlights the importance of passive cooling strategies that are often not regulated by building energy codes. A combination of thermal mass (Ramakrishnan et al 2016), reflective exterior surfaces (Baniassadi et al 2018c), natural ventilation, and exterior shade (Mlakar and Strancar 2011) can reverse the impact of climate change on higher percentiles of indoor air temperature. Nevertheless, even in the improved buildings, our simulations show that the comfortable time (T indoor < 24°C) will be reduced by approximately 10% by midcentury due to a combination of climate change, urban warming, and more efficient buildings, potentially leading to a an increase in demand for AC systems.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Passive survivability of buildings under changing urban climates across eight US cities

Baniassadi

Sailor

Krayenhoff

et al. 2019

Environ. Res. Lett.

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In the US, more than 80% of fatal cases of heat exposure are reported in urban areas. Notably, indoor exposure is implicated in nearly half of such cases, and lack of functioning air conditioning (AC) is the predominant cause of overheating. For residents with limited capacity to purchase, maintain, and operate an AC system, or during summertime power outages, the ability of buildings to maintain safe thermal conditions without mechanical cooling is the primary protective factor against heat. In this paper, we use whole-building energy simulations to compare indoor air temperature inside archetypical single-family residential buildings without AC at the start and middle of the century in eight US cities. We ran the models using hourly output from 10 year regional climate simulations that explicitly include heating from mid-century projections of urban development and climate change under a 'business-as-usual' emissions scenario. Moreover, to identify the impacts from evolving construction practices, we compare different versions of building energy standards. Our analysis shows that summertime overheat time may increase by up to 25% by the middle of century. Moreover, we find that, while newer building energy codes reduce thermal comfort under moderate outdoor weather, they perform better under extreme heat.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Passive survivability of buildings under changing urban climates across eight US cities

Baniassadi

Sailor

Krayenhoff

et al. 2019

Environ. Res. Lett.

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“…Li et al [15] compared the thermal performance of lightweight buildings with and without a PCM layer attached to the inside wallboard and found that the energy consumption to maintain comfortable temperature can be reduced by 40-70%. Ramakrishnan et al [16] numerically investigated the thermal control effect of building fabrics integrated with PCM under extreme heatwave periods. The result shows that the indoor heat stress risks can be reduced effectively without the function of an air conditioner.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Parametric Investigation on Energy-Saving Effect of Solar Building Based on Double Phase Change Material Layer Wallboard

Tong

Xiong

2018

International Journal of Photoenergy

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In order to further understand the thermal performance of the double phase change material (PCM) layer wallboard, the wallboard model was established and a comprehensively numerical parametric investigation was carried out. The variation laws of inner wall temperature rise and the heat flux transferred under different phase transition temperatures and thermal conductivities are presented in detail. The main results show that the temperature of the inside wall for case 2 can be reduced by about 1.5 K further compared to that for case 1. About 83% of the heat transferred from the outside is absorbed by the PCM layer in case 2. Reducing the phase transition temperature of the PCM layer can decrease the inside wall temperature to a certain extent in the period of high temperature. The utilization of double PCM layers shows much more performance compared to that of the single PCM layer case, and the temperature of the inside wall can be reduced by 2 K further.

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“…One benefit of this is that adding PCMs increase the thermal storage capacity of a residential building. Research has shown that this can directly increase the occupant comfort level by up to 32%, as it decreases the magnitude of temperature fluctuations, leading to the indoor air temperature being at the desired value for a greater period [32].…”

Section: Pcm Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

PCMs for Residential Building Applications: A Short Review Focused on Disadvantages and Proposals for Future Development

et al. 2017

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Phase change materials (PCMs) offer great potential as a latent heat energy storage technique to provide energy efficient systems in new and existing residential buildings. Due to their unique characteristic of high storage densities and latent heat properties, PCMs provide opportunities for greater energy storage in many applications for residential buildings. These applications include, but are not limited to, solar water heating, space heating/cooling, and waste heat recovery. This study reviews PCM systems in residential building applications, with a focus on their major disadvantages and concludes with proposals for future development. Several disadvantages of PCM use in the given application have been identified and include; super cooling, low thermal conductivity, phase segregation, fire safety, and cost. The issues caused by super cooling and phase segregation lead to thermal cycling degradation, limiting the useful lifecycle of the material. These issues could limit their potential in building applications, which require systems of a long lifespan. Low thermal conductivities can slow down the rate at which heat is distributed or absorbed from the building, which affect the occupants comfort and as well as the efficiency of the system. Ideas based on the current research on ways to limit these disadvantages are included in the study. This study also identifies that further research is required on novel maintenance ways for the PCM systems after they have been installed.

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Thermal performance of buildings integrated with phase change materials to reduce heat stress risks during extreme heatwave events

Cited by 207 publications

References 39 publications

Passive survivability of buildings under changing urban climates across eight US cities

Passive survivability of buildings under changing urban climates across eight US cities

A Parametric Investigation on Energy-Saving Effect of Solar Building Based on Double Phase Change Material Layer Wallboard

PCMs for Residential Building Applications: A Short Review Focused on Disadvantages and Proposals for Future Development

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