A Summary Review on Experimental Studies for PCM Building Applications: Towards Advanced Modular Prototype

Khaireldin Faraj, Mahmoud Khaled, Jalal Faraj, Farouk Hachem and Cathy Castelain
Additional contact information
Khaireldin Faraj: Energy and Thermo-Fluid Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Lebanese International University LIU, Beirut P.O. Box 146404, Lebanon
Mahmoud Khaled: Energy and Thermo-Fluid Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, The International University of Beirut BIU, Beirut P.O. Box 146404, Lebanon
Jalal Faraj: Energy and Thermo-Fluid Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, The International University of Beirut BIU, Beirut P.O. Box 146404, Lebanon
Farouk Hachem: Energy and Thermo-Fluid Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Lebanese International University LIU, Beirut P.O. Box 146404, Lebanon
Cathy Castelain: Laboratory of Thermal Energy of Nantes, LTEN, Polytech’ Nantes, University of Nantes, 44035 Nantes, France

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-43

Abstract: The use of phase change material (PCM) as a thermal energy storage system integrated in new buildings, and as retrofits in old buildings, proved its merit as promising renewable energy source. Heating and cooling building applications of PCM have been studied by plenty of scientists, globally, on the basis of numerical and experimental analysis. The performed experiments have mainly focused on one application—active or passive—using permanent prototype design for a certain duration and weather condition. The current study is a new review that focuses on two complementary aspects: (1) Reviewing latest studies in PCM domain and assessing the thermal performance of implemented prototypes within the conducted PCM experimental studies, namely, the effect of the design on the number of acceptable variables and possible PCM applications; and (2) suggesting a new, advanced, flexible, and modular prototype designed to enable several applications of PCM to be adapted and combined within the model. It was implied that the new design allows different configurations that are lacking in the literature and serves for future PCM building applications of thermal analysis towards PCM integration optimization, as an attempt for transforming residential compartments into net zero energy buildings. The designed prototype overcomes the deficiencies found in previous reviewed experimental facilities.

Keywords: phase change materials; modular prototype; heating; cooling; thermal energy storage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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