Phase-Change Frame Walls (PCFWs) for Peak Demand Reduction, Load Shifting, Energy Conservation and Comfort

摘要

This paper presents results of side-by-side experimental testing of a technology, referred to as Phase Change Frame Wall (PCFW), whose primary purpose is to increase building thermal mass by the application of phase change materials (PCMs) for lowering peak heat transfer rates across walls of residential and small commercial buildings. A PCFW is a typical wall in which phase change materials (PCMs) have been incorporated via macroencapsulation to enhance the energy storage capabilities of the wall via the high latent heats of the PCMs. The main goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of using PCFWs for peak air conditioning demand reduction, thermal load shifting, energy conservation, and thermal comfort. The results showed that the PCFWs offer the potential to reduce wall peak heat transfer rates by an average of approximately 27 percent. The results also indicate that interior surface temperatures and wall temperature fluctuations (wall temperature swing) could both be reduced by about 2.6 ?F. The PCM used in this research was a commercially available mixture whose main component was calcium chloride hexahydrate.