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Phase-Change Frame Walls (PCFWs) for On-Peak Demand Reduction and Energy Conservation in Residential Buildings: Development, Construction and Evaluation
Abstract
The main purpose of this work was to develop a
thermally enhanced frame wall that would reduce
peak load air conditioning demand, shift a portion of
the thermal load, and conserve energy in residential
buildings. A frame wall containing macroencapsulated
phase-change materials (PCMs),
incorporated therein, was developed, constructed, and
evaluated. This prototype wall is referred to as -
phase-change frame wall (PCFW). A PCFW is a
typical frame wall, consisting of outside siding,
thermal insulation, studs, and inside sheathing, in
which PCMs are incorporated, by macroencapsulation,
to enhance the energy storage
capabilities of the wall, and thus thermal mass of the
building, via the high latent heat of fusion of the
PCMs. The PCFW uses off-the-shelf components,
which are herein integrated in an innovative way to
produce better energy performance. Results from
field testing show that the PCFW offers the potential
to reduce wall peak heat flux by as much as 38%.
This value is dependent on climate, wall orientation,
quantity of PCM, and wall insulation level. Over a
period of days, the average wall peak heat flux
reduction was approximately 15% when PCFWs
facing four cardinal directions (i.e., N, S, E, W) were
evaluated when 10% 1 concentration of PCM was
used and approximately 9% when 20% PCM
concentration was used. The average space-cooling
load was reduced by approximately 8.6% when 10%
PCM was applied and 10.8% when 20% was used.
The level of fiberglass insulation in the PCFW was
R-11 (1.94 m2K/W). Although frame wall technology
was used as a structural vehicle for this project, the
concept could also be applied in almost any building
structure, including structural insulated panels, and
concrete and masonry buildings. The application
could also be extended to commercial buildings.
Citation
Zhang, M.; Medina, M. A.; King, J. B. (2004). Phase-Change Frame Walls (PCFWs) for On-Peak Demand Reduction and Energy Conservation in Residential Buildings: Development, Construction and Evaluation. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /4623.