Performance of a Phase Change Material Battery in a Transparent Building

This research evaluates the performance of a Phase Change Material (PCM) battery integrated into the climate system of a new transparent meeting center. The main research questions are: a. “Can the performance of the battery be calculated?” and b. “Can the battery reduce the heating and cooling energy demand in a significant way?” The first...

Dynamic optimization for minimal HVAC demand with latent heat storage, heat recovery, natural ventilation, and solar shadings

Satisfying thermal comfort in indoor spaces is still a challenge in terms of energy saving, and several HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning) systems have been proposed for this purpose. This paper conducts an analysis to evaluate and optimize the long-term operation of a novel HVAC system installed at The Green Village, a living...

Sensitivity analysis of design parameters for melting process of lauric acid in the vertically and horizontally oriented rectangular thermal storage units

Widespread commercialization of PCM-based latent heat storage systems is limited by the low melting and solidification rates during the phase transition process. In this study, fins are used to enhance the phase change process. A parametric study is conducted to understand the effect of fins on the thermal performance of vertically- and...

Heat Storage and Management with Phase Change Material in CubeSats: Determining the feasibility and predictability of Phase Change Material as a passive Thermal Storage Device in CubeSats

As the CubeSats have been getting more energy dense over the years, a greater need has come for thermal control on CubeSats. Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are researched in this thesis as an energy dense passive Thermal Storage Device (TSD). This energy density comes from the melting of the PCM. To determine the feasibility of this TSD. The...

The Design of a Cooling Garment for Olympic Sailors

The 2020 Olympics will take place in Tokyo. The expected heat and humidity will cause severe heat stress for athletes. To improve safety and performance of Dutch athletes during the Olympics the project “Thermo Tokyo – Beat the Heat” was started. This is a multidisciplinary project in which multiple universities, companies, sports organizations...

Facade design for noise attenuation and thermal comfort through natural ventilation for high-rise office buildings in the Netherlands

High-rises are usually ventilated mechanically in order to ensure thermal and acoustic comfort in the indoor environment. Consequently, the energy consumption in summer months is increased while the indoor air quality is usually deteriorated due to poor maintenance of mechanical ventilation systems. The topic of the current thesis is the design...

De Frituurfabriek: Circular Phase Change Material (PCM) for social architecture in Bospolder - Tussendijken (BoTu) & Merwe-Vierhavens (M4H), Rotterdam

To provide the current population of Bospolder - Tussendijken with a future perspective that tackles socio-demographic issues, they create Phase Change Material (PCM) Modules of waste products Frying oil and Mg2+ in the cooperative factory: 'Frituurfabriek' in the M4H. They have the opportunity to participate in society, to become owner of a...

Use of phase change materials (PCMs) to mitigate early age thermal cracking in concrete: Theoretical considerations

Phase change materials (PCMs) have found their use in concrete technology for increasing energy efficiency of building envelopes. In recent years, however, new potential applications for PCMs in concrete have been suggested, for example for reducing freeze-thaw damage and melting of ice forming on top of concrete pavements. A recent application...

Barriers Deterring the Commercialization of Phase Changing Materials (PCMs) in Sustainable Buildings and Opportunities for Techno-starters

In spite of significant prospects for radical changes, Phase Changing Materials (PCMs) have yet to achieve high market penetration. These substances are capable of storing and releasing large amounts of heat. There are several applications for PCMs, none of which have penetrated mass markets. Energy efficient and sustainable buildings are...