Phase Change Materials Trombe Walls

Abstract

The rise in average surface temperature has intensified the need to explore new
methods to address climate change. Housing sector is one of the leading contributors to the total energy consumption. As a solution, there has been a growing emphasis on the application of passive strategies in buildings that leverage local climatic conditions.

Researchers have been investigating solutions to promote the use of passive design strategies. One promising approach involves integrating Phase Change Materials (PCMs) with certain building components. By possessing excellent thermal and optical properties, PCMs can be integrated into windows to enhance the thermal performance of buildings while guaranteeing light transmittance.

This research specifically focuses on the integration of PCMs trombe walls in
existing residential buildings in the Netherlands. Building upon the findings of
previous studies, the research envisions to explore strategies that can facilitate
the widespread use of PCMs. Currently, the market for PCMs primarily offers
products manufactured on request, limiting their broader adoption.

Through simulations conducted on virtual models, the behaviour of PCMs in
trombe walls is investigated. The analysis focuses their thermal capacity and
light transmittance to strike a balance between the two contrasting building requirements. Multiple room configurations are studied to investigate how the environment impacts the performance of this particular building component.

Finally, the research develops a workflow and identifies trends that can facilitate
the application of PCMs trombe walls across various scenarios.