Simulation study on dynamic heat transfer performance of PCM-filled glass window with different thermophysical parameters of phase change material

• The comparative experimental setup to investigate the thermal performances of different windows was built.
• Temperature time lag and temperature decrement factor were used to evaluate PCM-filled window's thermal performance.
• The cooling load shifting effect of PCM-filled window was remarkable in summer in China.
• PCM's thermophysical parameters should be improved to make PCM-filled window more efficient.

In order to determine the effects of phase change material's (PCM) thermophysical parameters on the dynamic heat transfer progress of PCM-filled glass window (PCMW), both the numerical model and experimental setup were established. The experimental measurements in typical sunny and rainy summer days with different windows were conducted. Results indicated that when PCM (paraffin MG29) was used in PCMW, the thermal insulation of PCMW and peak cooling load shifting effects were remarkable in the hot summer and cold winter area of China, and the heat entered the building through the PCMW reduced by 18.3% in the typical sunny summer day. Then the effects of PCM's thermophysical parameters on dynamic heat transfer performance of PCMW were investigated by FLUENT based on experimental measurements. The simulated results concluded that the thermal insulation and load shifting effects of PCMW enhanced with the increasing fusion latent heat of PCM and the optimal melting temperature of PCM applied in PCMW was 25–31 °C. Moreover, minimizaiton of temperature difference between liquid phase and solid phase could improve PCMW thermal performance.