Experimental study of a ventilated facade with PCM during winter period

The aim of this article is to test experimentally the thermal performance of a ventilated double skin facade (DSF) with phase change material (PCM) in its air channel, during the heating season in the Mediterranean climate. Two identical house-like cubicles located in Puigverd de Lleida (Spain) were monitored during winter 2012, and in one of them, a ventilated facade with PCM was located in the south wall. This ventilated facade can operate under mechanical or natural ventilation mode and its thermal control depends on the weather conditions and the energetic demand of the building. Hence, three different tests were performed: free floating, controlled temperature and demand profile conditions. The experimental results conclude that the use of the ventilated facade with PCM improves significantly the thermal behaviour of the whole building (working as a heat supplier in free floating tests and reducing significantly the electrical consumption of the HVAC systems). However, these improvements might be increased if thermal control is used. Moreover, the measured electrical energy consumption of the heat pumps and fans indicates that the use of mechanical ventilation in this system is not justified; unless a fast heating supply is needed.

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► Experimental test of a ventilated double skin facade (DSF) with PCM in its air channel for heating.
► The use of the ventilated facade with PCM improves the thermal behaviour of the whole building.
► However, these improvements might be increased if thermal control is used.
► That the use of mechanical ventilation is not justified; unless a fast heating supply is needed.