A review on applications of shape-stabilized phase change materials embedded in building enclosure in recent ten years

Phase change material (PCM) elements in buildings as effective thermal energy storage technologies could decrease indoor temperature swings and lower building cooling/heating loads due to their great latent heat and proper thermal conductivity. Shape-stabilized phase change materials (SSPCMs) attracted interest of many researchers due to their outstanding ability of keeping shape for long-term multiple thermal cycles with no need of encapsulation. A summarize on thermal dynamic characteristic and thermal performance of buildings integrated with SSPCMs is important for us to gain a better understand on their performance and energy saving potential in both active and passive buildings. This study has reviewed applications of SSPCMs embedded in building enclosure in recent ten years (2008-2018). Both numerical and experimental research works on integrating SSPCMs into building envelope components, such as walls, floor, roof and windows, were reviewed, respectively. Most existing studies (nearly 60%) focused on walls. SSPCMs embedded in building enclosure could significantly narrow indoor temperature fluctuations and reduced energy demands. A thorough conclusion about this review work and appropriate recommendations for further studies were presented at the end of the paper. This review work will help both researchers and engineers to capture up-to-date uses of SSPCMs to achieve energy efficient buildings.