Experimental assessment on the use of phase change materials (PCMs)-bricks in the exterior wall of a full-scale room

This paper aims to evaluate the year-round applicability of a kind of composite-PCMs wall (PCM-wall). The test was carried out in a full-scale room with a net dimension of 3.25 m (L) ∗ 3.86 m (W) ∗ 2.91 m (H) in three seasons, and comparisons were made with a regular energy-saving wall. Specific thermal capacity of the PCM-bricks was carried out according to DSC tests. Then thermal performance mainly including of energy-saving effect during summer and winter, reduction of interior wall surface temperature fluctuation during midseason was investigated. Results showed a reduction of about 0.2 °C for the maximum interior wall surface temperature, a time delay of about 1-2 h and a reduction of 24.32% of the cooling load for the PCM-wall under summer conditions. For the midseason cases, the PCM-wall was under the phase transition temperature range and could completely resist the ambient thermal disturbance. Besides, fluctuation of the interior wall surface temperature could be effectively reduced. For the winter cases, the PCM-wall could reduce 10-30% of the heating load. Additionally, as for the cases where air-conditioner was off during daytime (8:30-18:30) or nighttime (18:00-9:00 (next day)), a reduction of 9-72% of the heat lost from the interior wall surface could be achieved. To summarize, the PCM-wall performed more excellent thermal behavior all the year round.