Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Author Spotlight: Simulation and Analysis of the Temperature Rise of Ring Main Unit Equipment
Published on: July 5, 2024
Thermal Performance of Multifunctional Facade Solution Containing Phase Change Materials: Experimental and Numerical
C Amaral1,2, F Gomez3, M Moreira1,2
1TEMA-Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
This study developed a new facade panel with phase change material (PCM) for improved thermal regulation. The PCM-enhanced panel significantly boosts building energy efficiency and thermal comfort.
Area of Science:
- Building Science and Materials Engineering
- Sustainable Energy Technologies
- Thermal Engineering
Background:
- Traditional facade panels lack dynamic thermal regulation capabilities.
- Integrating phase change materials (PCMs) offers a promising solution for passive thermal energy storage.
- Optimizing PCM integration in building components is crucial for enhancing energy efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and analyze a novel multifunctional facade panel incorporating phase change material (PCM) within foam layers.
- To experimentally and numerically evaluate the thermal performance and energy-saving potential of the PCM-enhanced facade panel.
- To determine the optimal PCM fraction and operating conditions for maximizing thermal comfort and panel efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Experimental analysis using a hotbox heat flux meter to determine thermal transmittance (U-value) under steady-state conditions.
- Numerical simulations using Ansys Fluent, calibrated and validated against experimental data (R² = 0.9674).
- Analysis of thermal performance using decrement factor (f) and assessment of temperature reduction and amplitude dampening.
Main Results:
- Even small PCM fractions demonstrated a reduction in indoor temperature amplitude.
- Panel efficiency and optimal operating region size increased with higher PCM fractions.
- Potential for nearly 50% improvement in panel efficiency based on boundary conditions.
Conclusions:
- The multifunctional facade panel with PCM shows significant potential for improving indoor thermal comfort.
- PCM integration effectively regulates indoor space temperature, reducing reliance on active HVAC systems.
- Optimal performance achieved with a mean input temperature of 20°C and room temperatures between 18-20°C.
More Related Videos
11:11Experimental Methods for Investigation of Shape Memory Based Elastocaloric Cooling Processes and Model Validation
Published on: May 2, 2016
10:36Author Spotlight: Optimization of Airflow Velocities in Battery Cooling Systems for Enhanced Thermal Performance and Reduced Energy Consumption
Published on: November 3, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Thermal Insulation in Masonry Walls
External insulation can be applied using an Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS), which involves affixing panels of plastic foam to the wall and covering them with a polymeric stucco reinforced with glass fiber mesh....
Conduction, Convection and Radiation: Problem Solving
In order to solve a problem related to heat transfer, first of all, the situation needs to be examined to determine the type of heat transfer involved. This could...
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer II
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer
Conduction, accounting for approximately 3% of body heat loss at rest, is the process of exchanging heat between molecules of two materials in direct contact. This can result in both heat loss and gain. For instance, when the body is submerged in water, which conducts heat 20 times more effectively than air, it can either lose or gain significant...
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer I
Mechanism of heat transfer