Research challenges and opportunities in transparent PCM-incorporated systems

Abstract

Phase change material (PCM) still receives considerable attention in the building sector, mainly due to its high latent heat storage capacity during its phase transition and possible transparency in solar radiation spectrum. This works in a way of passive thermal energy storage (TES) of solar and thermal energy as latent heat over a limited temperature range. It can be directly integrated in both transparent and opaque building components, where incident solar radiation charges the thermal storage medium during the daytime (endothermic reaction) and realized it during nighttime (exothermic reaction). However, other thermophysical factors (the hysteresis, the phase segregation, the sub-cooling and cycling stability problems) are needed to be considered for it to discharge the stored energy. This paper aims to introduce current research intent that specifically concerns on the actual possibilities of a combination of a PCM layer with transparent glazing part of a building envelope system. A new type of PCM glass block is therefore introduced and tested preliminary.