Latent heat thermal energy storage systems in lightweight construction: Review of PCM applications in solar decathlon houses

Abstract

The use of thermal mass in buildings is an effective way to improve the building's interior comfort in places with high diurnal temperature variation. Combined with other passive strategies, thermal mass can play an important role in the energy efficiency of the building, minimizing the necessity of thetraditional conditioning systems. However contemporary construction tends to industrializing light weight systems with low thermal mass. An innovative way to add the thermal mass̀ benefits to the buildings is the use of the latent heat thermal storage capacity of the Phase Change Materials (PCM). In the Solar Decathlon, solar houses competition organized by the United States Department of Energy. The houses are tested and monitored in Washington DC, where the use of short term thermal storage systems is adequate to maintain the interior comfort and reduce energy consumption, therefore many teams had incorporated PCM in theirs industrialized lightweight houses. In this paper the solutions on the application of PCM used in this competition are discussed. © 2011 WIT Press.