Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Phase-Change Materials Use in Nearly
Zero Energy Building Refurbishment
Luisa F. Cabeza and A. Inés Fernández
Abstract Phase-change materials have a very big potential as a tool for energy
demand reduction in buildings, and therefore, their use in nearly zero energy
buildings refurbishment is clearly an option. Nevertheless, there are little examples
where PCM have been used for such application. This chapter shows examples
where PCM have been used in research for new buildings, highlighting the more
appropriate options for refurbishment.
1 Basic Concepts of Phase-Change Materials
The use of storage in a building can smooth temperature fluctuation (Cabeza et al.
2011
; Mehling and Cabeza
2007
). Thermal energy storage in buildings can be
implemented by sensible heat (increasing and decreasing the temperature of the
building envelopes, for example), or by latent heat (with the inclusion of phase-
change materials—PCM—to increase thermal inertia). The main advantage of
latent heat storage is the high storage density in small temperature intervals. Latent
storage can be used for heating and for cooling of buildings, and it can be
incorporated as a passive system or also in active systems.
Upon melting, while heat is transferred to the storage material, the material still
keeps its temperature constant at the melting temperature, also called phase-
