DEVELOPMENT OF A QUANTITATIVE MEASURE OF THE FUNCTIONALITY OF FRAME WALLS ENHANCED WITH PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS USING A DYNAMIC WALL SIMULATOR

Abstract

Frame walls enhanced with phase change materials (paraffin-based, hydrated salt-based, and eutectic) mixed in cellulose insulation were developed and tested. The frame walls were heated and allowed to cool in a dynamic wall simulator that replicated the sun's exposure in a wall on a typical summer day. Results showed that the paraffin-based PCM reduced the average peak heat flux by up to 9.2% and reduced the average total daily heat flow up to 1.2%. Powdered paraffin PCM reduced the average peak heat flux up to 9.3%, but did not decrease the total daily heat flow. Hydrated salt-based PCM and eutectic salt/paraffin PCM did not provide any thermal storage benefit. Equivalent thermal resistance for the paraffin-based PCM was 40% higher when compared to the control wall.