Thermal Management in Buildings
Energy consumption in buildings continues to grow at an alarming rate with increasing population and augmenting building comfort levels. This research identifies novel phase change materials which can be used for peak load reduction and waste energy utilization in buildings.
Energy consumption in buildings continues to grow at an alarming rate with increasing population and augmenting building comfort levels. Thermal energy storage can be effectively used for peak load reduction and waste energy utilization in buildings. They are also a solution to the energy mismatch problems in zero energy buildings that arise as a consequence of renewable energy production often failing to meet the demand. 2 organic PCMs one based on lauryl alcohol and cetyl alcohol and the other based on lauryl alcohol and stearyl alcohol were synthesized and characterized to test its suitability for use in building thermal management. Characterization of the novel PCM was done using DSC, TGA, thermal reliability and thermal conductivity analysis. Results conclude that the new PCMs possess suitable melting points and latent heats and have good thermal stability for long term usage.
Results of experimental studies using the newly identified PCMs:
Lauryl alcohol-cetyl alcohol eutectic PCM
Lauryl alcohol-stearyl alcohol eutectic PCM
