Energies (Jun 2012)

CFD Simulation of a Concrete Cubicle to Analyze the Thermal Effect of Phase Change Materials in Buildings

  • José L. Míguez,
  • Pablo Eguía,
  • Roberto Comesaña,
  • Miguel A. Álvarez Feijoo,
  • Miguel A. Gómez,
  • Jacobo Porteiro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/en5072093
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5, no. 7
pp. 2093 – 2111

Abstract

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In this work, a CFD-based model is proposed to analyse the effect of phase change materials (PCMs) on the thermal behaviour of the walls of a cubicle exposed to the environment and on the resistance of the walls to climate changes. The effect of several days of exposure to the environment was simulated using the proposed method. The results of the simulation are compared with experimental data to contrast the models. The effects of exposure on the same days were simulated for several walls of a cubicle made of a mixture of concrete and PCM. The results show that the PCM stabilizes temperatures within the cubicle and decreases energy consumption of refrigeration systems.

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