(392d) Application of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in the Ceiling Fan Ventilation for the Building Thermal Energy Comfort Assessment

Passive cooling techniques is one of the most promising technologies that adapts the principle of supplying cool air to the buildings with no or minimal electricity consumption. The system requires a thermal energy storage system packed with phase change materials (PCMs). These materials absorb the available cooling from the ambient temperature during the night and release it to the room during the day to maintain a comfortable condition. This paper presents some of the results of a study performed on the indoor thermal comfort using phase change materials on the ceiling fans. The main objective was to investigate the potential solution for overheating/ overcooling mitigation. Two laboratory scale test rooms have been designed and constructed which was controlled by linearly rising/falling temperature changing process. The performance of the system was evaluated experimentally by comparing the performance of test room with PCM and a similar room without PCM. The experiments were conducted in an artificial climate inside a laboratory environment chamber which was controlled by harmonic and linearly rising/falling temperature changing processes. Experimental design techniques based on 5 level RSM CCD method to quantify the potential effects of using PCM panels and to determine individual/interactive effects of parameters on thermal discomfort index, PPD. The results indicate that minimum discomfort level can be achieved when inlet air temperature and humidity, fan rotating speed and PCM slab height and thickness were set to 29.48%, 115 rpm, 31 cm and 2.6 cm, respectively. PPD was obtained 4.1%in the optimal condition. In summertime conditions the results prove that the PCM used in one of the rooms lead to an overheating reduction of 13.83% representing PCM efficiency of 56%. Under the winter conditions during two months, the results show that the proposed hybrid system can reduce discomfort level around 2.61% corresponding a PCM efficiency of 35,5%. Based on the results the proposed system has a great potential to shift cooling/heating energy demand away from peak hours.