Effect of Macrocapsule Geometry on PCM Performance for Thermal Regulation in Buildings
The integration of phase-change materials (PCMs) into thermal energy storage systems offers significant potential for reducing energy consumption and improving thermal comfort, crucial issues for achieving sustainable building stocks. Nevertheless, the performance of PCM-based systems is strongly in...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/303 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832588590530428928 |
|---|---|
| author | Margarida Gonçalves António Figueiredo German Vela Filipe Rebelo Ricardo M. S. F. Almeida Mónica S. A. Oliveira Romeu Vicente |
| author_facet | Margarida Gonçalves António Figueiredo German Vela Filipe Rebelo Ricardo M. S. F. Almeida Mónica S. A. Oliveira Romeu Vicente |
| author_sort | Margarida Gonçalves |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The integration of phase-change materials (PCMs) into thermal energy storage systems offers significant potential for reducing energy consumption and improving thermal comfort, crucial issues for achieving sustainable building stocks. Nevertheless, the performance of PCM-based systems is strongly influenced by the container geometry. Among the various forms of incorporating PCMs into building applications, macroencapsulation is the most versatile and is, therefore, widely used. Herewith, this paper analyzes the impact of macrocapsule geometry on PCM thermal performance. Thermal properties of the material were first tested using Differential Scanning Calorimetry at five heating/cooling rates to evaluate its influence on phase-change temperatures and enthalpy. Then, an experimental setup evaluated four macrocapsule geometries on the enclosed PCM behavior during charging and discharging processes. The PCM characterization revealed that the slowest-tested rate minimized the supercooling effect. Analysis across different macrocapsule geometries showed that sectioning the contact surface improved heat transfer efficiency by fully mobilizing the PCM and reducing phase-change times. Conversely, double-layered geometry designs hindered heat transfer, presenting challenges in completing PCM charging and discharging. These findings suggest that optimizing its performance is a necessary direction for further research, which may include adjusting the PCM operating temperature range across layers or redesigning the geometry to misalign contact surfaces. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea59013380b842eb86056d1f356bd14f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea59013380b842eb86056d1f356bd14f2025-01-24T13:30:57ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-01-0118230310.3390/en18020303Effect of Macrocapsule Geometry on PCM Performance for Thermal Regulation in BuildingsMargarida Gonçalves0António Figueiredo1German Vela2Filipe Rebelo3Ricardo M. S. F. Almeida4Mónica S. A. Oliveira5Romeu Vicente6CERIS-Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Civil Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalCERIS-Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Civil Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalCERIS-Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Civil Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalCERIS-Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Civil Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, School of Technology and Management, Campus Politécnico de Repeses, 3504-510 Viseu, PortugalTEMA-Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalCERIS-Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Civil Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalThe integration of phase-change materials (PCMs) into thermal energy storage systems offers significant potential for reducing energy consumption and improving thermal comfort, crucial issues for achieving sustainable building stocks. Nevertheless, the performance of PCM-based systems is strongly influenced by the container geometry. Among the various forms of incorporating PCMs into building applications, macroencapsulation is the most versatile and is, therefore, widely used. Herewith, this paper analyzes the impact of macrocapsule geometry on PCM thermal performance. Thermal properties of the material were first tested using Differential Scanning Calorimetry at five heating/cooling rates to evaluate its influence on phase-change temperatures and enthalpy. Then, an experimental setup evaluated four macrocapsule geometries on the enclosed PCM behavior during charging and discharging processes. The PCM characterization revealed that the slowest-tested rate minimized the supercooling effect. Analysis across different macrocapsule geometries showed that sectioning the contact surface improved heat transfer efficiency by fully mobilizing the PCM and reducing phase-change times. Conversely, double-layered geometry designs hindered heat transfer, presenting challenges in completing PCM charging and discharging. These findings suggest that optimizing its performance is a necessary direction for further research, which may include adjusting the PCM operating temperature range across layers or redesigning the geometry to misalign contact surfaces.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/303phase-change materialsthermal energy storageDifferential Scanning Calorimetrymacrocapsule geometrymelting and solidification |
| spellingShingle | Margarida Gonçalves António Figueiredo German Vela Filipe Rebelo Ricardo M. S. F. Almeida Mónica S. A. Oliveira Romeu Vicente Effect of Macrocapsule Geometry on PCM Performance for Thermal Regulation in Buildings Energies phase-change materials thermal energy storage Differential Scanning Calorimetry macrocapsule geometry melting and solidification |
| title | Effect of Macrocapsule Geometry on PCM Performance for Thermal Regulation in Buildings |
| title_full | Effect of Macrocapsule Geometry on PCM Performance for Thermal Regulation in Buildings |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Macrocapsule Geometry on PCM Performance for Thermal Regulation in Buildings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Macrocapsule Geometry on PCM Performance for Thermal Regulation in Buildings |
| title_short | Effect of Macrocapsule Geometry on PCM Performance for Thermal Regulation in Buildings |
| title_sort | effect of macrocapsule geometry on pcm performance for thermal regulation in buildings |
| topic | phase-change materials thermal energy storage Differential Scanning Calorimetry macrocapsule geometry melting and solidification |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/303 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT margaridagoncalves effectofmacrocapsulegeometryonpcmperformanceforthermalregulationinbuildings AT antoniofigueiredo effectofmacrocapsulegeometryonpcmperformanceforthermalregulationinbuildings AT germanvela effectofmacrocapsulegeometryonpcmperformanceforthermalregulationinbuildings AT filiperebelo effectofmacrocapsulegeometryonpcmperformanceforthermalregulationinbuildings AT ricardomsfalmeida effectofmacrocapsulegeometryonpcmperformanceforthermalregulationinbuildings AT monicasaoliveira effectofmacrocapsulegeometryonpcmperformanceforthermalregulationinbuildings AT romeuvicente effectofmacrocapsulegeometryonpcmperformanceforthermalregulationinbuildings |