PCM cooling ceilings in the Energy Efficiency Center-passive cooling potential of two different system designs

In the Energy Efficiency Center the new R&D building of the ZAE Bayern two different PCM cooling ceiling types are installed and monitored in two office rooms. The ceilings are connected to a water circuit and can be used for heating and cooling. The PCM ceilings are prototypes which differ in the positioning of the PCM layer: ceiling type 1 with the PCM on top of and ceiling type 2 with the PCM below the water pipes. It was found, that cooling ceiling type 2 had a better thermal connection between PCM and room. Nevertheless, the passive cooling power of the two different system designs was quite similar when measured as a function of the globe temperature. Passive cooling powers of 10-15W per m(2) PCM cooling ceiling area were measured for a globe temperature of 26 degrees C. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.