Thermal performance of latent heat storage: Phase change material melting in horizontal tube applied to lightweight building envelopes

This paper focuses on the experimental investigation of the storage and release of thermal heat during melting and solidification of PCM (phase change material). The materials tested have a gypsum or epoxy resin matrix which incorporates metallic tube filled with PCM. An investigation by means of a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was carried out to obtain the latent heat and the transition temperature of paraffin. The main objective is to elucidate which is the most efficient composite-PCM by measuring, effective thermal conductivity, total heat accumulated; the average heat capacity and latent heat stored using a new transient hot plate apparatus. Comparing the results, it was demonstrated that that the considered composite gypsum-PCM has potential thermal energy storage purpose in buildings. Experimental investigations of the thermophysical properties of the considered composite (gypsum/copper tubes) have shown that the material combines a high heat storage potential and an improved heat transfer at the same time. Besides, the results showed that the shape-stabilized phase change material prevents the leakage of the molten paraffin during phase transition and proved a good thermal stability. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.