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Achieving thermal inertia in lightweight constructions.

Author(s) : SILVA P., BRAGANCA L., ALMEIDA M., et al.

Summary

The aim of this work is to improve the thermal performance of lightweight constructions making use of phase-change materials (PCMs). Typical lightweight constructions lack thermal inertia. The use of PCMs can solve this problem and improve the building's thermal performance. However there are few studies specifying the correct PCM to apply in each situation and the optimal quantity to use. In the present case, a natural PCM, coconut oil, placed in plastic containers in the floor was used. For the study, test cells built at the University of Minho were used. Several experiments were performed with coconut oil, reproducing different thermal storage situations, from the total absence of this material (reference lightweight solution) to the application of all the available PCM. It was concluded that the introduction of PCMs improved substantially the test cell thermal inertia, but it would be necessary to also implement some modifications on the south façade (reduction of the glazing area and introduction of more thermal mass) in order to improve the overall thermal performance. Before the introduction of these modifications in the test cell, the program VisualDOE was used in order to forecast the performance of the test cell and to optimize the final solution.

Details

  • Original title: Achieving thermal inertia in lightweight constructions.
  • Record ID : 2008-1318
  • Languages: English
  • Publication date: 2006/11/20
  • Source: Source: Climamed 2006, Lyon
    PIII-2.2; 257-265; fig.; phot.; tabl.; 6 ref.

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