One-dimensional model of heat exchanging throughout a three-dimensional building room integrated by phase change material

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical investigation aimed at analyzing heat exchange and thermal comfort conditions within a building room during the hot season. In this setup, one wall, the roof, and the floor are thermally insulated, while the remaining three walls are constructed with brick embedded with phase change material (PCM). These non-insulated walls are subjected to a constant external surface temperature. Additionally, a latent heat storage unit comprising a set of tubes is installed in the room's ceiling region. The mathematical model employed in this study is based on pure conduction in the brick and in the walls containing PCM, as well as natural convection in the room air. Natural convection within the liquid phase of the PCM storage unit is accounted for by considering the effective thermal conductivity's dependence on the liquid fraction. The enthalpy method is utilized to solve energy equations in both the solid and liquid phases of the PCM, whether in walls or tubes. Heat transfer within the room is assumed to be unidirectional through the walls and tubes, with zero-dimensional considerations in the air region. The developed model is thoroughly analyzed and compared with existing literature, showing good agreement. Subsequently, a parametric study investigating various geometrical and thermo-physical parameters of the building room is conducted. The results indicate that the PCM within the walls contributes to maintaining indoor temperatures within the comfort range. Furthermore, the heat storage unit helps sustain indoor temperatures at the comfort level as long as the PCM within the tubes is undergoing melting processes.