Journal of Engineering Research 13 (2025) 229–242

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Journal of Engineering Research

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Experimental and numerical investigation of PCMS on ceilings for

thermal management
Arivazhagan R a, *, 1, Antony Aroul Raj V b, Geetha NB c, Pandiyarajan R a
a
Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Agni College of Technology, Thalambur, 600130 Chennai, India
b
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Easwari Engineering College, Ramapuram, 600089 Chennai, India
c
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bharath Institute for Higher Education and Research, Selaiyur, 600073 Chennai, India

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: In this study, experimental investigation of phase change materials (PCM) integrated into building on ceilings
Phase Change Materials was assessed for thermal management capabilities by comparing two building test models with and without PCM
Thermal energy storage based on fluctuation in PCM temperatures owing to ambient temperature variations. Commercial organic PCM
Thermal energy management
(OM-30) with a peak melting point of 31.10 C was used as PCM with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as the
Latent heat
Energy utilization
encapsulation. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used to examine the thermophysical characteristics of
PCM such as phase transition temperature, latent heat, and specific heat capacity. The various PCM temperature
ranges included for the study are (i) Above phase change melting temperature range ii) within Phase Change
melting temperature range iii) Proximity to PCM onset melting temperature range iv) proximity to PCM end
melting temperature range. Under free-floating ambient Condition, the indoor air temperature was dropped in
PCM installed room up to 1.69 ◦ C, 5.79 ◦ C, 2.26 ◦ C, & − 2.87 ◦ C compared to without PCM room for a PCM
Melting temperature difference of 8.77 ◦ C,1.55 ◦ C, 1 ◦ C & 0.44 ◦ C respectively. Also, it was divulged that the
PCM utilized 3.2%, 31.4%, 6.9%, & 12.27% of the total latent heat energy deployed in order to produce a
temperature difference of 1.69 ◦ C, 5.79 ◦ C, 2.26 ◦ C, & − 2.87 ◦ C compared to without PCM room.

1. Introduction next 20 years. Greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, Global warming

(GW) and climate change are underlying impacts of the energy con­
Energy, an indispensable commodity, acts as a backbone for coun­ sumption of fossil fuels towards the environment. Concepts of Green
tries infrastructure development as well as economic progress. The building (GB), NZEB (Net zero energy buildings) and implementations of
economic status of any nation lies in attaining self-sufficiency in energy building energy codes are evolutionary measures taken by countries
supply and demand. Proper energy management technique in every which emphasize the importance of energy management in buildings [4,
aspect of energy utilization would bridge the gap between energy supply 5].
and demand, especially in developing countries. Building sectors, one of In buildings, heating/cooling system falls in major three categories
the largest energy engulfing sectors, responsible for worlds one third of which include active, passive and hybrid systems. Active systems
energy consumption and CO2 emissions owing to increased demog­ consume energy for conditioning and regulating air, which includes Air
raphy, rising living standards, climatic change, fast urbanization etc. [1, Conditioning (AC) systems and Air Handling Units (AHU) with chillers/
2]. It was estimated that, in 2050, about 235.5 billion square kilometers heaters. Passive system deploys available free energy in the environment
of floor space will be covered with buildings in India, China, Africa and for maintaining comfort conditions, with zero energy consumption.
North American regions alone [3]. Out of the energy-consuming utilities Hybrid system employs both the advantages of passive and active sys­
in buildings, heating ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) tems. Free cooling using PCMs is one of the best examples of hybrid
predominantly dominates over other utilities to deliver thermal comfort systems [6]. Amid various passive thermal management techniques in
to occupants, machines etc. It was also anticipated that the buildings, integration of PCMs in building envelope for thermal man­
energy-consuming trend of HVAC systems would get doubled over the agement through heat modulation technique allured researchers owing

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: [email protected] (A. R).
1
ORCID: 0000-0002-2524-6555

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jer.2023.08.023
Received 17 May 2023; Received in revised form 11 August 2023; Accepted 25 August 2023
Available online 29 August 2023
2307-1877/© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Kuwait University. This is an open access article under the CC BY license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
A. R et al. Journal of Engineering Research 13 (2025) 229–242

Fig. 1. schematic diagram of experimental setup.

to high energy storage potential during phase transition. In conventional building has been studied by Geetha et al. [16] and reported the factors
buildings, Building Materials would store and release heat as sensible which influence the selection of PCMs for thermal management. K.O.
heat energy systems. Addition of PCMs in building envelope combines Lee et al. [17] assessed the effect of integrating thin PCM layer on a
the advantages of both Sensible heat of building materials and latent residential building for heat transfer reduction and thermal manage­
heat of PCMs for storing and releasing heat energy in order reduce en­ ment through field tests conducted at five different locations of PCM in
ergy consumption of HVAC by minimizing air temperature swings building walls. Based on the test results, it was divulged that retrofit
within indoor environment and shifting peak load energy demand of house outfitted with PCM reduces peak heat flux up to 51.3% and 29.7%
buildings. By increasing the thermal mass of buildings, the rate of heat at specified locations of buildings on south and west walls respectively.
transfer (either heat gain from the atmosphere or heat loss from the Castell et al. [18] experimentally explored thermal performance of five
building) can be controlled. While storing and releasing heat within the different cubicles having same dimensions (2.4 mx2.4mx 2.4 m) under
building envelope, heat capacity alone utilized by conventional building two different conditions such as free floating and controlled conditions.
materials as sensible heat energy storage (SHES) systems. On integrating Results reveal that cubicle containing alveolar-PCM (SP-25) and Poly­
PCMs in building, Latent heat energy storage (LHES) of PCMs enhances urethane foam with PCM (RT27 PCM+PUF) has tendencies to reduce
the heat energy storage capacity of buildings. In LHES systems, specific indoor air temperature up to 1 ◦ C and also reduces temperature fluc­
heats of solid building materials as well as latent heat of fusion of PCMs tuations within the PCM cubicle during free floating conditions.
are utilized to store and release heat. Bečkovský et al. [19] compared the thermal stability of attic spaces in­
Many research articles divulged the effect of PCM performance in tegrated with PCM and reference attic without PCM. Delta Cool 24 PCM
buildings through diverse incorporation technologies. Types of PCMs, encapsulated within aluminum panels deployed in walls and roof of the
factors influencing PCM selection, Encapsulation methods, Challenges, attic. Results implies that PCM attic experienced high thermal stability
and benefits of integrating PCM in building envelope has been Published during summer with maximum daily temperature being 26 ◦ C, whereas
in several review articles and was found in reputed journals [7–12]. for reference attic, the maximum temperature was between 25 and 30
Passive thermal management techniques through integration of PCMs ◦
C. When the indoor temperature of the attic falls below the PCM tem­
are widely encountered in various research articles portrays significance perature, perceptible heat was accumulated in the attic with PCM during
of introducing thermal energy storage within buildings. Panchabikesan winter months.
et al. [13] has reviewed passive cooling potentials of building integrated Though several research articles explore effect of PCM integration in
with PCMs for thermal management in various regions of India and buildings, researches pertaining to utilization of latent heat content of
found an average passive cooling potential of 137 W/m2 in warm and PCMs were limited. To the best of author’s knowledge, no research
humid climatic regions like Chennai. Role of PCMs in thermal man­ works were carried out which focus latent heat energy utilization of
agement of buildings was studied by Pasupathy et al. [14] and his work PCM in buildings on ceilings. Owing to transient atmospheric condition
delineates that building deployed with PCM had better thermal man­ of a particular region due to seasonal change causes PCM to remain in
agement in contrast to building without PCM. Several parameters such liquid state or solid state or transitional state at different seasonal con­
as PCM thickness, temperature variations on roof and ceilings were ditions. Hence it is imperative to evaluate the effects of variation in
experimentally validated and compared with numerical results. With indoor air conditions for all PCM temperature ranges. Although several
PCM being integrated on building roof, the roof temperature during the research works have focused on studying the effect of PCM in buildings,
month of January has maintained as constant compared to roof without very few explored the effect of indoor air temperatures variations for
PCM. Kuznik et al. [15] conducted experiment in a controlled environ­ different PCM temperature ranges and latent heat utilization of PCM. In
ment to test the effects of PCM wall boards in building envelope and the present work, the effect of PCM on buildings ceilings was compared
observed a maximum temperature reduction of 4.2 ◦ C. Further, the room to building without PCM in terms of drop in temperature and amount of
with PCM wallboard had less or no temperature stratification. The role latent heat utilized during phase change. Unlike other research articles
of PCM in both active and passive methods for thermal management of where most of the experimentation explores small scale setup to study

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Fig. 2. (a) Physical model of the building with dimension (b) Schematic diagram of Wall/Roof material.

Fig. 3. a) photographic view of actual setup b) ceiling covered with PCM, (c) Temperature sensor insertion within PCM panel (d) Data logger (e) PCM (before
installation).

the effects of PCM in buildings, this article asses the performance of PCM 2. Experimental setup
in building within real scale experimental model for exact ascertaining
of PCM performance. The novelty of this research article is that the 2.1. Test rooms
performance of PCMs were explored with real time atmospheric condi­
tions, with HDPE encapsulation on ceilings. The thermophysical prop­ The experimental setup aimed to test and compare the building in­
erties of PCM such as melting temperature, Specific heat Capacity are tegrated with PCM on ceiling over a standard building without PCM. The
studied using Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). solid model of experimental setup along with dimensions and schematic
diagram of ceiling integrated with PCM was shown in Figs. 1 and 2(a &
b). Unlike in many other research projects where volume representing
scale was involved in testing of building integrated with PCM, this
research involves construction of two identical real time building

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Table 1
Thermo physical properties of PCM.
Properties Value

Melting temperature ( C)
◦
32
Freezing temperature (◦ C) 30
Latent heat (kJ/kg) 230
Density (kg/m3) 878 (liquid), 906 (solid)
Specific heat (kJ/kg K) 2.68 (liquid), 2.60 (solid)
thermal conductivity (W/m K) 0.123(liquid), 0.185 (solid)
Thermal stability (No of cycles) 2000
Maximum operating Temperature (◦ C) 120 ◦ C
Fig. 4. a) Schematic and b) Actual photograph of pyranometer.

Table 2
Dimension of HDPE panel containing PCM.
Parameter Value

Length Breadth Height 500 mm

Mass of PCM 250 mm
36 mm
2.87 kg Per HDPE panel

Models with and without PCMs on ceilings in order to evaluate the effect
of PCM at real time atmospheric conditions. The building test models
were constructed using standard construction materials to cover an area
of each 9.29 m2 (3.048 m x 3.038 m), with gap between them to avoid
descend of shadiness of one over other, during the impact of solar ra­
diation. The building was constructed at a latitude and longitude of
13.0674 and 80.2376 respectively, at Meenakshi college of Engineering,
Chennai. The wall assemblies were made up of 0.5 in. (0.0127 m) outer
and inner cement plaster with conventional brick having thermal con­ Fig. 5. Data Acquisition system.
ductivity of 0.6 W/m K. The roof assemblies were made up of conven­
tional RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) with 4 in. (0.1016) thick. 2.3. Equipment used
Temperature sensors are placed on both test models to measure surface
and air temperatures at various locations such as roof, ceilings, PCM and 2.3.1. Pyranometer
inside the test models for every 10-minute intervals. Pyranometer and The total radiation or global short-wave radiation falling on building
anemometer are also employed to measure solar radiation and air ve­ ceiling was recorded through SP-510 Pyranometer, purchased from
locity respectively. The photographic views of building test models and Apogee Instruments Inc, USA. The incident or incoming short-wave ra­
PCM installed on ceilings were shown in Fig. 3(a) and (b). The buildings diation will be converted in to DC voltage, which can be expressed in W/
are painted in light white in color to attenuate the solar absorption ef­ m2 with an uncertainty of 5% with the help of Data accusation system.
fect. PCMs are encapsulated within a High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Schematic and actual image of Pyranometer were shown in Fig. 4(a) and
panel as shown in Fig. 3(c). The data acquisition system and PCM stacks (b).
were shown in Figs. 3(d) and 3(e) respectively.
2.3.2. Temperature sensors
2.2. Phase change materials The temperatures at various locations such as walls, roofs, ceilings
and indoor air space of the buildings were measured by PT-100 RTD
The major classifications of Phase change materials fall into three (Resistance temperature detector) sensors (3 wire, accuracy ± 0.5 ◦ C).
categories such as Organic, Inorganic and Salt hydrates. As each PCM The outputs from the RTD sensors were recorded within the data
has its own potential benefits and drawbacks in terms of its latent heat Acquisition system for analysis.
content, congruent melting and super cooling effects [19], commercial
organic phase change material OM-30 purchased from PLUSS Polymer 2.3.3. Data acquisition system
India Pvt ltd was deployed as phase change material on building ceil­ Temperature, total atmospheric solar radiations are measured and
ings, supported through aluminum channel section with HDPE as the recorded with the help of data Acquisition system (KeySight 3479 A)
encapsulation. HDPE was selected as encapsulation since it can be interfaced with computer through software, which has been purchased
rigidly fixed on building ceilings without any problem of leakage. The from KeySight Technologies, USA. The data logger consists of 3 slot
thermophysical properties of PCM encapsulation are shown in Table1. mainframes with built in 6 ½ digits of resolution,0.004% basic dcV ac­
As for as phase change materials in building applications are concerned, curacy, digital multi meter (DMM) and 8 switch, 2 control plug-ins in
melting temperature, latent heat of fusion and specific heat are most modules which measures and converts 12 different input signals. There
important parameters for calculating energy storage and release char­ are three modules, each consist of 20 channels for measuring various
acteristics. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC) has been output signal from different sensors as shown in Fig. 5.
performed to evaluate thermal properties of PCM at a heating rate of
0.5 K/min, as this heating rate was close to heating rate of PCM during 3. Results and discussion
experimentation. A small hole has been drilled with the help of portable
drilling machine of 0.005 m diameter within PCM panels to insert RTD 3.1. Thermal characterization of PCM
for measuring phase change temperature during day night cycles. The
dimensions of HDPE panel containing PCM was shown in Table 2. Thermal properties of PCM contained in HDPE panels such as phase
transition temperature and latent heat capacity are evaluated using

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Fig. 6. DSC results for PCM contained in HDPE panels.

Fig. 7. Specific heat capacity during melting.

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Fig. 8. Temperature variations of room without PCM and soon to be retrofitted house: a) East outside and inside; b) Indoor air; c) North outside and inside; d) Roof
and ceilings; e) South outside and inside; f) West outside and inside.

differential scanning calorimeter (NETZSCH 21,400 A). Samples of PCM respectively as shown in Fig. 7. The presence of only one high peak
weighing 17.4 mg were placed in sealed aluminum crucibles were made during melting and freezing in DSC curve clearly indicates that PCM
to undergo periodic cooling and melting cycles in the range of 0 ◦ C to could effectively deliver heat storage and release potential at one stretch
50 ◦ C vice versa at a rate of 0.5◦ K/min. The peak melting temperature to maximum ability, while subjected to periodic freezing and melting
was found to be 31.1 ◦ C as shown in Fig. 6. The onset and end point of cycles [20,21]. Latent heat of PCM during its melting was found by
melting temperature was found by drawing a tangent to the specific heat integrating the area below the specific heat curve during phase change
curve for melting of the PCM and it was found to be 26◦ C and 32.7◦ C and it was found to be 169.1 J/Kg K.

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Fig. 9. Total solar radiation on building Roof.

to be retrofitted are mutually equilibrium under ambient conditions in

Table 3
terms of temperatures as well as undergo same cyclic temperature
Case study parameter.
variation for specific period of time. For effective comparison of building
PCM Case (i) Case (ii) Case (iii) Case (iv) without PCM to that of building soon to be retrofitted with PCM, average
Temperature Above Within its proximity to proximity to
temperatures of all surface wall temperatures, roof and ceiling surface
variation for melting Melting its Melting its Melting
Melting range range onset range. End range. temperatures has been measured between two buildings over a period of
80 h. Fig. 8(a,b,c,d,e,f) shows variation of wall temperatures on the
surface at all sides of building including interior and exterior, roof
3.2. Pre-retrofit analyses temperatures, ceiling temperatures and indoor air temperatures
respectively. From the figures, there was no significant difference has
Before rendering PCM on building ceilings, it is fundamental to carry been found between indoor air temperature and surface temperatures of
out a pre-retrofit analysis to compare buildings without PCM and walls and roof which ensures equilibrium conditions between two
building soon to be retrofitted with PCM. Pre-retrofit analysis was car­ buildings. It also implies that solar radiations and heat flux entering into
ried out to ensure indoor air temperatures, surface wall temperature, both buildings were same. This also confirms that heat transfer occurs
roof and ceiling surface temperatures of building without PCM and soon

Fig. 10. Temperature variations of Room with and without PCM.

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Fig. 11. Solar radiation.

within both building during transient atmospheric conditions are iden­ shown in Table 3.
tical. Thus, any change in terms of indoor air temperature after
emplacing PCM on one of the building ceilings could be due to the effect 3.3.1. Case (i) PCM temperature variations lies above its melting range
of PCM integration on ceiling. Thus, temperature variation of building After installing PCM on ceilings, indoor air temperature, wall tem­
with and without PCM could be analyzed effectively. Fig. 9 shows cor­ peratures and PCM temperature were measured, recorded and stored
responding total solar radiation falling on building during pre-retrofit continuously for every 10 min in transient atmospheric conditions. For
analysis. simplicity, space constrains and owing to transient outdoor conditions,
temperature variations are averaged hourly was reported and its effects
were studied based on PCM temperature variations with respect to
3.3. Indoor air temperature variations
ambient conditions. This case was observed during summer where the
PCM temperature is above its melting point at all recorded time as
The indoor air temperature variation of the building was measured
shown in Fig. 10. As PCM temperature variations was above its phase
and compared between room with PCM and without PCM for the
transition temperature, the phase of PCM was in either liquid state or
following cases based on PCM temperature Variations during Melting as

Fig. 12. Temperature variations of room with and without PCM.

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Fig. 13. Solar radiation.

transitional stage to form as liquid PCM. When PCM temperature was shown in Fig. 11. As the involvement of latent heat content of PCM was
above phase transition temperature heat is absorbed or released through low or negligible during summer, the effect in reducing the indoor air
sensible heat capacity of liquid PCM or sensible heat dominates over its temperature due to introduction of PCM on ceiling has less effect.
latent heat. Though, the minimum and maximum temperature differ­
ence of PCM during melting was recorded as 8.77 ◦ C, the indoor air 3.3.2. Case (ii) PCM temperature variations lies within its melting range
temperature of room with PCM was not dropped much. It was found that This section expounds the effects of indoor air temperature variation
the temperature difference between room with and without PCM was of room outfitted with PCM during its phase transition temperature lies
found to be 1.69 ◦ C. This low temperature difference between the rooms within in the melting temperature variation. When the PCM temperature
could be due lack of utilization of latent heat content of PCM. As there variation lies at phase transition temperature owing to transient outdoor
was no or less amount of latent heat involved in PCM during absorbing condition of the receding days, phase transition of PCM occurs from
or releasing heat and also the sensible heat of liquid PCM was much solid to liquid and the results was evaluated in terms of indoor air
lower than specific heat during phase transition (2.68 KJ/kg), the effect temperature variations, heat energy absorbed/utilized due to addition of
of reducing indoor air temperature was low and also fluctuations were PCM on ceilings. Fig. 12 shows that the indoor air temperature of room
high for room with PCM. The corresponding solar radiation values are with PCM recorded less than room without PCM and was found to be

Fig. 14. Temperature variations of room with and without PCM.

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Fig. 15. Solar radiation.

5.79 ◦ C. Though the variation of PCM temperature during melting was air temperature difference of 5.79 ◦ C between rooms was observed
1.55 ◦ C, the temperature reduction in PCM room was 5.79 ◦ C. This, during the measured phase transition day of PCM from solid to liquid. As
could be due to PCM which absorbs the heat during phase change. Also, the PCM temperature lies within the phase change temperature, the
the room integrated with PCM has fewer temperature fluctuations than amount of heat energy absorbed by the PCM during melting increases,
room without PCM. Thus, it is divulged that PCM could reduce tem­ which results in higher indoor air temperature reduction between room
perature fluctuations of room and reduces heat entering into building with and without PCM. The solar radiation on sample day was shown in
via ceilings through absorbing heat as latent heat. Further, the indoor air Fig. 13. In this case, isothermal phase transition takes place and latent
temperature of room with PCM was maintained near to PCM tempera­ heat of PCM plays a major role in absorbing heat during melting which
ture variation. This depicts the thermal management capability of PCM results in fewer variations in room temperature having PCM on ceilings.
in buildings to maintain room temperature close to PCM phase tem­
perature during phase transition from solid to liquid. A maximum indoor

Fig. 16. Temperature variations of room with and without PCM.

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Fig. 17. Solar radiation.

3.3.3. Case (iii) PCM temperature variations lies proximity to its melting
onset
This section briefs the effect of variation in indoor air temperature
when PCM temperature variations lies in proximity to PCM onset tem­
perature. As the PCM temperature was nearer to onset melting tem­
perature range, the utilization of latent heat was minimal and hence the
temperature difference between the room with and without PCM was
also minimal. The variation of indoor air temperature and solar radia­
tion was shown in Figs. 14 and 15 respectively. When compared to the
case (i), the reduction in room air temperature was high, as there was
little contribution of latent heat from solid to liquid as well as the
thermal conductivity of PCM in solid was higher due to high heat
transfer within PCM. The maximum temperature difference between
room with and without PCM was 2.55 ◦ C.

3.3.4. case (iv) PCM temperature variations lies proximity to its melting
end
In this section, the effect of indoor air temperature variation was
measured when PCM temperature lies proximity to its Melting End. This
Fig. 18. a) Latent heat energy deployed in building.
happens when the weather condition abruptly changes from hot
consecutive days to cloudy days with low ambient temperature. Such
during phase transition was found only for melting. The temperature
kind of day is taken in account for assessing the thermal performance of
variations of PCM during experimental evaluation has been super­
building with and without PCM. As the PCM temperature was greater
imposed on the phase transition temperature range of specific heat
than ambient temperature, the indoor air temperature of PCM room was
curve, in order to find the amount of latent heat utilized during phase
found to be higher than that of room without PCM with maximum of
transition (melting). The phase transition temperature range for PCM
− 2.87 ◦ C and minimum of 0.027 ◦ C. The negative value indicates that
using specific heat curve from DSC analysis is calculated by drawing a
heat is rejected into the room with PCM. Similar negative effect due to
tangent to specific heat curve at both ends during melting. The area
release of perceptible heat during winter on integrating PCM in build­
between PCM melting onset temperature and PCM end temperature of
ings was observed in other research articles [14,19]. This could be due to
the specific heat curve gives overall latent heat content of PCM per gram.
release of heat from PCM at a rapid rate due to high temperature dif­
The integration of specific heat capacity curve between the temperature
ference between PCM and ambient air and also due to PCM temperature
ranges (melting) of PCM during experimentation gives the utilized latent
lies in the phase transition regions. This proves the effective thermal
heat content of PCM during exploration on ceilings for case (i), case (ii),
management capability of PCM when drops lesser than PCM tempera­
case (iii) case (vi). Fig. 18 shows the total amount of latent heat energy
ture. The variation of indoor air temperature and corresponding solar
deployed in the PCM room and Fig. 19 (a,b,c,d,e,f) depicts utilized latent
radiations were shown in Figs. 16 and 17.
heat for PCM Temperature variations during case (i), case (ii), case (iii),
case (vi). The indoor air temperature reduction was due to the energy
3.4. Specific heat utilization of PCM during melting stored during melting of PCM. It was found that for the measured day,
the energy utilized during melting was found to 1.69 ◦ C, 5.79 ◦ C,
Owing to super cooling effects during phase change, energy stored

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Fig. 19. Utilized latent heat for PCM Temperature variations during (a) case I; (b) case ii; (c) case iii; (d) case iv.

Fig. 20. Latent heat utilization for PCM variation in temperature.

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Fig. 21. (a,b,c,d) Numerical Analysis of building indoor air temperature with and without PCM compared with experimental results.

2.26 ◦ C, and − 2.87 ◦ C to that of total available latent heat. As the PCM approximation. The variation of indoor air temperatures was compared
deployed here is organic material having low thermal conductivity and for with and without PCM as shown in Fig. 21 (a-d).
low thermal diffusivity, causes hindrance to PCM phase change and ( 2 )
ΔT ΔT
hence fails to utilize the remaining latent heat content of PCM. Other ρC p = k (1)
Heat transfer problems such as low thermal conductivity of HDPE Δt Δx2
panels, low diurnal variation temperature also causes restriction in PCM
heat transfer during phase transition. The maximum indoor temperature 4. Conclusions
reduction versus percentage of latent heat utilized was shown in Fig. 20.
The effect of PCM on building ceiling was explored by comparing
building without PCM for different PCM temperature variations with
3.5. Validation of experimental result with the numerical simulations respect to ambient temperature. The following conclusions were made
during observations.
The temperature variation of indoor space in the building with PCM
and without PCM integration was obtained through conduct of experi­ i. The indoor air temperature reduction was effective only when
ments has been validated with the numerical simulated data using PCM temperature range or its temperature variations lies in the
MATLAB. For this, the physical model of the two buildings with the phase change region where as the effect was much lower when
dimensions similar to that of the experimental buildings located at PCM temperature variations lies above PCM Melting and prox­
Chennai, India, was modeled using a mathematical model. The mathe­ imity to PCM melting temperature ranges.
matical model comprises of governing equations with one dimensional ii. The maximum indoor air temperature difference and energy
finite difference scheme for calculating the heat transfer through the utilized between room with and without PCM was shown in
building walls and roof, as the building is incident to solar radiation. The Fig. 18 and it was found to be 1.69 ◦ C, 5.79 ◦ C, 2.26 ◦ C, &
Phase change process of PCM was modeled using Apparent Heat Ca­ − 2.87 ◦ C compared to without PCM room for a PCM Melting
pacity method. Simulation has been carried out for 24 h with a time step temperature difference of 8.77 ◦ C,1.55 ◦ C, 1 ◦ C & 0.44 ◦ C
size of one second for four observed days. The governing equation respectively.
employed for modeling the heat transfer through building walls and roof
is shown below and it was solved using explicit finite difference

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iii. The numerical simulation was also performed and compared to [6] N.B. Geetha and R. Velraj, “Passive cooling methods for energy efficient buildings
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[8] R. Baetens, B.P. Jelle, A. Gustavsen, “Phase change materials for
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