Thermal investigation of Phase Change Materials (PCM) by infrared thermography

Abstract

The need for energy efficiency in building components is constantly increasing, as the current legislation is constantly pushing to decrease the overall energy demand and increase the share of renewable energies in buildings. In this framework, the use of Phase Change Materials (PCM) in construction elements is a powerful tool both to reduce the energy consumption and to improve the integration of renewable energy sources. PCM could be applied both to the building envelope and to the building energy system. In the latter, PCM are typically applied in energy storage elements, exploiting their ability to accumulate and release heat according to the energy need of the building. In this work, the thermal behavior of PCM under dynamic conditions is investigated using three methods based on infrared thermography. The accurate knowledge of the thermal behavior of PCM, obtained through the experimental measurements, is crucial for the design of energy storage elements, as the thermal behavior of PCM-based storage components impacts the overall design of the building energy system.