Phase Change as a Passive Strategy: Evaluation of the Thermal-energy Performance in Buildings in Panama

Abstract

Great efforts have been focused on finding ways to reduce energy consumption, since energy production is currently one of the major atmospheric pollutants. Thus, one strategy that seems to be effective is the implementation of Phase Change Materials (PCM), which due to their high latent heat can store a significant amount of energy. From this arises the objective of evaluating different phase change materials to determine their influence in improving the internal comfort of buildings, and that they do not negatively impact the environment. A literature review is carried out on the application of phase change materials as a passive element in building construction and the energy improvements it provides. The methodologies used in the simulations and experiments carried out in other investigations are detailed, as well as the description of the phase change materials studied. The evaluation criteria used to analyse the energetic behavior of the phase change materials are identified, and their energetic performance is described. Finally, the energy performance of five phase change materials is evaluated, under the climate of Panama City, by means of a simulation performed in DesignBuilder, based on the same performance indicators previously established, from which it is obtained that the phase change material PCM1 is the one that presents the best performance.