Parametric Analysis of the Use of PCM in Building Energy Performance

The increased concern of energy efficiency has led to the development of new technologies for environmentally friendly thermal energy storage in construction sector. Phase change materials (PCM) constitute a real solution, which is able to regulate the temperature fluctuations and ensure the thermal comfort inside building by a storage-destocking cycles allowing cooling and heating insides passively. They are used to reduce the energy consumption in building through there integration in different building component and materials. The purpose of this paper is the evaluation of the impact of using PCM mortar into the building envelopes by conducting a parametric analysis displaying different configurations in two climates in Morocco. A simulation of the thermal behavior of a test room with and without PCM was performed using the difference finite method by Design Builder Software. Different parameters were studied as the type of PCM, temperature of melting, enthalpy, and climate. The optimal parameters describing the most performant configuration were determined for each climatic conditions considered, without forgetting the environmental and economic impact found in each case. Conclusively, the use of PCM in building envelope has shown a good energetic performance for cooling and heating purpose explained by 11% of reduction of the energetic load.