An Explicit Finite Element Method for Thermal Simulations of Buildings with Phase Change Materials
The thermal performance of building envelopes is essential for building thermal comfort and the reduction of building energy requirements. Phase change materials (PCMs) implemented in building envelopes can improve thermal performance. An explicit finite element method (ex-FEM) has been developed ba...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/19/6194 |
| _version_ | 1797516566062956544 |
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| author | Hongxia Zhou Åke Fransson Thomas Olofsson |
| author_facet | Hongxia Zhou Åke Fransson Thomas Olofsson |
| author_sort | Hongxia Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The thermal performance of building envelopes is essential for building thermal comfort and the reduction of building energy requirements. Phase change materials (PCMs) implemented in building envelopes can improve thermal performance. An explicit finite element method (ex-FEM) has been developed based on a previous study to investigate the heat transfer performance through building walls with installed PCMs. For verification, we introduce an electrical circuit analogy (ECA) method. For model validation, at first, COMSOL is used. For comparison, data were collected from experiments using a small hotbox, part of the sides are covered by PCMs with different configurations. This work shows how the ex-FEM model can predict the wall’s temperature profile with and without incorporated PCM. With the implementation of PCMs, the work problematizes unpredictable influences for modeling. In addition, the study introduces results from simulations of sequencing of PCM layers in wall construction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:03:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3dd77c8445a140418b24b72b02d1d39e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:03:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-3dd77c8445a140418b24b72b02d1d39e2023-11-22T16:00:43ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-09-011419619410.3390/en14196194An Explicit Finite Element Method for Thermal Simulations of Buildings with Phase Change MaterialsHongxia Zhou0Åke Fransson1Thomas Olofsson2Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, SwedenThe thermal performance of building envelopes is essential for building thermal comfort and the reduction of building energy requirements. Phase change materials (PCMs) implemented in building envelopes can improve thermal performance. An explicit finite element method (ex-FEM) has been developed based on a previous study to investigate the heat transfer performance through building walls with installed PCMs. For verification, we introduce an electrical circuit analogy (ECA) method. For model validation, at first, COMSOL is used. For comparison, data were collected from experiments using a small hotbox, part of the sides are covered by PCMs with different configurations. This work shows how the ex-FEM model can predict the wall’s temperature profile with and without incorporated PCM. With the implementation of PCMs, the work problematizes unpredictable influences for modeling. In addition, the study introduces results from simulations of sequencing of PCM layers in wall construction.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/19/6194phase change materials (PCMs)thermal performanceex-FEMCOMSOL |
| spellingShingle | Hongxia Zhou Åke Fransson Thomas Olofsson An Explicit Finite Element Method for Thermal Simulations of Buildings with Phase Change Materials Energies phase change materials (PCMs) thermal performance ex-FEM COMSOL |
| title | An Explicit Finite Element Method for Thermal Simulations of Buildings with Phase Change Materials |
| title_full | An Explicit Finite Element Method for Thermal Simulations of Buildings with Phase Change Materials |
| title_fullStr | An Explicit Finite Element Method for Thermal Simulations of Buildings with Phase Change Materials |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Explicit Finite Element Method for Thermal Simulations of Buildings with Phase Change Materials |
| title_short | An Explicit Finite Element Method for Thermal Simulations of Buildings with Phase Change Materials |
| title_sort | explicit finite element method for thermal simulations of buildings with phase change materials |
| topic | phase change materials (PCMs) thermal performance ex-FEM COMSOL |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/19/6194 |
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