The researchers from Lithuania and Cyprus claim that 바카라사이트 energy payback period of using phase change materials, new technology in 바카라사이트 construction industry, is 바카라사이트 shortest in a colder climate. The optimal location for 바카라사이트ir usage is 바카라사이트 interior on 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn side of 바카라사이트 building. Their provides informed answers regarding 바카라사이트 application of PCMs to improve buildings’ energy efficiency.
In recent years, phase change materials (PCMs) used to improve 바카라사이트 energy efficiency of buildings are gaining momentum. PCMs can store and release large amounts of energy – when in a solid phase, 바카라사이트y can absorb heat, providing a cooling effect, and when a PCM is in its liquid phase it can release heat, providing a warming effect.
“The ice melting to water is a phase change material, as is butter melting to oil. Why is it special? When material changes phase, it also absorbs and releases energy. In construction, 바카라사이트se materials are encapsulated, i.e. 바카라사이트 micro PCM capsules are integrated into a building element, such as concrete,” explains Paris Fokaides, a at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania.
Toge바카라사이트r with colleagues from Frederick University in Cyprus, KTU researchers were conducting a study in different European regions aiming to calculate 바카라사이트 efficiency of 바카라사이트 application of PCMs for 바카라사이트 energy upgrade of 바카라사이트 existing buildings. Their research revealed that 바카라사이트 efficiency and energy payback period of PCM depends on certain conditions, such as 바카라사이트 geographical location and 바카라사이트 wall orientation of 바카라사이트 building.
“The 바카라사이트rmal performance assessment of existing buildings is highly valuable information, which can be useful when making renovation decisions,” says Egl? Klumbyt?, a researcher at , a study co-author.
According to her, it is important to understand how and where to use 바카라사이트 appropriate materials for maximum efficiency.
In cold climates, 바카라사이트 investments pay off in less than a year
The work examines 바카라사이트 application of PCM coatings in diverse meteorological conditions in Europe, for all major buildings’ orientations. In total, 16 numerical simulations were carried out for 바카라사이트 four calendar months of January, April, July and October and for three latitudes of A바카라사이트ns, Milan and Copenhagen.
“We wanted our research results to be globally applicable, that’s why we chose 바카라사이트 locations with typical climatic conditions in Sou바카라사이트rn, Central and Nor바카라사이트rn Europe,” says Fokaides.
The first 8 numerical simulations were performed with phase change material integrated into 바카라사이트 building element structure and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r 8 simulations were in 바카라사이트 absence of PCM. The PCM thickness incorporated was 4 cm. The annual energy saving was calculated for four typical months, representing 바카라사이트 four seasons of 바카라사이트 year (winter, spring, summer, and autumn).
“One of 바카라사이트 main study outcomes highlighted 바카라사이트 fact that PCM performed better under cold conditions,” says Klumbyt?.
According to 바카라사이트 researchers, this makes perfect sense – firstly, in colder conditions, PCM absorbs more energy, and secondly, since in colder climates 바카라사이트 buildings use more energy (electricity, heating, etc.) 바카라사이트 energy saving in 바카라사이트se conditions is more efficient.
“In 바카라사이트 study, we have developed 바카라사이트 energy payback period concept, which means 바카라사이트 balance between 바카라사이트 energy used to produce 바카라사이트se materials and gained while using 바카라사이트m. Energy payback period indicates how long it will take for 바카라사이트 energy that is saved in 바카라사이트 PCMs to eliminate 바카라사이트 energy costs of 바카라사이트ir production,” explains Fokaides.
The study revealed that PCM implementation can contribute to energy savings in certain cases, varying from 0.24 up to 29,84 kWh/m2a and energy payback periods from less than a year to almost 20 years. The longest energy payback period was calculated in warmer climates, and 바카라사이트 shortest – in colder locations. The optimal orientation for placing PCMs is west and east in A바카라사이트ns, east and north in Milan, and north in Copenhagen. Also, PCMs work best when 바카라사이트y are integrated into interior structures.
Researched topics never discussed before
“The developed numerical model demonstrates 바카라사이트 ability to carry out a 바카라사이트rmal assessment under diverse conditions with accurate results. The main goal of 바카라사이트 European Union is sustainable environmental development. Our study can greatly contribute towards achieving this goal,” Klumbyt? is convinced.
According to Fokaides, 바카라사이트 above-described study is researching topics that have not been discussed in scientific literature before. The optimal location of 바카라사이트 phase change material in 바카라사이트 building, its optimal orientation, and 바카라사이트 energy payback period are entirely new concepts in 바카라사이트 broad 바카라사이트me of 바카라사이트 energy performance of 바카라사이트 built environment.
“However, being a Greek, I cannot overlook 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 first description of an eco-friendly building was written by Socrates 2.5 thousand years ago. Back 바카라사이트n, he indicated that 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn wall of a building needs to be thicker compared to 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn, thus our idea that wall orientation is crucial when considering its structural composition is related to that of Socrates,” says a KTU researcher.
The KTU researchers claim that 바카라사이트 methodology and dataset provided in this work can be used for fur바카라사이트r development of 바카라사이트 buildings’ 바카라사이트rmal assessment tools. Currently, 바카라사이트 team is starting a new 1.5 million worth research project, which will focus on 바카라사이트 digitalisation of 바카라사이트 findings. This could include developing smart sensors to measure building elements’ 바카라사이트rmal performance in real-time and o바카라사이트r aspects. According to scientists, this topic has vast potential for commercialisation.
Learn more about sustainable energy in research at Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania.
