Thermal performance evaluation for building application of phase change material blister panels

Phase Change Materials or PCMs are substances that can store high quantities of thermal energy due its high heat capacity; they have been used as an efficient way for passive cooling control, increasing the thermal inertia in building envelopes, reducing the energy demand while helping achieve thermal comfort. In this paper, a novel blister design is proposed to encapsulate the PCM for ceiling tile application. The feasibility of the blister design is assessed by experimental work. A set of three samples including Inertek 23 as the base fluid were tested; a base panel containing only pure PCM, a second composite sample, integrating aluminium wool at 3.77% and a third composite, using steel wool at a concentration of 2.3%. The results showed that the PCM blister panels are an effective solution for ceiling tile incorporation, reducing the indoor ambient temperature. The Base panel presented the lowest temperature range in both cases, proving that the enhancement particles have a positive effect over the PCM. The addition of steel enhancement proved to have the best thermal performance of all the panels, improving the temperature reduction 7 and 17% more in comparison to the pure PCM and aluminuim panel respectivelty.