Optimal Design Method for Lightweight Buildings to minimize the Cooling Load with Phase Change Materials using Orthogonal Experimental Design

Abstract

This  studypresentsan investigation  of the  annual cooling   load   in   buildings by analyzingthe influenceof parameters of phase change materials(PCMs)integrated into the envelopes of the buildings. For the use cases, well-knownCases 600  and  650  of  ASHRAE  Standard  140were  considered. Wemodified  vertical  walls  of  the use cases incorporating various PCM layers. The impact of variousfactors of PCM layers in four climates was assessed. These factors were the thickness, melting temperature, latent heat of fusion, density, specific heat capacity, and  thermal  conductivity.  The  results  showed  that  the  variation of  the density,  latent  heat  of  fusion,  and  the  thickness  of  PCMs had a high impact on the reduction ofthe annual cooling energy. However,  the  level  of thickness,  latent  heat  of  fusion,  and density stuck inthe  maximum  value,  whereas  the  level  of thermal  conductivity  and  specific  heat  capacity stuckinthe minimum value. Generally, during the globaland multi-objective optimization  problems,  theseparameters may  beexcludedfrom the  variable settingsexcept for  thickness  whereby  the  penalty function can be set.  The  general  thermodynamic  pattern  of  the results   concludes   that buildings   with lightweight envelopes require  as  much  heat  storage  as possiblepreventing it  from theflow ofheat to the surrounding.