Simulation of the behaviour of phase change materials for the improvement of thermal comfort in lightweight buildings

This paper describes the results of a study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of Phase Change Materials (PCM) for the improvement of summer thermal comfort in lightweight buildings. The work is based on simulations on a test room in a real building. By varying the thickness of the PCM panel, installed on the inner side of the internal partitions of the test room, as well as the intensity of the night mechanical ventilation and the ways the panels are installed, some interesting conclusions concerning the effectiveness of PCMs on thermal comfort are obtained. The analysis is supported by new indicators, which help quantify the intensity and the duration of the potential thermal discomfort, as well as the actual duration of PCM activation phase.