Abstract
Buildings are responsible for more than 40% of total energy consumption and 25% of anthropomorphic derived
carbon emissions. Hence, the development of energy efficient materials, which help to minimise these issues,
is important. Phase change materials (PCMs) are known as latent heat storage units, as they can store latent
heat energy within a specific temperature range. Energy is absorbed when the material changes from a solid
to liquid state, and released when the material changes back from a liquid to solid state. PCMs can reduce the
energy requirements of a building by reducing peak demand for either summer cooling or winter heating. PCMs
also have the potential of reducing the amount of energy lost and increasing thermal comfort in buildings, by
buffering temperature fluctuations throughout the day. This research explores more efficient ways to host
PCMs and further develop new methods of encapsulating PCMs and incorporating them into the built
environment. This paper presents experimental findings from an on-going study investigating how to
incorporate the PCMs into cement mortars by impregnating PCMs into lightweight aggregates (LWA), to obtain
high heat-storage capacity granules. Commercial PCMs with melting points at 18°C, 22°C and 25°C were used.
Methods and conditions for optimal absorption of these PCMs into two types of LWA, aerated concrete and
perlite have been evaluated. The results show the influence of the microstructure of the LWA, PCM/LWA ratio,
impregnation temperature and time in the heat storage capacity of the granules. The LWA containing PCMs
have potential to be incorporated into a variety of building materials, including mortars, plasters, blocks, and
concrete panels. The compatibility between PCM aggregates and the surrounding matrix, as well as thermal
performance and structural properties, will be investigated in future work.
carbon emissions. Hence, the development of energy efficient materials, which help to minimise these issues,
is important. Phase change materials (PCMs) are known as latent heat storage units, as they can store latent
heat energy within a specific temperature range. Energy is absorbed when the material changes from a solid
to liquid state, and released when the material changes back from a liquid to solid state. PCMs can reduce the
energy requirements of a building by reducing peak demand for either summer cooling or winter heating. PCMs
also have the potential of reducing the amount of energy lost and increasing thermal comfort in buildings, by
buffering temperature fluctuations throughout the day. This research explores more efficient ways to host
PCMs and further develop new methods of encapsulating PCMs and incorporating them into the built
environment. This paper presents experimental findings from an on-going study investigating how to
incorporate the PCMs into cement mortars by impregnating PCMs into lightweight aggregates (LWA), to obtain
high heat-storage capacity granules. Commercial PCMs with melting points at 18°C, 22°C and 25°C were used.
Methods and conditions for optimal absorption of these PCMs into two types of LWA, aerated concrete and
perlite have been evaluated. The results show the influence of the microstructure of the LWA, PCM/LWA ratio,
impregnation temperature and time in the heat storage capacity of the granules. The LWA containing PCMs
have potential to be incorporated into a variety of building materials, including mortars, plasters, blocks, and
concrete panels. The compatibility between PCM aggregates and the surrounding matrix, as well as thermal
performance and structural properties, will be investigated in future work.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | 39th Cement and Concrete Science Conference 2019 |
| Editors | Richard Ball, Barrie Dams |
| Place of Publication | Bath, UK |
| Publisher | University of Bath |
| Pages | 33 |
| Number of pages | 38 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780861972012 |
| Publication status | Published - 9 Sept 2019 |
