Coupling Phase Change Materials and Model Predictive Controls for Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort in Canadian Buildings

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Envelope thermal performance requirements are becoming more stringent and the most common compliance approach is to add more insulation. In many cases this may not be practical due to space constraints and greater use of glazing façade systems. An alternative approach is to increase building envelope’s thermal storage capacity by incorporating Phase Change Materials. PCMs are innovative products able to store and release large quantities of heat per unit of mass through a phase change from liquid to solid and back near typical room temperatures. The idea is that PCM absorbs part of a building’s heat load during the daytime as it melts and releases this heat during the cooler night-time by returning to its solid phase. In the summer, the released heat would be flushed out using natural ventilation or fans, while in the winter it would reduce the heating requirements.