Innovative wall package made of macro-encapsulated phase change material and geopolymer concrete: in-field thermal analysis for a Mediterranean climate

Abstract

The paper proposes the experimental characterization of a wall package made of geopolymer concrete and phase change materials (PCMs) in the climate of south Italy. Data collected from May to July 2021 were presented by elaborating surface temperatures and heat fluxes with the introduction of several new indices as the thermal stress reduction amplitude, the percentage of time in melting range and the extreme surface solicitations. The results indicate that the PCMs reduce the thermal solicitation and preserve the geopolymer blocks. The indoor surface temperature can be lowered also of 3°C during the hours with maximum sol-air temperatures and this could contribute to reduce the local discomfort phenomenon. Globally, the heat flux monitored on the geopolymer layer behind the PCM is attenuated and its trend is more regular; this reduction implies a reduction of heat gains through the opaque building envelope and finally a reduction of the energy demand.

Keywords:

• PCM
• geopolymer concrete
• experimental monitoring
• Mediterranean climate
• thermal analysis
• thermal stress index

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author (R.F. De Masi) upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Horizon 2020 project “Green INSTRUCT”, [grant number 723825], for the base module of geopolymer concrete. The application of PCM and the following studies were supported by the Italian PRIN Project “SUSTAIN/ABLE” – SimultaneoUs STructural And energetIc renovation of BuiLdings through innovative solutions, ERC Sector PE8, ID 20174RTL7W_007.