Experimental and Numerical Investigation on PCM-Integrated Concrete Blocks for Reducing Global Carbon Footprint
摘要
Global energy consumption increases drastically and poses significant environmental challenges. The building sector alone is responsible for almost 30% of global CO2 emissions. One of the major contributors to this emission is the air conditioning system, which provides thermal comfort to occupants in the building. Currently, there are more than 2 billion air conditioning units in the world and this could be tripled by 2050. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), space cooling is responsible for around 1 billion tons of CO2 emissions through electricity use. The incorporation of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) into building blocks is an innovative solution to overcome this problem. PCMs are highly effective in controlling temperature and maintaining interior thermal conditions by absorbing and releasing heat during phase transitions. However, integrating PCMs into building materials contain significant challenges that avoid leaks or dips. One alternative approach to overcome the challenge is to create hollow concrete blocks and fill them with PCMs to provide structural integrity and improve thermal performance. This study evaluates the performance of PCM-integrated concrete through experiments and numerical analysis. The result indicates the potential of advanced materials to build a sustainable, energy-efficient building and mitigate CO2 emissions that align with global warming and climate change.