Dynamic Shading Device with Phase Change Materials: A Proof-of-Concept Towards Improving Thermal Comfort
摘要
Integration of renewable energy sources coupled with innovative construction systems can enhance building efficiency. Recognizing the substantial impact of the building sector's carbon footprint, there is a growing emphasis on decarbonization strategies aimed at improving the energy performance of the built environment to reduce overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Dynamic Façades can play a crucial role in achieving this objective, as their adaptability to environmental changes can boost both energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings. On the other hand, the increasing trend of using Phase Change Materials (PCM) underscores the considerable potential of these solutions in enhancing building thermal performance. However, one key challenge of PCM applications in buildings lies in ensuring their complete daily charge and discharge cycle. This research introduces a proof-of-concept featuring a novel dynamic shading device incorporating PCM. A prototype was built and tested at the real-scale, one with a conventional curtain and the other with the dynamic shading device incorporating PCM. Monitoring was conducted to assess the system's performance according to different strategies to optimize the system's full potential. The system operates by sliding the device from the indoor compartment to a discharging chamber to potentiate the PCM phase change. This prototype, for overheating control, demonstrated the PCM's thermal regulation capacity, achieving reductions of up to 1.1 ℃ in maximum peak temperatures.