Experimental study of a ventilated facade with PCM during winter period

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2013Author
Ruiz-Pardo, Álvaro
Álvarez, Servando
Suggested citation
Gracia Cuesta, Alvaro de;
Navarro Farré, Lidia;
Castell, Albert;
Ruiz-Pardo, Álvaro;
Álvarez, Servando;
Cabeza, Luisa F.;
.
(2013)
.
Experimental study of a ventilated facade with PCM during winter period.
Energy and Buildings, 2013, vol. 58, p. 324–332.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.10.026.
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The aim of this article is to test experimentally the thermal performance of a ventilated double skin facade
(DSF) with phase change material (PCM) in its air channel, during the heating season in the Mediterranean
climate. Two identical house-like cubicles located in Puigverd de Lleida (Spain) were monitored during
winter 2012, and in one of them, a ventilated facade with PCM was located in the south wall. This ventilated
facade can operate under mechanical or natural ventilation mode and its thermal control depends
on the weather conditions and the energetic demand of the building. Hence, three different tests were
performed: free floating, controlled temperature and demand profile conditions. The experimental results
conclude that the use of the ventilated facade with PCM improves significantly the thermal behaviour
of the whole building (working as a heat supplier in free floating tests and reducing significantly the
electrical consumption of the HVAC systems). However, these improvements might be increased if thermal
control is used. Moreover, the measured electrical energy consumption of the heat pumps and fans
indicates that the use of mechanical ventilation in this system is not justified; unless a fast heating supply
is needed.