Energy saving potential of a novel phase change material wallboard in typical climate regions of China

A novel wallboard with double layers shape-stabilized phase change materials (SSPCMs) for year round energy management was proposed. Its energy saving potential in five typical climate regions of China was studied. One office room integrated with double layers SSPCMs wallboard was used for simulation platform. The other normal office room with the same envelope and just without double layers SSPCMs wallboard was used as reference room. Studies were conducted to investigate the energy saving potential of double layers SSPCMs wallboard in five cities representing five typical climate regions of China, including severe cold region, cold region, hot summer and cold winter region, hot summer and warm winter region, mild region. The optimal melting temperature and corresponding thickness of SSPCMs wallboard in five representative cities were given when the energy saving potential reached maximal value. It concluded that the optimal melting temperature of internal SSPCM layer was effected by indoor air temperature and the optimal melting temperature of external SSPCM layer was effected by outdoor air temperature. The characteristic of optimal values in the five representative cities were given for reference in this paper. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.