Integration of PCMs and Capillary Radiant Cooling/Heating to Ensure of Thermal Comfort

The thermal comfort of buildings occupants depends on the physical properties of applied building materials, on the solar heat gains through the transparent part of the external envelope and the mode of heating/cooling and ventilation. Capillary radiant cooling / heating can maintain a state of indoor environment in the required temperature range in accordance with legislative framework. The paper shows possibility how to improve thermal comfort and thermal stability in summer. Presented system uses phase change materials as a latent heat storage medium for better absorption of heat. Microencapsulated phase change materials Micronal (R) DS 5040 X and DS 5008X were used as latent heat storage medium in combination with gypsum plaster. Activation of phase change materials is carried out by capillary tubes with cooled / heated water circuit. At Institute of Building Structures at Faculty of Civil Engineering are located two rooms for comparative measurements. There were located thermal storage modules in the experimental room. Low- temperature radiant cooling and heating with phase change materials are one of the ways to reduce energy consumption and operating cost for cooling / heating. The paper presents the results of measurements for different modes of operation of cooling and heating.