Technologies Using Phase Change Materials (PCM) for Building Passive Cooling

In many regions, it is sometimes difficult to reach acceptable thermal comfort without continuous energy consumption for Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) inside buildings. This paper describes some strategies and some technologies to naturally improve comfort without or with reduced airconditioning. These strategies are based on using Phase Change Materials (PCM) incorporated in building structures. The PCMs used in this study are described and characterized and a new composite material (polymer/PCM) is proposed. Among the several types of structures that have been studied, a brick filled with this new material has been chosen. The responses to temperature and heat flux variations have been studied. It is shown that the brick thermal inertia is strongly increased and that this construction component presents no PCM leaks.