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ABSTRACT

Natural cooling of building roof using Phase Change Materials

(PCM) is attempted. Three kinds of roofs, named as RCC, WC and PCM are

analysed numerically using ANSYS-FLUENT finite volume based software.

The numerical procedure has been validated with scale model experimental

results. The RCC roof is made of Reinforced Cement Concrete of 150 mm

thick. WC roof has 150 mm thick RCC with 100 mm thick weathering coarse

laid over it. The PCM roof has Hollow Clay Tile (HCT) laid over RCC.

About 240 kg /m2 of PCM is filled in the HCT and the ends are closed. The

analysis has been started on 1st March and proceeded for 365 days i.e. upto

28th February. For each month, the atmospheric temperature and solar

radiation measured (Location: Sathyamangalam, Tamilnadu state, India

77°15"E, 11°31"N) are used. The problem is solved as two dimensional

transient heat conduction problems with phase change in the PCM region.

The analysis has revealed that the thermal inertia of roof is very high,

moderate and the lowest with PCM, WC and RCC roofs respectively.

Accordingly, the thermal response to external climatic variation is slow,

moderate and fast with PCM, WC and RCC roofs respectively. The damping

of external climatic variation is moderate with WC roof and very high with

PCM roof.
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Incoming heat during day time is absorbed by melting of PCM and

the stored heat is rejected by solidification of PCM during night time. Thus,

the roof structure below the PCM layer is not affected much by the external

climatic variation. If sufficient mass of PCM is provided over the RCC portion,

there is gradual melting of PCM from March to July (Summer season) and the

solidification from August to February (Winter season). Thus, the PCM roof

is observed to take care of yearly seasonal variation also.

Due to better damping provided by PCM, the PCM roof offers the

lowest roof bottom surface temperature throughout the year, when compared

to WC and RCC roofs. On yearly basis, about 48% lower heat transmission

into the room is observed with PCM roof, when compared to WC roof, which

is significant and advantageous from energy saving point of view.