Dynamic Heat Flow Measurements to Study the Distribution of Phase-Change Material in an Insulation Matrix

Phase change materials (PCMs) are used in building envelopes in many forms. The PCMs may be encased in discrete pouches or containers, or they may be distributed within another medium, such as in a board or within a loose fill product. In addition, most PCM products are blends containing fire retardants and chemical stabilizers. However, the current test method to measure the dynamic characteristics of PCMs, the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), requires specimens that are relatively uniform and very small. Considering the limitations of DSC test results when applied to more complex PCM building envelope applications, we developed a combined experimental analytical protocol to determine the amount of phase-change energy actually available to provide thermal storage. This paper presents this new methodology for performing dynamic heat flow analysis of complex PCM-enhanced building materials. The experimental analytical protocol uses a conventional heat-flow apparatus and three-dimensional (3-D), finite-difference modeling. Based upon results from this methodology, ORNL researchers developed a simplified one-dimensional (1-D) model that can be easily used in whole-building simulations. This paper describes this methodology as applied to an insulation assembly containing a complex array of PCM pouches.