Use of a Heat Flow Meter to Determine Active PCM Content in an Insulation
- ORNL
- Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences
Residential and commercial roofs and walls are currently designed and tested using steady-state criteria. The resulting R-values, based on the apparent thermal conductivity, are used by building standards as an important measure of energy performance. Building envelope components, however, are subject to dynamic environmental conditions. This mismatch between the steady-state principles used in design and code requirements and their dynamic operation results in relatively low thermal efficiencies. Although several research centers have developed experimental methods for transient analysis of building envelopes, there are no standardized testing procedures available for screening materials and systems for which performance depends on dynamic response. For example, a full-scale dynamic evaluation of phase change materials (PCMs) is needed to assess their energy saving benefits. A nationally accepted small-scale (one to two foot size specimens) testing procedure is not available for the analysis of dynamic thermal characteristics of conventional thermal mass systems or PCM-enhanced materials. At the same time, data on these characteristics are necessary for whole-building simulations, energy analysis, and energy code work. The transient characteristics of PCM-enhanced products depend on the PCM content and quality. The only readily available method of thermal evaluation uses the differential scanning calorimeter. Unfortunately, this method requires small, relatively uniform test specimens. This requirement is unrealistic in the case of PCM-enhanced building envelope products such as PCM-cellulose, PCM-glass fiber, or PCM-gypsum blends. Small specimens are not representative of PCM-based blends, since these materials are not homogeneous. Jan Kosny and David Yarbrough, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, MS 6070, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6070. Elizabeth Kossecka, Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Pawinskiego 5 B, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland. A procedure for making dynamic heat-flow measurements using existing instrumentation has been developed to analyze the benefits of thermal storage. This small-scale testing method is useful for thermal analysis and as a potential quality control method for producers of PCM-enhanced building materials. The research may provide the basis for consensus standard development. This paper uses as an example a dynamic testing process for PCM-enhanced cellulose insulation.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Building Technologies Research and Integration Center (BTRIC)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1000903
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 30th International Thermal Conductivity Conference, Seven Springs, PA, USA, 20090829, 20090902
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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