Retermat: PCM integrated interior coverings
By the development of PCM-integrated interior coverings for thermal regulation of buildings, this research projects aims at solving one of the major problems in residential and office buildings related to excessive heat during summer, leading to an increasingly frequent use of electrical air-conditioning systems and energy-related costs.
This problem is especially acute in buildings with a low thermal mass (e.g. in constructions with wooden structures) or in those buildings where the thermal mass is poorly accessible by the presence of false ceilings, elevated and/or wooden floors, light internal walls...
PCM (phase change materials) may help solving this problem. When integrated in interior finishes, they may, during their changing phase, capture a great quantity of heat when the temperature is rising and release it when the temperature reaches the solidifying point.
Some finishing materials (mainly layers on the basis of plaster and panels) integrating this technology are already available on the market. However, in order to stimulate the use of this technology, it is necessary to offer a large variety of materials and a global evaluation of the different types.
The main aim of the project is to settle these problems and to create some favourable conditions leading to a more frequent use of this technology.
The concrete applications are related to the largest surfaces suited for heat-exchange between the room and its interior climate:
- plaster-based finishes for walls and ceilings
- textile wall and floor coverings, upholstery or sunblinds
- metal sheets to be integrated into metal furniture, decorative folding screens, reflecting radiator sheets
More in particular, the projects aims at
- developing methods to assess the performances of PCM-based materials and, for a series of different types of buildings, methods to assess their impact on thermal comfort and related energy profits. This will lead to the definition of concrete recommendations (code of good practice) regarding their use
- concerning applications 2 & 3, solve the technological problems related to the development of new products in order to produce prototypes with passive discharge and to working principles of systems integrating these products with an active discharge (with liquid circulation and heat-exchange)
