Manufacture of lightweight aggregate granules containing phase change materials

Manufacture of lightweight aggregate granules containing phase change materials, by Ahmad Wadee; Nick McCullen; Pete Walker; Veronica Ferrandiz-Mas, University of Bath, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) can reduce the energy requirements of a building by reducing peak demand for either summer cooling or winter heating. PCMs also have the potential of reducing the amount of energy lost and increasing thermal comfort in buildings, by buffering temperature fluctuations. This research explores more efficient ways to host PCMs and further develop new methods of encapsulating PCMs and incorporating them into the built environment.

The following conclusions can be drawn from the results obtained thus far:

1. Vacuum impregnation is a more effective method of absorbing the PCM into the lightweight aggregates (LWA) than immersion.
2. The optimum impregnation ratio using a aerated concrete LWA and a temperature of 40°C is 1.3.
3. The viscosity of the PCM influences the amount of PCM absorbed, although at lower temperature the effect is less significant.
4. The time allowed for absorption influences the amount of PCM absorbed.

Find out more: https://www.bretrust.org.uk/phd/ahmad-wadee/

Contact: Ahmad Wadee, University of Bath, bath.ac.uk aw2060@bath.ac.uk.

--BRE Group

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Aggregate.
• BRE articles.
• Building Research Establishment.
• Phase change materials.