A comprehensive review of integrating phase change materials with radiant cooling panel systems for energy savings and improved thermal comfort designs
Osama sabah Almtuly, Mazlan Abdul Wahid, Mohd Ibthisham Ardani, Hasanen M. Hussen, Fahad Taha AL-Dhief
Abstract
• Particularly, the main aim of this paper is to scrutinize the feasibility of deploying the most proficient RCP system in conjunction with PCM for application in building retrofit projects. The other contributions of this paper are listed as follows: • This paper provides a comprehensive foundation on PCM and RCP technologies and the combined PCM-RCP. • This paper surveys many works and systems presented for the purpose of energy savings and improved thermal comfort designs. • This paper highlights many challenges and open key issues which face systems of PCM and RCP. • Finally, this paper provides several solutions, recommendations, and research directions for future studies in order to avoid issues and improve the overall performance of PCM and RCP systems. With growing concerns about global warming, pollution, and the depletion of fossil fuels, the need for renewable energy sources to meet high energy demands is imperative. Furthermore, the buildings sector, accounting for more than 40% of energy consumption, constitutes a critical area for improvement. The rising demand for space cooling, driven by the widespread adoption of air-conditioning systems (ACs), has led to a discernible shift in global building energy consumption patterns. Thus, contemporary energy technology perspectives underscore the imperative of creative cooling solutions to address this mounting demand effectively. However, the fundamental issue is that reconstructing many structures is so costly that modifying them for energy use has become necessary. Moreover, lightweight buildings need additional thermal storage mass to enhance thermal comfort and minimize energy consumption. Hence, Phase Change Material (PCM) systems have emerged as a promising solution due to their capacity to deliver increased space cooling efficiency and augmented demand-side adaptability in both ceiling and floor Radiant Cooling Panel (RCP) systems. Notably, recent trends in the incorporated PCM-RCP technology have underscored the critical need for robust simulation models facilitating advancements in energy-efficient building design. This paper presents a review of the role of PCMs in energy-saving applications for the most common RCP systems. In addition, it aims to evaluate the energy and thermal performance of radiant cooling systems with integrated PCMs for reducing cooling and heating loads in existing buildings. This paper also critically examines alternative cooling systems, including traditional air-conditioning and hybrid approaches, providing a comparative perspective on their efficiency, cost, and thermal comfort benefits relative to PCM-RCP systems. Despite having high heat storage capacity and equal capability during charging and discharging periods, PCMs are still largely underutilized in thermal applications due to the slow rate of heat transmission during these processes. The RCP system is one of the most promising forms of radiant cooling systems, offering high thermal comfort, efficient energy consumption, and quiet operation. Experimental results from several studies have shown that the thermal conductivity of PCMs is the most important parameter affecting system performance.