Fabrication & testing of PCM impregnated drywalls for thermal energy storage
Abstract
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] This research illustrates the fabrication and thermal behavior of gypsum drywall containing phase change materials (PCMs), which could be used in the interior of a building envelope. The PCM used is a paraffin wax encapsulated in a polymer shell commonly known as microencapsulated PCM. The energy storing gypsum-PCM board has been characterized under simulated conditions for its thermal behavior in the thickness direction under various indoor and outdoor temperatures. Four different concentrations of PCM (7%, 12%, 20% and 25% W/W) were mixed in Gypsum to make board samples of 1-ft x 1-ft x 3/4-in and tested against a control board of gypsum with no PCM content. Thermal performance of PCM-gypsum boards was compared with the control board under the simulated summer conditions of about 93 degrees F outdoor temperature while the indoor conditions were about 67 degrees F. This research studies the effects of PCM-gypsum boards on energy savings by performing two test samples for every board; sample type 1 is where PCM-gypsum boards were tested against a control gypsum board with no PCM content, and Sample type 2 is a layered material of gypsum-1 in polystyrene and 0.5in wood backing where PCM-gypsum boards are tested against control board. A PCM-gypsum based Sample Type 2 was compared with one based in gypsum board only. Sample type 2 represents realistic wall structure. Under these conditions the temperature variation through the thickness of the gypsum board and heat flux in the thickness direction were measured. PCM-gypsum was a viable option for energy storage but needs better understanding of PCM behavior and its interaction with gypsum to further validate its schematics in building envelope.
Degree
M.S.
Thesis Department
Rights
Access is limited to the campuses of the University of Missouri.