IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v322y2025ics0360544225013040.html

Employing modular phase change filler structures to enhance comprehensive performance of pipe-embedded energy walls under intermittent injection mode

Author

Listed:
  • Yang, Yang
  • Chen, Sarula
  • Huang, Yuxin
  • Li, Xianyue
  • Ge, Yue

Abstract

The pipe-embedded energy walls (PEWs) are recognized as promising low-carbon solutions capable of lowering high-grade energy consumption while maintaining comfortable conditions in buildings. To address issues of potential thermal barrier failure and performance degradation encountered by PEWs during intermittent heat injection operations, modular pipe-embedded energy walls are proposed by setting the latent thermal storage structure filled with phase change material (PCM) around the pipe, i.e., PCM-PEW. Subsequently, a transient thermal analysis model is established and verified to explore the technical effectiveness of the proposed structural optimization design and investigate the impacts of several structural design and thermal property variables on thermal modulation and energy performances of PCM-PEW under intermittent operation conditions. The result indicated that PCM-PEWs had a notable suppression effect on surface thermal fluctuations, and compared to C-PEW, the daily temperature fluctuations on the inner surface could be significantly reduced by up to 94.82 %. It is recommended to use PCM fillers that have a heat conductivity exceeding 0.8 W/m/°C to obtain additional energy performance improvements. Besides, PCM fillers with an average phase-transition temperature close to or slightly greater than the average value of indoor controlled point and injection temperature were beneficial for promoting fluctuation modulation effect and room-side heat load reduction effect. As the PCM filler's latent heat grew above 250 kJ/kg, the benefits of the PCM filler structure would reach the upper limit. Moreover, the PCM filler with a heat conductivity higher than that of the load-bearing layer was recommended to achieve further improvements by effectively improving the heat diffusion rate in the PCM filler region. Last but not least, the PCM filler structure was particularly suitable for application in load-bearing layers with lower thermal conductivities, otherwise, coordinate optimization with other thermophysical parameters of PCM filler should be considered to achieve synchronous improvement in energy performance and fluctuation modulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Yang & Chen, Sarula & Huang, Yuxin & Li, Xianyue & Ge, Yue, 2025. "Employing modular phase change filler structures to enhance comprehensive performance of pipe-embedded energy walls under intermittent injection mode," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:322:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225013040
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135662
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225013040
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2025.135662?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liu, Zu-An & Hou, Jiawen & Chen, Yu & Liu, Zaiqiang & Zhang, Tao & Zeng, Qian & Dewancker, Bart Julien & Meng, Xi & Jiang, Guanzhao, 2023. "Effectiveness assessment of different kinds/configurations of phase-change materials (PCM) for improving the thermal performance of lightweight building walls in summer and winter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 721-735.
    2. Yang, Kun & Liu, Mingxuan & Yan, Ping & Du, Na & Chen, Yuzhu & Cao, Lixiao & Huo, Ziyu, 2024. "Thermal performance of a double-layer pipe-embedded phase change wall system in wood structures coupled with solar energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    3. Chen, Zhaoxin & Li, Jiaxuan & Tang, Guoqiang & Zhang, Jiahao & Zhang, Donghai & Gao, Penghui, 2024. "High-efficiency heating and cooling technology with embedded pipes in buildings and underground structures: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    4. Xu, Dawei & Yan, Tian & Xu, Xinhua & Wu, Wei & Zhu, Qiuyuan, 2024. "Study of the characteristics of the separated gravity heat pipe of a self-activated PCM wall system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    5. Yan, Tian & Sun, Zhongwei & Gao, Jiajia & Xu, Xinhua & Yu, Jinghua & Gang, Wenjie, 2020. "Simulation study of a pipe-encapsulated PCM wall system with self-activated heat removal by nocturnal sky radiation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 1451-1464.
    6. Kaandorp, Chelsea & Miedema, Tes & Verhagen, Jeroen & van de Giesen, Nick & Abraham, Edo, 2022. "Reducing committed emissions of heating towards 2050: Analysis of scenarios for the insulation of buildings and the decarbonisation of electricity generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    7. Ma, Peizheng & Wang, Lin-Shu & Guo, Nianhua, 2015. "Energy storage and heat extraction – From thermally activated building systems (TABS) to thermally homeostatic buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 677-685.
    8. Dehwah, Ammar H.A. & Krarti, Moncef, 2022. "Optimal controls of precooling strategies using switchable insulation systems for commercial buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    9. Yu, Yuebin & Niu, Fuxin & Guo, Heinz-Axel & Woradechjumroen, Denchai, 2016. "A thermo-activated wall for load reduction and supplementary cooling with free to low-cost thermal water," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 250-265.
    10. Chen, Yuxin & Sun, Yongjun & Yang, Jinling & Tan, Jiaqi & Liu, Yang & Gao, Dian-ce, 2024. "Demand response with PCM-based pipe-embedded wall in commercial buildings: Combined passive and active energy storage in envelopes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    11. Gonçalves, M. & Figueiredo, A. & Almeida, R.M.S.F. & Vicente, R., 2024. "Dynamic façades in buildings: A systematic review across thermal comfort, energy efficiency and daylight performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    12. Yan, Tian & Xu, Xinhua & Gao, Jiajia & Luo, Yongqiang & Yu, Jinghua, 2020. "Performance evaluation of a PCM-embedded wall integrated with a nocturnal sky radiator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    13. Bogdanov, Dmitrii & Satymov, Rasul & Breyer, Christian, 2024. "Impact of temperature dependent coefficient of performance of heat pumps on heating systems in national and regional energy systems modelling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 371(C).
    14. Gwerder, M. & Tödtli, J. & Lehmann, B. & Dorer, V. & Güntensperger, W. & Renggli, F., 2009. "Control of thermally activated building systems (TABS) in intermittent operation with pulse width modulation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(9), pages 1606-1616, September.
    15. Lamrani, B. & Johannes, K. & Kuznik, F., 2021. "Phase change materials integrated into building walls: An updated review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    16. Kaushik Biswas & Som Shrestha & Diana Hun & Jerald Atchley, 2019. "Thermally Anisotropic Composites for Improving the Energy Efficiency of Building Envelopes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-15, October.
    17. Zhao, Yaxin & Wang, Huan & Li, Xianting, 2025. "Field test on the thermal performance of double-layer pipe-embedded wall heating system with shallow geothermal energy and air source heat pump," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PD).
    18. Yang, Yang & Chen, Sarula & Zhang, Jiqiang, 2023. "A comprehensive study on transient thermal behaviors and performances of the modular pipe-embedded energy wall system under intermittent operation conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    19. Yang, Yang & Chen, Sarula, 2022. "Thermal insulation solutions for opaque envelope of low-energy buildings: A systematic review of methods and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    20. Li, Ao & Duan, Shuangping & Han, Rubing & Wang, Chaoyu, 2022. "Investigation on the dynamic thermal storage/release of the integrated PCM solar wall embedded with an evaporator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 1506-1516.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yang, Yang & Chen, Sarula & Li, Shuying & Xiao, Xiuyi & Chen, Tianhang, 2024. "Comprehensive analysis of thermal performance and low-grade energy charging efficiency of pipe-embedded building envelopes enhanced with single-level tree-shaped fin structures," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PB).
    2. Zhao, Yaxin & Li, Xianting, 2025. "A design method for insulation distribution to achieve year-round energy-efficient operation of double-layer pipe-embedded wall," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    3. Fan, Shiguang & Yan, Tian & Che, Lunfei & Liu, Jun & Li, Xianting & Lyu, Weihua & Xu, Xinhua, 2025. "An energy saving potential evaluation method of a pipe-embedded wall integrated with natural energies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    4. Yang, Yang & Chen, Sarula, 2022. "Thermal insulation solutions for opaque envelope of low-energy buildings: A systematic review of methods and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    5. Zhao, Yaxin & Wang, Huan & Li, Xianting, 2025. "Field test on the thermal performance of double-layer pipe-embedded wall heating system with shallow geothermal energy and air source heat pump," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PD).
    6. Su, Xing & Chen, Chaoyang & Huang, Yixiang & Tian, Shaochen & Xia, Jihao & Liu, Jun & Yu, Yuanbo, 2024. "System reliability study of geothermal energy walls in subway stations based on rapid thermal performance prediction model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    7. Emmanouil Katsigiannis & Petros Antonios Gerogiannis & Ioannis Atsonios & Ioannis Mandilaras & Maria Founti, 2023. "Design and Parametric Analysis of a Solar-Driven Façade Active Layer System for Dynamic Insulation and Radiant Heating: A Renovation Solution for Residential Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-18, July.
    8. Ou, Shengtao & Wang, Ping & Yang, Siyu & Su, Huan, 2025. "Thermal characteristics and energy-saving research of P-PCM FinTwall in hot summer and cold winter regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    9. Zhang, Guangpeng & Wu, Huijun & Liu, Jia & Liu, Yanchen & Ding, Yujie & Huang, Huakun, 2024. "A review on switchable building envelopes for low-energy buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    10. Wang, Lin-Shu & Ma, Peizheng, 2016. "The homeostasis solution – Mechanical homeostasis in architecturally homeostatic buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 183-196.
    11. Wu, Wentao & Zhang, Wei & Benner, Jingru & Malkawi, Ali, 2020. "Critical evaluation of analytical methods for thermally activated building systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    12. Zhao, Hengxin & Wu, Yifan & Sun, Hongli & Lin, Borong & Zhong, Minlin & Jiang, Guochen & Wu, Shuangdui, 2023. "A novel building envelope combined with jumping-droplet thermal diode: From theory to practice," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    13. di Filippo, Rocco & Maracchini, Gianluca & Albatici, Rossano & Di Maggio, Rosa & Bursi, Oreste S., 2025. "A novel prescriptive approach for buildings’ insulation design considering embodied carbon," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    14. Han, Yichen & Zhou, Zhengnan & Wang, Chaohong & Li, Wenwen & Liu, Yuqiu & Jia, Zhuoyang, 2025. "Arranging the inherent thermal mass of urban buildings enhances passive energy harvesting in winter," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    15. Ma, Peizheng & Wang, Lin-Shu & Guo, Nianhua, 2015. "Maximum window-to-wall ratio of a thermally autonomous building as a function of envelope U-value and ambient temperature amplitude," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 84-91.
    16. Ana Ramão & Regina C. E. Modolo & António Figueiredo & Romeu Vicente & Victor M. Ferreira, 2025. "Exploring the Potential of Belitic Cement Produced from Industrial Waste: Systematic Mapping of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-24, March.
    17. Chen, Yuxin & Sun, Yongjun & Yang, Jinling & Tan, Jiaqi & Liu, Yang & Gao, Dian-ce, 2024. "Demand response with PCM-based pipe-embedded wall in commercial buildings: Combined passive and active energy storage in envelopes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    18. Yang, Shiyu & Oliver Gao, H. & You, Fengqi, 2022. "Model predictive control in phase-change-material-wallboard-enhanced building energy management considering electricity price dynamics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    19. Lehmann, B. & Dorer, V. & Gwerder, M. & Renggli, F. & Tödtli, J., 2011. "Thermally activated building systems (TABS): Energy efficiency as a function of control strategy, hydronic circuit topology and (cold) generation system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 180-191, January.
    20. Guo, Siyi & Wei, Ziqing & Yin, Yaling & Zhai, Xiaoqiang, 2025. "A physics-guided RNN-KAN for multi-step prediction of heat pump operation states," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:322:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225013040. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.