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The Environmental Potential of Phase Change Materials in Building Applications. A Multiple Case Investigation Based on Life Cycle Assessment and Building Simulation

Author

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  • Roberta Di Bari

    (Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Rafael Horn

    (Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Björn Nienborg

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), 79119 Freiburg, Germany)

  • Felix Klinker

    (ZAE Bayern, 97074 Würzburg, Germany)

  • Esther Kieseritzky

    (Rubitherm GmbH, 12307 Berlin, Germany)

  • Felix Pawelz

    (Rubitherm GmbH, 12307 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

New materials and technologies have become the main drivers for reducing energy demand in the building sector in recent years. Energy efficiency can be reached by utilization of materials with thermal storage potential; among them, phase change materials (PCMs) seem to be promising. If they are used in combination with solar collectors in heating applications or with water chillers or in chilled ceilings in cooling applications, PCMs can provide ecological benefits through energy savings during the building’s operational phase. However, their environmental value should be analyzed by taking into account their whole lifecycle. The purpose of this paper is the assessment of PCMs at the material level as well as at higher levels, namely the component and building levels. Life cycle assessment analyses are based on information from PCM manufacturers and building energy simulations. With the newly developed software “Storage LCA Tool” (Version 1.0, University of Stuttgart, IABP, Stuttgart, Germany), PCM storage systems can be compared with traditional systems that do not entail energy storage. Their benefits can be evaluated in order to support decision-making on energy concepts for buildings. The collection of several case studies shows that PCM energy concepts are not always advantageous. However, with conclusive concepts, suitable storage dimensioning and ecologically favorable PCMs, systems can be realized that have a lower environmental impact over the entire life cycle compared to traditional systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberta Di Bari & Rafael Horn & Björn Nienborg & Felix Klinker & Esther Kieseritzky & Felix Pawelz, 2020. "The Environmental Potential of Phase Change Materials in Building Applications. A Multiple Case Investigation Based on Life Cycle Assessment and Building Simulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-30, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:12:p:3045-:d:370728
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kristin Lengsfeld & Moritz Walter & Martin Krus & Sandra Pappert & Christian Teicht, 2021. "Innovative Development of Programmable Phase Change Materials and Their Exemplary Application," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Isye Hayatina & Amar Auckaili & Mohammed Farid, 2023. "Review on the Life Cycle Assessment of Thermal Energy Storage Used in Building Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Luca Ciacci & Fabrizio Passarini, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Environmental and Energy Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-8, November.
    4. Agnieszka Jachura & Robert Sekret, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of the Use of Phase Change Material in an Evacuated Solar Tube Collector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Jiefeng Liu & Shangxin Yu & Shichang Yang & Yiyi Zhang & Xianhao Fan & Bing Gao, 2020. "Numerical Studies on the Performance of the PCM Mesh-Finned Heat Sink Base on Thermal-Flow Multiphysics Coupling Simulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.
    6. Colarossi, Daniele & Tagliolini, Eleonora & Amato, Alessia & Principi, Paolo, 2022. "Life cycle assessment and circularity evaluation of a PV panel integrated with phase change material," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P2), pages 150-156.
    7. Antonio Manuel Gómez-Orellana & Juan Carlos Fernández & Manuel Dorado-Moreno & Pedro Antonio Gutiérrez & César Hervás-Martínez, 2021. "Building Suitable Datasets for Soft Computing and Machine Learning Techniques from Meteorological Data Integration: A Case Study for Predicting Significant Wave Height and Energy Flux," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-33, January.

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