Open AccessImprovement of thermal comfort in naturally ventilated classrooms by phase change material roofs in Taiwan
Author(s) -
Seong-Ju Chang,
Ruey-Lung Hwang,
KuoCheng Huang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/609/4/042034
Subject(s) - overheating (electricity) , roof , environmental science , phase change , thermal comfort , phase change material , thermal , materials science , composite material , engineering , structural engineering , meteorology , geography , engineering physics , electrical engineering
This paper researched the effects of different types of insulated roofs, PCM roofs, and composite roofs on the overheating risk ( I hot ) in the naturally ventilated classroom in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The EnergyPlus was applied to simulate the hourly operative temperatures in the classroom. The optimal melting temperature ( t mp ) and thickness of the PCM roof, as determined from design day, were 36°C and 26mm, respectively, which are consistent with the results from year-round simulations. The design PCM roof could decrease the I hot by up to 64%, leading to an effect equivalent to the decrease by 25mm insulation. However, with thickness of PCM>26mm or insulation>25mm, their effect on the I hot was not significant. The changes of I hot was insignificant while t mp of PCM roof in the range of 34-40°C, and I hot increased rapidly when t mp >40°C. The effect of t mp of composite roof on the I hot was not significant.