Investigation of Thermal Conductivity and Energy Storage Performance of Bio-Based Phase Change Materials for Sustainable Building Applications

Abstract

With the increased requirement for energy efficient buildings, it has become essential to develop sustainable phase change materials for reducing heating and cooling needs and enhancing indoor thermal comfort conditions. The comparative analysis of renewable phase change material formulations based on thermal characterization and energy storage capability evaluation is what makes it distinctive. The process entails choosing bio-based materials, creating PCMs, and assessing their thermophysical characteristics using TGA, DSC, thermal conductivity measurements, and repeated heating-cooling testing. In terms of melting temperature, latent heat, thermal conductivity, thermal stability, and energy storage capacity, three bio-based formulations are compared. The study and discourse focus on the effect of thermal conductivity enhancement on the performance of charging and discharging, along with the compatibility of the various materials for incorporation into the building envelope. An ideal bio-based composite would have thermal conductivity of 0.42 W/m.K., latent heat storage of 165 kJ/kg, and energy storage efficiency of 88%, according to one sample assessment. The findings demonstrate that well-designed bio-based PCMs may provide temperature control and stabilization within buildings, which reduces energy consumption.