Implementation of phase change material for cooling load reduction: a case study for Cairo, Egypt

Abstract Integrating a phase change material (PCM) into building envelopes can reduce energy needs in the built environment, and the consequent greenhouse emissions. This research examines the impact of PCM integrated into a traditional wall in Egypt on peak and average cooling energy consumption. A MATLAB code based on the finite volume technique using the Crank-Nicolson method for discretization is implemented. Several benchmark cases and experimental results validate the code. The time-dependent boundary conditions of the cases examined were based on the irradiance and ambient temperatures measured in Cairo, Egypt. Simulations are performed on eight different PCMs, using their real published DSC curve. The study aims to investigate the performance of each PCM at different positions, thicknesses, and wall orientations. The calculations revealed that using the proper PCM type and the proper position could decrease the average by 38.14%, Also the peak heat flux could be decreased by 58.53%.