An effective method to reduce energy consumption for heating a building is by incorporating shape–stabilized phase change material (SSPCM) in building floors. In this study, a new type of SSPCM with increased thermal conductivity is formulated through a self–established experimental device. A model to analyze the thermal performance of the SSPCM floor is developed. The model is used to analyze the thermal performance of the SSPCM floor with two heating positions, one at the bottom and the other in the middle of the SSPCM. Results show that when the heating position is in the middle of the SSPCM, the melting speed is faster and the melting degree of SSPCM is larger than when it is at the bottom.
Thermal Performance of a New Type of Phase Change Material Room in Summer and Winter