Page 63 - IJAMD-1-3

International Journal of AI for
Materials and Design
Phase change materials and digital twin technology in thermal energy

PCM-based cooling applications is as follows: when the 4. DT technology
temperature outside the designated thermal zone exceeds
the pre-determined comfort level, PCMs activate to absorb DT technology, which creates a digital model of a real-
and store the excess heat. Table 2 provides examples of world process, person, location, system, or device, enables
practical PCM cooling applications in buildings across intelligent buildings to establish a data bridge and facilitate
different countries. 67-73 communication between the physical and digital realms.
Using highly realistic, interactive virtual models, DT
An investigation was conducted by Ning et al. in technology can simulate the physical world, including
67
the coastal area of Yantai, China, focused on a bedroom the states and behaviors of its inhabitants. It can even
74
enclosure equipped with PCM boards. The study predict or recreate the actions of these inhabitants, either
aimed to understand how the thickness and transition in advance or in real-time. 74
temperature of the PCM affect thermal performance. It
was demonstrated that raising the PCM melting point In TES systems, the design and data processing
helped decrease the variance in return air temperature. procedure, with a focus on DT technology, follows a
In another study, Wang et al. monitored the thermal systematic methodology. This process incorporates real-
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performance of a 30 × 30 × 3 cm micro PCM honeycomb time monitoring, simulations, and data-driven optimization
wallboard on a daily basis. Their findings showed that to enhance the efficiency and reliability of TES. Figure 6
the thermal insulation of the micro PCM honeycomb illustrates the step-by-step design process procedure,
wallboard was 4 h in case 1, 4.7 h in case 2, and 4.7 h in case highlighting the role of DT in TES.
3. These results indicate that the thermal performance of 4.1. Integrating DT technology into smart buildings
the wallboard is influenced by the interior environment.
In field experiments, Lee et al. exposed two similar To integrate DT technology into real-world building
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model exhibit spaces to varying meteorological applications, the first step is to create a DT model of the
conditions. They found that incorporating cellulose building. By adding two additional dimensions – data and
insulation into a paraffin-based PCM mixture did connection – to the traditional three-dimensional model,
not negatively affect the PCM’s latent heat. The results this study develops DT models with five dimensions.
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demonstrated a peak heat flow reduction of 26.6% when Figure 7 illustrates the DT intelligent building model,
all four walls were together. derived from the DT system in five dimensions. In this

Table 2. Practical applications of PCMs in thermal energy storage systems for buildings

PCM category Type of analysis Applied country Remarks References
External bedroom envelope Numerical China (for cooling) PCM effectively reduces the impact of Ning et al. 67
equipped with PCM external thermal environment changes
Microencapsulated PCM based on Experimental Taiwan (for cooling) Protection from heat in cases 1, 2, and 3: 4 Wang et al. 68
paraffin h, 4.7 h, and 4.7 h, respectively
Filling wall voids with a mixture Experimental USA (for cooling) Average cost savings: 3 cents/m . Peak Lee et al. 69
2
of paraffin PCM and cellulose heat flux reduction: 26.6% per hour
insulation
Shape-stabilized PCM wallboards Numerical and China (for cooling) PCMW enhances thermal comfort, Yao et al. 70
(PCMW) experimental reduces indoor temperature fluctuations,
and increases energy efficiency
Composite wallboard made of Numerical and USA (for cooling) No decrease in heat gains when set points Biswas et al. 71
gypsum with shape-stabilized experimental are 22°C and 23.3°C
nano-PCM
PCM-based bio-composite wall Numerical France (for cooling) Heavy walls with PCM perform best in Kharbouch et al. 72
reducing stratification effects compared to
lightweight walls
Enhanced PCM container Experimental Lab environment Three solar heat fluxes were tested: Li et al. 73
modified for use as a solar 700, 600, and 500 W/m . The lowest
2
chimney output temperature was at 700 W/m ,
2
and the thermal efficiency was highest at
500 W/m 2
Abbreviations: PCM: Phase change material; USA: United States of America.

Volume 1 Issue 3 (2024) 57 doi: 10.36922/ijamd.4696