Identification of PCM & characterisation and provide report on PCMs for IDEAS with the experimental effect of PCMs used in the selected applications.

PCM will be integrated to the components for i) temperature regulation; ii) thermal storage; iii) insulation and iv) underfloor heating / cold distribution in buildings. There are a large range of selection for the PCMs (for example in Figure 6 a&b). PCM selection will focus on Organic / Hydrate Salts / Solid-Solid / Molten Salts. PCM characterisation will include Differential Scanning Calorimetry, full thermal bath freeze & melt cycle, life cycle tests and temperature history methods. Melting point(s), latent heat capacity and thermal conductivity will be determined by experimental and analytical methods under controlled simulated solar conditions and ambient conditions in laboratory environments. Enhancement will be investigated; in particular the enhancement of PCM thermal conductivity. PCMs used for different applications will be experimentally investigated for i) temperature regulation (Building integrated photovoltaics); ii) thermal storage (Domestic hot water); iii) insulation (Building facade / thermal storage insulation) and iv) underfloor heating / cooling distribution in buildings and underground thermal energy storage. Micro or Macro encapsulated PCM will be used in buildings in the IDEAS, utilising Organic / Hydrate Salts / Solid-Solid / Molten Salts options. The effects of enhanced heat charge/discharge with advanced PCMs system structure will be experimentally tested in each case. This will be completed under task 2.1.