earticle

영어

This study examines the effectiveness of nighttime passive cooling strategies in residential buildings located in warm climate zones, with a specific focus on integrating Phase Change Materials (PCM) with natural ventilation. The research conducts an empirical analysis of PCM's thermal performance during nighttime cooling and evaluates different specific heat calculation methods for PCM, determining that the heat balance equation method which is proposed previously provides the most accurate results with error margins below 0.5°C compared to measured data. The research utilized field measurements in a wooden single-story building in Kumagaya, Japan, analyzing PCM cold storage performance during nighttime ventilation over different seasonal periods. Results indicate that PCM's cooling capacity varies significantly with weather conditions, showing optimal performance during moderate temperature months (May) compared to warmer months (June, September). The study also demonstrates that building orientation significantly impacts cooling efficiency, with west-facing rooms or east-facing rooms shaded from morning solar radiation exhibiting superior performance in maintaining cooler indoor temperatures. The findings suggest that while PCM combined with nighttime ventilation shows promising potential for reducing cooling energy demand in temperate climates, optimal results are achieved when this passive cooling strategy is integrated with complementary passive design approaches or mechanical systems rather than implemented as a standalone solution. Future research should focus on determining optimal phase change temperature ranges for specific climate conditions and exploring hybrid passive-active cooling systems that maximize PCM's thermal storage capabilities.