Installation Design of Phase Change Material in Residential Homes

Project goal: To evaluate the performance of a phase change material and develop a set of design options for installation in pre-existing residential homes. The design incorporates the phase change material into a multi-piece interior design concept, allowing flexibility for Salt River Project and its customers. Unlike traditional thermal modeling, special software was used to simulate the phase change material transitioning between solid and liquid states. A small-scale physical model was built to collect and compare data to that from the thermal analysis model. The physical model simulates a life-size residential room and a room within the thermal analysis model. Through specific designs or combinations of pieces, the results have shown the quantity of phase change material required to shift electrical loads to non-peak hours, which will enable Salt River Project and its customers save energy and costs.