A Influência de Materiais de Mudança de Fase no Desempenho Térmico de Edificações em Clima Tropical

Abstract

In Brazil, 50.8% of electricity consumption is attributed to buildings, with approximately one-third of this total directed toward ensuring thermal comfort. In this context, the thermal performance of buildings plays a crucial role in energy efficiency, and the development of technologies to enhance the performance of building envelopes can significantly contribute to reducing energy consumption. Among these technologies, phase change materials (PCM) stand out due to their ability to store thermal energy and improve the energy performance of buildings when incorporated into one of the envelope layers. Although already established as an effective solution in cold climates, PCM show strong potential for application in buildings located in tropical climates. This study aims to analyze the thermal and energy performance of PCM in tropical regions of the Southern Hemisphere, focusing on Brazil, by considering the material’s behavior across different construction systems. The adopted methodology involved computational simulations using the EnergyPlus™ software, considering a single building geometry while varying the construction system, ventilation type, PCM melting temperature, and its thickness, across the 27 Brazilian states. The results, analyzed separately according to the type of ventilation, demonstrated that PCM can significantly reduce cooling and heating demand. A more variable behavior was observed in warmer regions, while in colder regions, the influence of PCM proved to be more consistent. These findings highlight the feasibility of developing and adapting this technology to the diverse climatic conditions across Brazil.