Numerical analysis of the thermal comfort in a retrofitted family house using a PCM/air heat exchanger system

This paper deals with the results of an investigation into the freecooling efficiency in a low energy building using a PCM/air heat exchanger coupled with the me-chanical ventilation. The numerical model of the PCM system is coupled with the type 56 of TRNSYS in or-der to analyse thermal comfort conditions inside the building but also cooling energy savings due to such a system. Several air rate change, temperature of fu-sion, climate and convective heat transfer coefficient modes were analysed. It was found that the system provides more favourable thermal comfort and leads to reduce the cooling energy demand and the peak cool-ing demand. However, it was shown that the night ventilation is more effective than the PCM due to fu-sion/cristallization problems.