Experimental investigation of rooftop thermal-insulation by latent heat storage

The enhancement of rooftop thermal-insulation capability is a key issue in energy conservation for buildings in hot and humid climates, where flat roofs receive the greatest solar heat gain. The objective of the study is to provide insights into a rooftop thermal-insulation alternative that will improve the thermal performance of rooftop construction in southeast Turkey.For this purpose, two identical test rooms were designed, constructed, and located nearby in field. One of their rooftops was covered by PCM treated conventional hollow bricks. They were exposed to solar radiation at the same time on typically clear summer days. Experiments have been performed to investigate the effects of adding PCM to conventional hollow thermal-insulation bricks on thermal characteristics of rooftop. PCM-treated rooftop had a better daytime thermal insulation effect than one of PCM-untreated. PCM-treated rooftop can provide more effective indoor heat preservation at night when temperatures fall outdoors.Keywords: Thermal insulation, Passive cooling, Latent heat storage, Phase change material (PCM), Solar energy