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On the use of phase change materials applied on cork-coconut-cork panels

A thermophysical point of view concerning the beneficial effect in terms of insulation properties

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Abstract

This work explores the potentialities of combining a multi-layer eco-friendly panel with a phase change material coating. Although the work is based on a numerical approach performed by COMSOL Multiphysics® computer program, it can be considered as rigorous, robust, and optimized since the most important parameters added to the model were experimentally evaluated. The scientific soundness was guaranteed by a comparative analysis performed in two different times. The cork-coconut-cork panel was firstly investigated as it was, and secondly it was analysed with a phase change material layer applied on. In the second step, the panel undergone a mechanical process concerning the realization of a subsurface defect simulating a detachment. The aim was based on the conduction of a thermal conductivity analysis to characterize the benefits deriving from the application of the coating, as well as the negative effects introduced by the subsurface defect resembling a potential thermal bridge. The experiments were performed in Italy in a place identified into the manuscript (see "Testing procedure" section) by means of geographical coordinates.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank both Dr. Giacomo Maffezzini of Tecnosugheri s.r.l. company who provided the cork-coconut-cork panel, and Mr. Giuseppe Spagnoli (University of L’Aquila) for the kind support during the DSC analysis. In addition, the authors are grateful to Center of Excellence CETEMPS—Telesensing of Environment and Model Prediction of Severe events (L’Aquila, Italy) for providing the data recorded by the weather station.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics (DIIIE), University of L’Aquila, Piazzale E. Pontieri No. 1, Monteluco di Roio, 67100, L’Aquila, AQ, Italy

    Stefano Sfarra, Stefano Perilli & Dario Ambrosini

  2. Caldo Continuo, Via dell’Artigianato No. 22, 48034, Fusignano, RA, Italy

    Mirco Guerrini

  3. Department of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering (DIAEE), Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana No. 18, 00184, Rome, Italy

    Fabio Bisegna

  4. Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Surrey, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK

    Tao Chen

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  1. Stefano Sfarra
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Correspondence to Stefano Sfarra.

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Sfarra, S., Perilli, S., Guerrini, M. et al. On the use of phase change materials applied on cork-coconut-cork panels. J Therm Anal Calorim 138, 4061–4090 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-019-08350-1

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