Numerical study and experimental validation of heat transfer in a CenoPCM reinforced multi-layered meta-material wall for energy efficient buildings

Increasing concerns about energy consumption have led to an increasing need for buildings that can efficiently manage heat transfer and reduce reliance on active heating or cooling systems. The combination of cenosphere cementitious layers, meta-material layers, and cenoPCM in the proposed wall aims to overcome the limitations of traditional construction materials and provide a potential solution for improved heat transfer control. This study presents numerical modeling and simulations of the proposed wall using SolidWorks and ANSYS software. The thermal performances are evaluated with both heating and cooling loads to determine the thermal efficiency of selected PCMs as well as the Meta-Material Wall Systems. Analysis indicates that the heat transfer between the outer and inner layer is restricted to around 30°C, which is almost 20°C less than the outer wall temperature, while applying heating and cooling loads simultaneously at the outer and inner layers for 120 min. Practical application In this study the heat transfer in a cenosphere Phase Change Material reinforced Multilayer Meta-material Wall (cenoPCM-MMW) is analyzed numerically as well as experimentally. This study provides real insight to the optimization of heat transfer in buildings, which has potential practical application in the form of improved building energy efficiency. The proposed ceno cementitious layer could, for example, act as a surface finishing layer for buildings which are located in high ambient temperature zones leading to reduced indoor temperature, improved thermal comfort, and reduced HVAC-related energy use due to its heat storage capacity.