Climate adaptation analysis of the thermal performance of dynamic rotating latent-energy-storage envelope (DRLESE) in China

When using the Dynamic Rotating Latent-Energy-Storage Envelope (DRLESE) for active winter heating, considering its climate adaptation is essential to boost heating efficiency. Fifteen representative cities with winter indoor heating demands were selected from three climatic zones: the Severe Cold Zone (SC-Zone), Cold Zone (C-Zone), and Hot-Summer and Cold-Winter Zone (HSCW-Zone). Numerical simulations, validated by prior experimental data, were employed to evaluate the climate adaptability of the DRLESE system, with the Static Latent-Energy-Storage Envelope (SLESE) serving as a benchmark for comparison. The performance of the DRLESE system is evaluated based on the number of effective operational days, the Phase Change Material (PCM) thermal state, and internal heat flux. The results indicated that within the three climatic zones of the 15 sampled cities, those with cooler climates showed a link between longer effective operational days and higher total thermal outputs of the DRLESE system. Specifically, in the SC-Zone, the number of practical operational days was 6.90 % higher than in the C-Zone and 89.52 % higher than in the HSCW-Zone. Moreover, the total thermal energy in the SC-Zone increased by 23.3 % compared to the C-Zone and by 104.6 % compared to the HSCW-Zone while maintaining similar heat flux levels.