Synergistic Effect of Phase Change Materials and Reflectors on Thermal Performance of Shaded Metal Shelters

ABSTRACT Metal shelters often experience significant indoor thermal discomfort due to their low thermal mass. This highlights the need for effective cooling strategies, particularly in regions with hot climates. Among various passive cooling techniques, the use of phase change material (PCM) emerges as a highly promising solution. This study investigates the effect of PCM and reflector on walls of shaded metal shelter. An experimental setup has been developed to estimate the effect of four distinct wall configurations of metal shelter. Four wall configurations were evaluated, incorporating PCM, a reflector, and their combined effect compared with a conventional galvanized iron (GI) sheet wall. OM30 was used as the PCM, while a stainless steel (SS) reflector was employed. Experimental setup consists of two identical rooms with a common heat source to quantify the heat transfer through walls of different wall configurations to the room. Temperature profiles of hot climate regions, i.e., Ahmedabad and Ganganagar city have been considered to evaluate the effect of different wall configurations. The results show maximum reduction in room temperature of 5.75°C and 4.93°C with reflector and PCM combination for Ahmedabad and Ganganagar temperature profiles respectively. PCM configurations show maximum reduction of 3°C–3.5°C and its performance remains consistent with three consecutive cycles.