Latent Heat PCM application on a shack house

According to data sourced from Statistics South Africa’s 2016 Community Survey, 11.4 percent of South Africa’s black population live in informal dwellings. 5.7 percent of the coloured population, 0.9 percent Indian citizens and 0.3 percent of the white population. Summer temperatures in South Africa range from 15°C to 36°C, while winter temperatures range from -2°C to 26°C. Extreme heat is a serious public health concern and one of the leading causes of weather-related mortality. This study investigated the temperature fluctuations around a metal sheet house, by experimental measurements and simulation analysis. Energy plus software was used to simulate the integration of Phase Change Material (PCM) into the shacks walls with the aim to reduce temperature fluctuations inside the shack. The results showed that by integrating a 20mm PCM layer, the temperature fluctuations ranged within ±2°C.