Abdelouahab Benseddik^1,*, Djamel Daoud¹, Ahmed Badji^1,2, Hocine Bensaha¹, Tarik Hadibi^3,5, Yunfeng Wang⁴, Li Ming⁴

Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.12, pp. 5021-5037, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.072991 - 27 November 2025

Abstract In Saharan climates, greenhouses face extreme diurnal temperature fluctuations that generate thermal stress, reduce crop productivity, and hinder sustainable agricultural practices. Passive thermal storage using Phase Change Materials (PCM) is a promising solution to stabilize microclimatic conditions. This study aims to evaluate experimentally and numerically the effectiveness of PCM integration for moderating greenhouse temperature fluctuations under Saharan climatic conditions. Two identical greenhouse prototypes were constructed in Ghardaïa, Algeria: a reference greenhouse and a PCM-integrated greenhouse using calcium chloride hexahydrate (CaCl₂·6H₂O). Thermal performance was assessed during a five-day experimental period (7–11 May 2025) under severe ambient conditions.… More > Graphic Abstract

Rafah H. Zaidan^*, Najim A. Jasim

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.5, pp. 1595-1620, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.068205 - 31 October 2025

Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive experimental and numerical investigation of radiant floor heating (RFH) systems integrated with phase change material (PCM)-based thermal energy storage (TES). The study compares two underfloor pipe configurations: double serpentine and spiral. It also looks at how well a paraffin wax PCM system works with compact heat exchanger-type TES units during winter in Iraq. Key performance indicators including discharge temperature, heat transfer rate, liquid fraction evolution, and temperature uniformity were assessed through in situ experimental measurements and ANSYS fluent simulations. Results demonstrate that the spiral design provides slightly more uniform temperature distribution… More >

Rachid Djeffal^1,2, Sidi Mohammed El Amine Bekkouche^1,2, Zakaria Triki², Abir Abboud², Sabrina Lekmine³, Hichem Tahraoui^2,4, Jie Zhang⁵, Abdeltif Amrane^4,*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.4, pp. 1129-1149, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.067734 - 29 August 2025

Abstract Refrigeration systems are essential across various sectors, including food preservation, medical storage, and climate control. However, their high energy consumption and environmental impact necessitate innovative solutions to enhance efficiency while minimizing energy usage. This paper investigates the integration of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) into a vapor compression refrigeration system to enhance energy efficiency and temperature regulation for food preservation. A multifunctional prototype was tested under two configurations: (1) a standard thermally insulated room, and (2) the same room augmented with eutectic plates filled with either Glaceol (−10°C melting point) or distilled water (0°C melting point).… More > Graphic Abstract

David S. Bhatti^1,*, Annas W. Malik², Haeung Choi¹, Ki-Il Kim^3,*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.85, No.1, pp. 2157-2177, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.068360 - 29 August 2025

Abstract Traditional chaotic maps struggle with narrow chaotic ranges and inefficiencies, limiting their use for lightweight, secure image encryption in resource-constrained Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). We propose the SPCM, a novel one-dimensional discontinuous chaotic system integrating polynomial and sine functions, leveraging a piecewise function to achieve a broad chaotic range () and a high Lyapunov exponent (5.04). Validated through nine benchmarks, including standard randomness tests, Diehard tests, and Shannon entropy (3.883), SPCM demonstrates superior randomness and high sensitivity to initial conditions. Applied to image encryption, SPCM achieves 0.152582 s (39% faster than some techniques) and 433.42 More >

Malik A. Faisal^*, Alireza Saraei

Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.5, pp. 2099-2117, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.061569 - 25 April 2025

Abstract Performance enhancement of flat plate solar collectors is an endless research direction as it represents the most used solar technology. The enhancement could be achieved via design alteration, absorber-installed protrusions, and integration with thermal energy storage. The objective of the current research is to evaluate a compacted solar collector integrated with octadecane organic paraffin PCM (phase change materials) as a thermal energy storage medium. The investigations have been performed numerically utilizing ANSYS software. Thermal storage contains the PCM securely encased behind the absorbent plate of the collector in four packing containers. The investigations have been… More >

Zhengrong Shi^1,3, Hai Hong¹, Yanming Shen^2,*, Jingyong Cai^1,*

Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.3, pp. 885-903, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.061976 - 07 March 2025

Abstract Phase Change Material (PCM)-based cold energy storage system (CESS) can effectively utilize the peak and valley power resources to reduce the excessive dependence on the power grid. In this study, a PCM-based CESS was designed for cold storage applications. The optimal number of PCM plates was determined through numerical simulations to meet the required cold storage temperature and control time. Additionally, the air temperature field, flow field, and melting characteristics of the PCM plates during the cooling release process were analyzed. The effects of plate positioning and thickness on the cooling release performance were further… More >

Salma Kouzzi^1,*, Mouniba Redah¹, Souad Morsli², Mohammed El Ganaoui³, Mohammed Lhassane Lahlaouti¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.20, No.12, pp. 2741-2755, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2024.055890 - 23 December 2024

Abstract This study investigates the potential for enhancing the thermal performance of external walls insulation in warmer climates through the combination of phase change materials (PCMs) and bio-based materials, specifically hemp wool and wood wool. Experimental tests using the heat flow method (HFM), and numerical simulations with ANSYS Fluent software were conducted to assess the dynamic thermal distribution and fluid-mechanical aspects of phase change materials (PCMs) within composite walls. The results demonstrate a notable reduction in peak indoor temperatures, achieving a 58% reduction with hemp wool with a close 40% reduction with wood wool when combined More >

Yosr Laatiri, Habib Sammouda, Fadhel Aloulou^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 771-798, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.047022 - 12 June 2024

Abstract This article aims to present the feasibility of storing thermal energy in buildings for solar water heating while maintaining the comfort environment for residential buildings. Our contribution is the creation of insulating composite panels made of bio-based phase change materials (bio-PCM is all from coconut oil), cement and renewable materials (treated wood fiber and organic clay). The inclusion of wood fibers improved the thermal properties; a simple 2% increase of wood fiber decreased the heat conductivity by approximately 23.42%. The issues of bio-PCM leakage in the cement mortar and a roughly 56.5% reduction in thermal… More > Graphic Abstract

Zhengrong Shi^1,3, Jie Ren¹, Tao Zhang^1,3,*, Yanming Shen^2,*

Energy Engineering, Vol.121, No.3, pp. 681-702, 2024, DOI:10.32604/ee.2023.045238 - 27 February 2024

Abstract Building energy consumption and building carbon emissions both account for more than 20% of their total national values in China. Building employing phase change material (PCM) for passive temperature control shows a promising prospect in meeting the comfort demand and reducing energy consumption simultaneously. However, there is a lack of more detailed research on the interaction between the location and thickness of PCM and indoor natural convection, as well as indoor temperature distribution. In this study, the numerical model of a passive temperature-controlled building integrating the developed PCM module is established with the help of… More > Graphic Abstract

Ummid I. Shaikh^a , Sonali Kale^b, Anirban Sur^c, Anindita Roy^c

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.20, pp. 1-10, 2023, DOI:10.5098/hmt.20.28

Abstract The requirement for sustainable development for buildings is to have environmentally friendly cooling and heating systems. The utilization of phase change materials (PCM) in the cooling system is a potential solution for minimizing active power requirements as well as for reducing the size of components of a vapor compression refrigeration VCR system. A prototype of an Air-PCM (T25™) heat exchanger was fabricated and tested in actual environmental conditions. Experimental trials using a salt hydrate as PCM have shown the maximum cooling effect of 2.05 kW when 75% of the PCM was solidified. Based on the More >