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Abstract

Incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) into bricks grants a talented approach to improving energy efficiency and thermal regulation in building components, especially in hot climates like Iraq. This research examines the effects of two PCM types (RT-42 and RT-37) and three container shapes (cylindrical, spherical, and ellipsoid) on the thermal performance of PCM-enhanced concrete bricks through numerical studies using ANSYS Fluent, based on summer weather data from southern Iraq. The results indicate that RT-37, known for its lower melting point and slightly higher latent heat, significantly outperforms RT-42 across various performance metrics. Specifically, RT-37 achieves a maximum temperature reduction (MTR) of 5.8°C (a percentage decrease in internal surface temperature of 13.39%), a time lag (TL) of 100 minutes double that of RT-42—and the highest maximum heat gain reduction (MHGR) of 36.777%. Additionally, RT-37 results in a substantial average heat gain difference (AHGD) of 3.6 watts (with an 18.36% drop in energy savings) and yields 0.0867 kg per day in CO2 emissions savings, compared to RT-42’s 0.01675 kg per day. Furthermore, the daily electricity cost savings (ECS) for RT-37 reaches 5.1873 IQD per day, significantly higher than RT-42’s 1.002 IQD per day. The superior thermal performance of RT-37 is particularly evident when it is housed in an elliptical shape, which enhances latent heat exchange and thermal response. These findings underscore the critical importance of PCM selection and container shape in promoting environmental sustainability and thermal efficiency, providing valuable insights for developing energy-efficient building designs in regions with high cooling load requirements.

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