Experimental and modelling analysis of a three-layer wall with phase-change thermal storage in a Chinese solar greenhouse

Abstract

To improve the construction methods of Chinese solar greenhouse wall to enhance the heat storage, we proposed a three-layer wall with phase-change materials, namely, an inner wall layer built with the phase-change materials, an outer insulating layer and a load-bearing wall layer built with heavyweight materials between the two. Based on the field experiment and the proposed valuation indexes of the three-layer wall, the dynamic heat storage characteristics of the wall have been analysed and discussed. The experiment and simulation results showed that the three-layer wall can enhance the heat storage and thermal insulation properties of greenhouse wall, increase the utilisation rate of solar energy, improve indoor thermal environment and increase crop yield and quality. Therefore, these results validated the suitability and correctness of the construction methods of the three-layer wall.