Micronal® PCM App

The Micronal® PCM App from BASF is helping architects, investors and designers of technical building equipment to assess the impact of latent heat storage enhanced building materials on the cooling load of buildings. Unlike the conventional software used to calculate cooling load, the application for mobile end devices takes building materials based on Micronal® PCM (Phase Change Material) into account and identifies potential energy savings that can be made when cooling buildings.

Just enter the cooling load of a building conventionally calculated according to VDI 2078. After entering some additional data on the building situation and the desired PCM building material, you are provided with a figure which is a reduction factor for this cooling load, optimized for the application in question. This reduction factor is calculated on the basis of forecast dynamic simulations in standard rooms and applies the user's data to a suitable reference building, extrapolating it to the actual construction project in question.

The app also takes economic efficiency into account and shows the user the break-even point when the costs required for buying and installing the PCM construction material have been covered by savings in facility investments and energy. Furthermore, the app provides information on construction material based on Micronal PCM such as dry wall boards based on gypsum and clay, chilled suspended ceiling systems, internal plasters or even PCM furniture. As the app also includes calculation modules or tips for planners and users, it constitutes a comprehensive and helpful tool for the correct application of latent heat storage solutions in buildings.

The comprehensive simulation study forming the basis of this work was carried out together with the planning and engineering office ARUP and demonstrates the potential of latent heat storage systems in cooling various types of buildings. Office buildings, for instance, require smaller cooling systems if Micronal PCM is used which in turn releases more floor space. Air conditioning systems can often be dispensed with in residential buildings with a window area of 40 to 50 percent.