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Phase change materials (PCM) can be applied in building envelops to conserve heat energy. Wallboards incorporated with PCM can automatically absorb indoor redundant heat, which can greatly reduce the load of HVAC systems and save electric energy. In experiments, a PCM wallboard room was constructed by attaching PCM wallboards, developed by incorporating about 26% PCM by weight into gypsum wallboards, to the surface of an ordinary wall. The transition temperature and latent heat of these PCM wallboards were tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The room testing was conducted to determine the latent heat storage of PCM wallboards. Through experiments, it could be proved that DSC can effectively predict the performance of a full-scale installation of PCM wallboards. Compared with an ordinary room, it was found that the PCM wallboard room could greatly reduce the energy cost of HVAC systems and transfer electric power peak load to valley.

Capric acid (CA) and lauric acid (LA), as phase change materials (PCM), can be applied for energy storage in low temperature. The phase transition temperature and values of latent heat of eutectic mixtures of CA and LA are suitable for being incorporated with building materials to form phase change wallboards used for building energy storage. 120, 240 and 360 accelerated thermal cycle tests were conducted to study the changes in latent heat of fusion and melting temperature of phase change wallboards combined with the eutectic mixtures of CA and LA. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tested the transition temperature and latent heat. The results showed that the melting temperature and latent heat of these phase change wallboards with eutectic mixtures have not obvious variations after repeated 360 thermal cycles, which proved that these phase change wallboards have good thermal stability for melting temperature and variations in latent heat of fusion for long time application. Therefore, they can be used for latent heat storage in the field of building energy conservation.

Through combining gypsum boards with phase change materials (PCM), the compound phase change wallboards are formed. The transition temperature and latent heat of these phase change wallboards are tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results indicate that these phase change wallboards can be applied in buildings to save energy cost and electric power. Then, the thermal properties of phase change wallboards are analyzed. The phase change wall room and the ordinary wall room are experimented and compared under the climatic conditions in winter in the northeast of China. The impact on the indoor temperature, surface temperature of wallboards and thermal flow through wall are achieved. Finally, it can be got that the phase change wallboards can improve indoor thermal environment.