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As buildings evolve to meet the challenges of energy efficiency and indoor comfort, phase change materials (PCM) emerge as a promising solution due to their ability to store and release latent heat. This paper explores the transformative impact of incorporating PCM on the hygrothermal dynamics of multi-zone constructions. The study focuses on analyzing heat transfer, particularly through thermal conduction, in a wall containing PCM. A novel approach was proposed, wherein the studied system (sensitive balance) interacts directly with a latent balance to realistically define the behavior of specific humidity and mass flow rates. In addition, a numerical model implemented in MATLAB software has been developed to investigate the effect of integrating PCM on the hygrothermal balances inside the building. The obtained results indicate a consistent response in internal temperatures, specific humidity, and mass flow rates, with temperature differences ranging from 5°C to 13°C and a maximum phase shift of 13 h. In addition, the findings provided valuable insights into optimizing the design and performance of multi-zone constructions, offering a sustainable pathway for enhancing building resilience and occupant well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is devoted to an example of a concrete application in the bioclimatic architecture: integration of a simple solar air collector in building facades under Saharan climate. The originality of this work is to lift a serious problem that is often encountered in the summer when the indoor air cooling mode through natural ventilation becomes ineffective. We showed that the specific architectural integration of solar air collectors can bring a positive support to the thermo-aeraulic comfort by controlling the mass flow rate of the air entering to the heated building zone in cold season. The major inconvenience of this technique is often encountered in summer. To ensure the reliability of this technique that is sometimes regrettable, it is first necessary to control automatically the opening and closing the air ventilation valve.

The huge energy amount demanded for heating, during cold seasons is among the most complicated and cost energy supply problems in our life. Since free solar gains are spreading evenly on a part of the ground surface, the contribution of this passive heating concept has been assessed, through the current work. One must determine its impact on both the variation in energy efficiency and the main comfort parameters. The heat produced by the sun's rays constitutes a promising option source of heating supply. In this view, a recent approach has been implemented in the way to create an energetic label by providing parameters, occupancy scenarios, lifestyle and all required data. Based on the assessed climate data, recorded on Saharan area, it has been averred that the passive solar heating represents only about 8.06% from the total energy supply, provided by the used thermally insulated building. The results show that the total needed energy consumption is about 441.27 kWh/m2/year 'type F: building with high energy demand'. According to the energy labelling of buildings and regarding some considerable measures, the mentioned current structure type will be involved with the buildings that have an energy label of type D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In desert regions, the orientation of buildings has an important influence in the inside air temperature. In the present work, we carry out a study on the influence of the buildings orientation as well as the thermal insulation on the internal temperature. To do so, we have considered the case where only the exposed walls are isolated. The main objective of the current work is to determine the temperatures of the building in question with and without thermal insulation. This study aims at assessing also the geographic parameter enhancing or damping the role of thermal inertia, providing a variety of results. As result, this work proves that stones play a contradictory role on thermal comfort. We have verified that thermal insulation is specified to reduce heat transfer through the building. Concerning the orientation, results indicates that the variation in orientation does not influence significantly the internal air temperature of a well thermally insulated building. Moreover, in hot period, whatever orientation considered, the phenomenon of overheating presents a serious problem to minimize consumption of energy and control of indoor temperature in case of building without insulation. The numerical data was compared to the experimental measurements in order to validate the mathematical model. In conclusion, to achieve a better thermal comfort arid and semi arid regions, the habitation will have to be situated in south flan of a hill to satisfy the two strategies (hot and cold). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]