Abstract
A ducted photovoltaic façade (DPV) unit was simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This is Part II of the study, which is a repetition of Part I—a previous experimental study of the ducted photovoltaic unit with buoyancy cooling. The aim of this study is to optimize the duct width behind the solar cells to allow for the cells to achieve maximum buoyancy-driven cooling during operation. Duct widths from 5 to 50 cm were simulated. A duct width of 40 cm allowed for the maximum calculated heat to be removed from the duct; however, the lowest cell-operating temperature was reported for a duct width of 50 cm. The results showed that the change in temperature (ΔT) between the ducts’ inlets and outlets ranged from 8.10 to 19.32 °C. The ducted system enhanced module efficiency by 12.69% by reducing the photovoltaic façade (PV) temperature by 27 °C from 100 to 73 °C, as opposed to the increased temperatures that have been reported when fixing the PV directly onto the building fabric. The maximum simulated heat recovered from the ducted PV system was 529 W. This was 47.98% of the incident radiation in the test. The total summation of heat recovered and the power enhanced by the ducted system was 61.67%. The nature of airflow inside the duct was explored and visualized by reference to the Grashof number (Gr) and CFD simulations, respectively.
Highlights
Building Integrated Photovoltaic/Thermal (BIPV/T) systems [1] are some of the most successful renewable energy technologies that have been integrated into buildings
With the combined efficiency of electrical and thermal energy harvesting potential, comparably high levels of efficiency are possible when compared to their sister-type, namely, building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) buildings
This paper investigates the potential of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in predicting as well as envisioning mechanisms of thermal energy extraction from BIPV to increase their overall efficiency yield
Summary
Building Integrated Photovoltaic/Thermal (BIPV/T) systems [1] are some of the most successful renewable energy technologies that have been integrated into buildings. Panel, as shown, while monitoring the outcome in terms of temperature harvesting and possible wind speed yields This process paves the way for further utilization of CFD in managing complex design configurations for these types of applications. Heat flux of 375 W/m assigned to the PV panel together the buoyancy flow This was achieved by employing the standard k-ε module with the full buoyancy with a laminar module, followed by the turbulent model. Totally The out radiation of the buoyancy effect formed by the a laminar module, followed by the turbulent model with surface-to-surface. There was no pressure difference between the inlet and outlet at the initialization stage This process was used to ensure that the air velocity developed would be totally out of the buoyancy effect formed by the PV heat flux absorbed by the air in the duct
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