Abstract
This paper assesses two steady-state photovoltaic (PV) module temperature models when applied to building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) rainscreens and curtain walls. The models are the Ross and the Faiman models, both extensively used for PV modules mounted on open-rack support structures in PV plants. The experimental setups arrange the BIPV modules vertically and with different backside boundary conditions to cover the mounting configurations under study. Data monitoring over more than a year was the experimental basis to assess each model by comparing simulated and measured temperatures with the help of four different metrics: mean absolute error, root mean square error, mean bias error, and coefficient of determination. The performance ratio of each system without the temperature effect was calculated by comparing the experimental energy output with the energy output determined with the measured temperatures. This parameter allowed the estimation of the PV energy with the predicted temperatures to assess the suitability of each temperature model for energy-prediction purposes. The assessment showed that the Ross model is the most suitable for predicting the annual PV energy in rainscreen and curtain-wall applications. Highlighted is the importance of fitting the model coefficients with a representative set of in situ monitored data. The data set should preferably include the inner (backside) temperature, i.e., the air chamber temperature in ventilated façades or the indoor temperature in curtain walls and windows.
Highlights
Accepted: 23 January 2022The integration of photovoltaic energy in buildings (BIPV) has proven to efficiently and aesthetically combine the local generation of renewable electricity with the fulfillment of several construction functions of the building envelope [1,2]
Gref where Pp is the peak power of the PV array, which is the maximum power at the standard test conditions (STC), Gref is the STC irradiance (1 kW/m2 ), HPOA is the plane of array irradiation, and PR is the performance ratio of the system, which shows the effect of the PV system losses on the generated PV energy
The proposed methodology allows the assessment of PV module temperature models applied to building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules integrated into rainscreens and curtain walls or windows
Summary
Accepted: 23 January 2022The integration of photovoltaic energy in buildings (BIPV) has proven to efficiently and aesthetically combine the local generation of renewable electricity with the fulfillment of several construction functions of the building envelope [1,2]. The detailed study of the photovoltaic (PV) module temperature should include heat-transfer phenomena analysis [16,17], which would lead to transient temperature models, the alternative, analytical steady-state temperature models have been extensively used to determine the PV module temperature in PV plants These straightforward models only need simple meteorological variables as an input, and led to acceptable degree of accuracy in the prediction of electrical PV performance in PV plants [18]. While in PV plants this approach could be sufficient, in building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) and building-added photovoltaic (BAPV) systems the thermal-performanceaccuracy requirement might be higher, e.g., for building energy simulation It is worth assessing the suitability of these temperature models for electrical-performancesimulation purposes. Assoa et al [25] focused on the thermal characterization of semi-integrated PV roof systems, finding that the developed heat-transfer-based models, both 2-D dynamic and steady-state models, and a simple linear model, achieved a good prediction of the PV module temperature
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