Abstract
Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) facades are a solution to consider when it comes to electricity generation on the building site. One of the main challenges attributes to this technology is finding the best trade-off between the electrical efficiency of BIPVs and the energy use of the building. This study aims to identify a scenario that yields the optimized results for electrical and thermal performance in a test building. Among the scenarios, the original wooden cladding in the test building is either replaced with PV panels or the PV modules are added to the existing facade. Rhinoceros 3D CAD software and its visual programming plugin Grasshopper are used to perform various simulations for both east-oriented and west-oriented façades with low and high thermal inertia wall structures. Although a complex flow phenomenon behind BIPVs is simplified in the 3D heat transfer model, relatively reliable results are obtained using the chosen simulation tool. It is observed that the east-faced BIPV facade in the test building has higher electrical efficiency. This could be attributed to the lower inertia of the east wall that allows easier propagation of heat through the structure.
Highlights
Nowadays, energy production in the building sector has become an important issue
In the Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) façade, this can affect the electrical efficiency of the PV panels
The effects of the external cladding type and orientation of the wall in a test building on the electrical energy generated and the thermal energy used are examined in this study
Summary
Energy production in the building sector has become an important issue. As a renewable energy source, solar energy could be converted into electricity by employing photovoltaic systems. Due to the lack of available area in a dense urban space, Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) technology, incorporating photovoltaic (PV) modules into the elements of the building envelopes such as façades, has been shown to play an essential role in the on-site production of electricity [1]. This study aims to analyse the thermal and electrical performance of the BIPV façade implemented in a building prototype. Eight scenarios of different façade compositions are studied for two representative days of summer and winter in a test reference year. The solution that yields the trade-off between the energy used and the energy generated throughout the year is provided.
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