Building performance simulation of a photovoltaic façade enhanced with latent heat storage: Model validation and power generation prediction

Abstract

Photovoltaic solar-based façade concepts are considered one of the promising representatives in the overall energy-saving campaign. The presented study aims at the simulation approach and its validation relative to experimental measurements of a double-skin building-integrated photovoltaic (BiPV) concept coupled with phase change material (PCM) in climate-responsive façade design. A comparative study of the thermo-responsive reactions and electricity production of two BiPV façades (with and without PCM layer) was conducted using the building energy simulation (BES) method to reveal the complexity of building performance predictions. An empirical validation of the BES tool working under the EnergyPlus computational engine is conducted in this connection. The consistency between the simulation results and the experimental data obtained via calorimetry and dynamic outdoor tests is comprehensively investigated. The current zonal modelling approach of the BES method is suitable when predicting the thermo-responsive capabilities of a PCM-based BiPV façade. Accordingly, the best agreement is found in the PCM data based on Triple-layer calorimetry (3LC). Using PCM in a BiPV system can increase the maximum peak electricity production from 4.3 to 4.8 % obtained experimentally with a 10–14 K decrease in PV panel operating temperature. In contrast, a difference, from 3.8 to 5.4 %, is observed with the equivalent one-diode model between the simulation results for solar panels based on copper‑indium‑gallium-selenide (CIGS) technology. Hence, the performance prediction of PV electrical conversion efficiency is calibrated using a semiconductor band gap at a value of 1.4 eV.