Abstract

Enhancements of a building integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPV/T) system intended for coupling with an air source multispeed heat pump (MSHP) is presented. The systems were analyzed using a modified version of EnergyPlus, a quasi-steady state building energy simulation program. A sensitivity analysis of the internal channel surface and cover emissivity parameters of the Opaque BIPV/T, transparent BIPV/T, and building integrated solar air heater collectors (BISAH) was conducted. In addition, collector arrangement analyses were performed. A BIPV/T- BISAH array design was selected based on the results of the analyses and evaluated using a net-zero energy house and an energy efficient house. The integrated BIPV/T-BISAH coupled ASHP system reduced space heating electricity consumption of the net-zero house by 6.5% and the energy efficient house by 3.4%. These low levels of savings were largely due to the passive design of the houses that reduced heating loads during sunny hours; this resulted in a mismatch between the hours when the integrated system could provide energy savings and the need for space heating.

Highlights

  • Introduction and objectivesIn Canada, space heating constitutes 63% of the energy consumed in residential buildings, due to cold and extended winter conditions and natural gas provides approximately 45% of this energy (NRCan, 2016)

  • As shown in the literature review, fan power used to draw the air through a building integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPV/T) system can greatly offset the energy savings introduced by BIPV/T systems that are installed in cold climate regions

  • The results show that the replacing a PV panel (OBIPV/T or transparent BIPV/T (TBIPV/T)) for an additional building integrated solar air heater collectors (BISAH) does not result in a more efficiency integrated BIPV/T coupled air source heat pumps (ASHP) because the ratio of thermal gain to loss in electricity is too small

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Summary

Introduction

In Canada, space heating constitutes 63% of the energy consumed in residential buildings, due to cold and extended winter conditions and natural gas provides approximately 45% of this energy (NRCan, 2016). Kamel and Fung (2014) demonstrated that variable capacity air source heat pumps (ASHP) effectively can satisfy space heating demands without additional auxiliary heat sources, if the ASHP is coupled with a building integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPV/T) system. The result is that preheated air from the BIPV/T system can be used as a source by the ASHP and the ASHP can be powered by the electricity generated by the PV panels. An integrated BIPV/T coupled ASHP system can supply space heating for residential buildings in Canada, without natural gas and the electricity generated can reduce reliance on grid supplied electricity that is partially generated from combustibles. Kamel and Fung (2014) determined that the utilizing an integrated BIPV/T coupled ASHP system could reduce up to 1959 kg of CO2 over the year

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