Optimal PV cell coverage ratio for semi-transparent photovoltaics on office building façades in central China

Abstract

Abstract:The present study investigates the optimal PV cell coverage ratio in terms of the overall energy consumption of office buildings in central China for which semi-transparent photovoltaic façades have been implemented, with various combinations of architectural variables including room depth, window-to-wall ratio (WWR), and orientation. Here, models and methods are established for the calculation of PV cell coverage ratio for a single-glazed semi-transparent PV façade and these models and methods are validated through field experiments. The established techniques are then incorporated into Energy Plus to perform a parametric analysis of the effects of different PV cell coverage ratios on overall energy consumption. The results show that PV cell coverage ratio has a pronounced effect on electricity consumption and that its impact is influenced by different combinations of room depth, WWR, and orientation. Moreover, the selection of an optimal PV cell coverage ratio is found to be an important element of the design approach in building-integrated PV (BIPV) systems: use of the optimal PV cell coverage ratio can achieve overall energy consumption savings of 13% (on average) compared to the least favourable PV cell coverage ratio.

Modelling and simulation of Building-Integrated solar thermal systems: Behaviour of the coupled building/system configuration

“…Xu et al [42] investigated the optimal PV cell coverage ratio with respect to the overall energy consumption for office buildings in which semi-transparent PV façades were implemented (case of Central China). Mathematical models were established to calculate PV cell coverage ratio for a single-glazed semi-transparent PV façade and these models were validated with experimental data.…”

Semitransparent Building-Integrated Photovoltaic: Review on Energy Performance, Challenges, and Future Potential

“…Furthermore, studies show that temperature, orientation, design of the solar cell, and optimal window-to-wall ratio (WWR) are important parameters affecting the performance of semitransparent BIPV. According to Jiang et al [77], Wong et al [78], and Xu et al ( [21]), these parameters show a greater impact on the overall energy consumption of buildings, through effects on PV electricity generation, lighting, cooling, and heating. WWR is an essential building envelope element that decides the indoor luminous and thermal environments.…”

“…As a result of the projected rapid population increase and economic growth in energy consumption, alternative sources of energy are required to be gradually included in the future global mix [17,18]. Varieties of solar technologies are widely recognized as clean with minimal greenhouse gas emissions; thus, they contribute to the efforts towards climate change mitigation through a direct reduction in CO 2 emissions [19][20][21]. Solar energy is radiant energy which is harnessed using a range of advanced technologies such as building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV), solar heating, solar architecture, solar thermal energy, and artificial photosynthesis according to Shukla et al [22].…”

Overall energy assessment and integration optimization process of semitransparent PV glazing technologies

“…Spectrophotometric data and appropriate values for conductivity and emissivity of each element, determined as described in Skandalos and Karamanis, 57 were used for the development of the prototype glazing in LBNL's Optics 6. 54 Thereafter, WINDOW 6.3 55 software was used to space properly the 2 panes and fit them to aluminum frames in the desired dimensions (Table 1). Calculated U-value and solar heat gain coefficient together with visible transmittance of the systems was saved in DOE format and imported to TRNsys for further analysis.…”