Smart solar concentrators for building integrated photovoltaic façades

Wu, Yupeng; Connelly, Karen; Liu, Yuzhe; Gu, Xiaowen; Gao, Yanfeng; Chen, George

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2016.03.046

Cited by 56 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Cooled to room temperature additional distilled water was then added to the solution and stirred for several hours to synthesise the final predetermined HPC wt. % concentrations [11,12].…”

Section: Materials and Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transmittance and Reflectance Studies of Thermotropic Material for a Novel Building Integrated Concentrating Photovoltaic (BICPV) ‘Smart Window’ System

Connelly

et al. 2017

Energies

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Abstract:A novel Building Integrated Concentrating Photovoltaic (BICPV) Smart Window has been designed and developed as a next generation intelligent window system. In response to climatic conditions, the smart window varies solar light transmission into the building for provision of light and heat with the reflection of light to the photovoltaic (PV) for electricity generation. This unique function is realised using an integrated thermotropic layer in conjunction with embedded PVs. As commercial PVs are readily available, the success of this novel BICPV design depends solely on the performance of the thermotropic material. This study aimed to develop a suitable reflective thermotropic layer for the proposed smart Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) system. A Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) polymer was tested for its applicability as a potential reflective thermotropic material for this purpose. HPC concentration was systematically varied from 1 wt. % to 6 wt. % in aqueous solution so as to provide insight into the relationship between transmittance/reflectance properties, the concentration of the thermotropic material and their dependence upon the environmental temperature. The degree of hysteresis of light transmittance upon subjecting HPC to heating and cooling cycles was also investigated. Specifically, for the HPC liquid samples the measured threshold temperature/transition temperature (T s ) was observed to be approximately 40 • C for 6 wt. % HPC, increasing to approximately 44 • C for 1 wt. % HPC. No hysteresis was observed upon heating and cooling HPC samples. Reflectance below the T s was recorded at~10%, increasing up to~70% above the T s for 6 wt. % HPC. Finally, a HPC-based hydrogel membrane sample was developed and exhibited good thermotropic activity therefore demonstrating its suitability for use within the BICPV smart window. This study corroborates that HPC is a suitable thermotropic material in the application of next generation BICPV smart window systems.

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“…Cooled to room temperature additional distilled water was then added to the solution and stirred for several hours to synthesise the final predetermined HPC wt. % concentrations [11,12].…”

Section: Materials and Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Casting of the HPC/gelling agent solution was then undertaken between two 4 mm thick, 5 × 5 cm sheets of optical white low iron glazing. A 0.5 mm silicone membrane was used as a spacer between the two sheets of glazing resulting in a "truncated" version (no integrated PV) of the proposed CPV smart window system [11,12].…”

Section: Materials and Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmittance and Reflectance Studies of Thermotropic Material for a Novel Building Integrated Concentrating Photovoltaic (BICPV) ‘Smart Window’ System

Connelly

et al. 2017

Energies

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“…Recently we outlined a Building Integrated Concentrating Photovoltaic (BICPV) 'Smart Window' system concept that could approach challenges in energy efficient buildings from the perspective of both energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies [15]. Firstly the system provides building energy savings via an integrated thermotropic membrane layer and secondly electricity can be generated from reflected incident solar radiation using embedded commercially available photovoltaic (PV) cells.…”

Section: Building Integrated Concentrating Pv 'Smart Window' Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stimulated by a literature report in which a cellulose derivative-based hydrogel integrated within the Affinity Intelligent Window (AIW) was composed of NaCl and two undisclosed materials (cellulose derivative and a non-ionic amphipathic molecule) [17], we demonstrated in our previous work that a hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) hydrogel liquid could be synthesized with the required properties for use in the novel CPV concept outlined above [15]. Gellan gum was chosen as the gelling agent used for synthesising the HPC membranes based on the same environmental and safety selection parameters that HPC was chosen.…”

Section: Building Integrated Concentrating Pv 'Smart Window' Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Concentrating PV (CPV) system with its performance suitable for use in windows or glazed façades in buildings [15], this paper further develops the aqueous hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) thermotropic reflective layer for the proposed CPV system into a membrane that is more appropriate for window application. In addition, the success of the CPV system heavily relies on the understanding of the relationship between the transmittance/reflectance property and the composition of the thermotropic reflective layer under different environmental temperature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Design and development of a reflective membrane for a novel Building Integrated Concentrating Photovoltaic (BICPV) ‘Smart Window’ system

Connelly

Chen

et al. 2016

Applied Energy

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A note on versions:The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher's version. Please see the repository url above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription. Specifically, a switching temperature (Ts) of ~42 °C (6 wt. % HPC) was recorded, the measured transmittance decreases from ~ 90% to ~20%, with the temperature of the reflective layer increasing from 20°C to 60°C. No hysteresis in optical property was observed upon heating-cooling cycle of HPC membrane samples. The measured reflectivity increased with heating from ~10 % below the Ts to ~50 % above the Ts (for 6 wt. % HPC). These features indicate that the as-prepared HPC based thermotropic hydrogel layer holds great potential for application in next generation BICPV smart windows.

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Experimental and Comparison Study on Two Solar Dish Systems with a High Concentration Ratio

Chen

Yang

et al. 2019

J. Therm. Sci.

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Smart solar concentrators for building integrated photovoltaic façades

Cited by 56 publications

References 26 publications

Transmittance and Reflectance Studies of Thermotropic Material for a Novel Building Integrated Concentrating Photovoltaic (BICPV) ‘Smart Window’ System

Transmittance and Reflectance Studies of Thermotropic Material for a Novel Building Integrated Concentrating Photovoltaic (BICPV) ‘Smart Window’ System

Design and development of a reflective membrane for a novel Building Integrated Concentrating Photovoltaic (BICPV) ‘Smart Window’ system

Experimental and Comparison Study on Two Solar Dish Systems with a High Concentration Ratio

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