Modeling of double skin façades integrating photovoltaic panels and automated roller shades: Analysis of the thermal and electrical performance

Abstract

A numerical model is developed for simulating a single or multi-story Double Skin Façade integrating Photovoltaics (DSF-PV). The DSF-PV can co-generate solar electricity and heat while it also allows daylight to be transmitted to the interior space. The buoyancy-driven air flow inside the cavity may be assisted by a fan to cool down the photovoltaics while providing natural or hybrid ventilation to adjacent zones. Automated roller shades are also implemented in the model and help regulate heating and cooling loads but also control the daylight levels in the indoor space. A parametric analysis for different control strategies for the airflow within the cavity and the roller shading devices is performed with the purpose to apply the proposed methodology to minimize the heating and cooling demand of the DSF-PV system. In addition, a parametric analysis for different adjacent zones floor areas is performed. The simulations show that a DSF-PV system can supply approximately 120kWh/façade area/year covering the yearly electricity demand of the adjacent office if the floor area is approximately less than 3 times larger than the floor area.

A review on the application of photovoltaic thermal systems for building façades

“…Ioannidis et al. 88 modelled such a system with automated roller shades to measure the performance. The simulated result shows that the system can cover the yearly electricity demand by 120 KWh/façade area/year.…”

Building Energy Performance Analysis: An Experimental Validation of an In-House Dynamic Simulation Tool through a Real Test Room

“…In case of new and/or not commercialized technologies and materials, for which no experimental data are available yet [31], the development of suitable simulation models is often required and recommended. This is particularly true for the design of the next generation of buildings (as NZEBs) to be carried out through suitable computer-based energy analyses [12,[32][33][34]. New BEPS tools are also developed with the purpose to evaluate the occupants' comfort, and to stimulate models' robustness and fidelity also toward the implementation of innovative control strategies [16,31].…”

Photovoltaic chimney: Thermal modeling and concept demonstration for integration in buildings

“…Details for different NVF concepts can be found in Oesterle et al 8 Different approaches to model the behavior of a NVF have been proposed during the last decade. Analytical models like the one by Von Grabe, 9 nondimensional analysis, 10 one-dimensional lumped element as described in Rheault and Bilgen, 11 nodal network models as used in Gratia and De Herde 12 and Ioannidis et al, 13 and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods such as those by De Gracia et al 14 This work uses a model based on a combination of a control volume model (CVM) and an analytic mass flow model created entirely in MATLAB and will be briefly explained in Section 2.2. User inputs of the CVM are meteorological data of the location, the chimney layout (height, width, depth, and building materials), the total surface of the PV façade, the PV module specifications, and the orientation in which the chimney is meant to be installed.…”

“…Different approaches to model the behavior of a NVF have been proposed during the last decade. Analytical models like the one by Von Grabe, nondimensional analysis, one‐dimensional lumped element as described in Rheault and Bilgen, nodal network models as used in Gratia and De Herde and Ioannidis et al, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods such as those by De Gracia et al …”