Effect of fluid flow and packing factor on energy performance of a wall-mounted hybrid photovoltaic/water-heating collector system

Jie Ji*, Jun Han, Tin-tai Chow, Hua Yi, Jianping Lu, Wei He, Wei Sun

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

110 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Façade-integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BiPV/T) technology is a relatively new concept in improving the overall energy performance of PV installations in buildings. With the use of wall-mounted water-type PV/T collectors, the system not only generates electricity and hot water simultaneously, but also improves the thermal insulation of the building envelope. A numerical model of this hybrid system was developed by modifying the Hottel-Whillier model, which was originally for the thermal analysis of flat-plate solar thermal collectors. Computer simulation was performed to analyze the system performance. The combined effects of the solar cell packing factor and the water mass flow rate on the thermal and electrical efficiencies were investigated. The simulation results indicated that an optimum water mass flow rate existed in the system through which the desirable integrated energy performance can be achieved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1380-1387
Number of pages8
JournalEnergy and Buildings
Volume38
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2006

Keywords

  • Electrical and thermal performance
  • Façade integration
  • Hybrid photovoltaic/thermal collector
  • Optimum operation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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