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Performance investigation of novel semitransparent buildings with integrated photovoltaic windows based on fluid-thermal-electric numerical model in the Persian Gulf region

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Abstract

In order to improve traditional construction toward zero- or almost zero-energy buildings, there is a demand for more reliable and renewable energy resources. Solar energy is environmentally friendly, abundant, and has a low environmental impact. The integration of solar panels with semitransparent windows is used for electricity generation and sunlight penetration, leading to better energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption. This paper aims to analyze the potential of a novel building-integrated photovoltaic semitransparent window as a resource of sustainable energy to save energy use in the office building. In this study, an advanced multi-physics performance prediction approach for a semitransparent building with integrated photovoltaic windows on office building facades was developed in Bahrain’s subtropical desert climate. A parametric study was performed to examine the thermal performance and electrical capacity of semitransparent-integrated photovoltaic solar windows that takes into account the electrical properties, combined radiation and conduction heat transfers, and equivalent heat source methods within solar energy cells. Moreover, a side-by-side comparison study with the reference insulated glass unit investigates the outer and inner surface temperatures. For five design window geometries, 3D-coupled fluid-thermal-electrical multi-physics simulations were run using the COMSOL-coupled solver. The electrical modeling has been developed using MATLAB software, and the energy performance calculation of a sample of a typical commercial building in Manama has been carried out in the ESP-r software environment. The computational results were compared with measurements and manufacturer data. The results obtained illustrate the potential of Xenon-filled double-glazing windows (XDGWs) with integrated PV to save 12% of the energy consumption for cooling purposes in the summer. The results show that the maximum energy produced by solar panels is 248.42 W, and the maximum electrical efficiency of the photovoltaic module is 17.61% at a solar irradiance of 1000 W m−2. The expected annual solar power generated by the building facade using 500 panels is nearly 140,755 kWh. The results suggested that the XDGW with integrated PV outperformed the reference insulated glass unit in terms of thermal insulation, solar heat flux, and U-factor. On the whole, the simulated outer and inside surface temperatures are in good agreement with the measured data.

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Abbreviations

A:

Area

\({a}_{0}\) :

Modified diode ideality factor

A:

Window surface area, m2

\({a}_{\mathrm{ref}}\) :

Modified diode ideality factor at STC

E :

Total energy

\({E}_{\mathrm{g}}\) :

Band-gap energy of PV cell material (eV)

\({E}_{\mathrm{g},\mathrm{ref}}\) :

Band-gap energy of PV cell material at STC (eV)

G:

Incident irradiance, W m−2

H :

Enthalpy

I :

Unit vector

\({I}_{\mathrm{L}}\) :

Light generated current (A)

\({I}_{\mathrm{L},\mathrm{ref}}\) :

Light generated current at STC (A)

\({I}_{\mathrm{o}}\) :

Diode reverse saturation current (A)

\({I}_{\mathrm{o},\mathrm{ref}}\) :

Diode reverse saturation current at STC (A)

\(m\) :

Temperature dependence parameter for \({a}_{0}\)

\(n\) :

Surface normal

P :

Pressure

Q :

Heat flow rate per unit area (w m−2)

q″:

Heat flux vector

\({R}_{\mathrm{sh}}\) :

Series resistance at STC (Ω)

\({R}_{\mathrm{sh},\mathrm{ref}}\) :

Shunt resistance (Ω)

\(S\) :

Plane-of-array absorbed solar radiation at operating conditions (W m−2)

S E :

Radiation energy source

\({S}_{\mathrm{ref}}\) :

Absorbed solar radiation at STC (W m−2)

\({T}_{\mathrm{cell}}\) :

PV cells temperature (K)

\({T}_{\mathrm{cell},\mathrm{ref}}\) :

PV cells temperature at STC (K)

U:

Overall heat transfer coefficient (W m−2 K)

\({\mu }_{\mathrm{isc}}\) :

Temperature coefficient of short circuit current

V :

Continuum velocity

V :

Volume

v r :

Relative velocity

Q:

Heat flow rate per unit area (w m−2)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, Bahrain Polytechnic, PO Box 33349, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Nesrine Gaaliche & Hasan Alsatrawi

  2. Unit of Mechanical Production Engineering and Materials, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Soukra Road Km 4, BP. 1173-3038, Sfax, Tunisia

    Nesrine Gaaliche

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Gaaliche, N., Alsatrawi, H. Performance investigation of novel semitransparent buildings with integrated photovoltaic windows based on fluid-thermal-electric numerical model in the Persian Gulf region. J Therm Anal Calorim 148, 9063–9077 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-023-12290-2

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