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

    Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

    115 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. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1380-1387
    JournalEnergy and Buildings
    Volume38
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2006

    Research Keywords

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

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