Experimental of natural ventilation in a semi-transparent photovoltaic double skin façade in summer

Abstract

Semi-transparent photovoltaic double skin façade (STPV-DSF) is a novel structure which integrates photoelectric, photothermal, ventilation and energy-saving features, which proves to be extremely attractive and promising. In this study, a full-scale experimental system was built, airflow and heat transfer in a rectangular cavity with different transmittance (τ) and different ventilation modes in summer that studies a STPV-DSF and includes natural ventilation were examined experimentally. The Rayleigh number and Nusselt number of STPV-DSF is significantly higher than that of traditional DSF. This also means stronger intense flow. And the maximum temperature difference at night between mode 1 and mode 2 can reach 7.3°C. When the external air circulation mode is switched to the external and internal mode, the indoor temperature drops by 2.88°C in ten minutes. Therefore, making fully use of natural ventilation can effectively reduce the cooling load of air conditioning in summer. The solar radiation intensity is proved to have the greatest influence on the cavity temperature, followed by the transmittance, and the the ventilation mode least influence. Applying naturally ventilated STPV-DSF would be a new efficient way for the curtain wall buildings to meet the task of sustainable building design.