Performance Analysis of an integrated Semi-TransparentThin Film PV Vacuum Insulated Glazing

Abstract

TNottingham University, Department of his paper is intended to design and develop a thermal model of an integrated semitransparent thin-film PV vacuum glazing with four layers of glass called PV VG-4L. Correspondence to: Hasila Jarimi, The design of the glazing involves integration between a thin-film PV glazing with a double vacuum glazing both manufactured independently , and an additional layer of selfcleaning coated glass. For the mathematical model, the energy balance equations were derived for the thin-film PV glass, the glass panes of the vacuum glazing and the edges of the internal and external glass surfaces facing indoors and outdoors respectively . The model was numerically solved in MATLAB. To evaluate the performance of the PV VG-4L, the prototype was manufactured and investigated at lab-scale and also under real conditions. At lab-scale, experiments were conducted at steady-state conditions using a TEC driven calibrated hot box at Sustainable Energy Research Lab, University of Nottingham, UK. Meanwhile, outdoors, the prototype was tested at a research house at the University of Nottingham, UK. The developed model was then validated against the experimental results by direct comparison on the trend of the experimental and theoretical curves obtained, and also by conducting error analysis using root mean squared percentage deviation RMSPD method. When tested using the calibrated hot box, by following closely the ISO 12567 standards, the average measured total U-value is 0.6 W/m2K. From the analysis, the computed RMSPD value for the glazing surface temperature and the U-value are 4.75 % and 0.96% respectively. The RMPSD computed for the glazing surface temperatures, electrical power generated under real conditions and U-value are 2.58 %, 1.4% and 6.86 % respectively. The theoretical and experimental results are concluded to be in good agreement. The thermal and electrical performance of a building retrofitted with and without PV VG-4L was examined and discussed. At building efficiency level, the PV VG-4L not only can produce power, but it also has high insulating properties. The promising U-value implies that the glazing’s range of potential applications can be improved depending on the energy needs and applications, which includes its use in BIPV solar façades PV curtain walling for commercial buildings, greenhouses, skylights and conservatories

Keywords

• semi-transparent thin-film pv
• low u-value
• shgc.