Photovoltaic modules and their applications: A review on thermal modelling

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) in architectural design in China

Optimizing the energy and exergy of building integrated photovoltaic thermal (BIPVT) systems under cold climatic conditions

Buildings play an important role in greenhouse gas emissions since they constitute a large proportion of the global energy demand. This dramatic scenario is usually a consequence of poor thermal insulation characteristics of building fabric. Among the elements of a typical building envelope, windows are responsible for the greatest energy loss due to their notably high overall heat transfer coefficients (U-values). About 60% of heat loss through the fabric of residential buildings can be attributed to the glazed areas. Windows are useful multifunctional devices for buildings which provide passive solar gain, air ventilation and also the ability to view the outside. However, they greatly dominate the heating and cooling demand of buildings in winter and summer, respectively. Conventional window technologies tend to have poor U-values which cause significant heat losses during the winter season and undesired heat gain in summer. Unique glazing technologies are therefore required to improve visual and thermal comfort of the occupants, whilst mitigating the energy consumption of buildings. In the present work, a comprehensive review of the latest developments in glazing technologies is presented. Currently available high performance glazing products and technologies are analyzed in detail with application examples.

A state-of-the-art review on innovative glazing technologies

Application of transparent dye-sensitized solar cells to building integrated photovoltaic systems

Study on thermal performance of semi-transparent building-integrated photovoltaic glazings

The amount of solar radiation reaching a solar collecting surface, either a solar collector or a photovoltaic module is affected by the tilted angle of the surface to the horizontal. There is a common practice that the optimum angle is the same as local latitude. However, there is no detailed study which considers the local weather conditions regarding the optimum angle. To find out the optimum inclination of solar collecting surface for applications in Hong Kong, a simulation model relating available solar radiation and tilted angle of a surface was established. By making use of the simulation model together with Hong Kong annual hourly solar radiation that recorded by the Hong Kong Observatory, the solar radiation received by a tilted surface can be calculated. It was found that a surface should be tilted at 19.4° due south in order to receive maximum solar radiation throughout a year in Hong Kong. This is a remarkable and realistic result because actual weather data have also been considered. The resul...

Tady Y.Y. Fung

Papers

Study on thermal performance of semi-transparent building-integrated photovoltaic glazings

Study on optimum inclination angle of solar collecting surface in hong kong