Factors affecting energy saving of photovoltaic curtain walls

How does a photovoltaic curtain wall work?

A photovoltaic curtain wall coupled with an air-conditioning system is designed. Curtain wall cooling and supply air reheating are achieved using heat recovery. System performance is evaluated, taking an office in hot-humid summer as a case. The system increases power output by 1.07% and achieves 27.51% energy savings.

How much power does a photovoltaic curtain wall generate?

Based on Table 7 and Table 8, the annual and total power generation data for the photovoltaic curtain walls on different facades can be obtained. The south facade’s photovoltaic curtain wall has the highest power generation capacity, with a cumulative power generation of 17,730.42 MWh over a 25-year period.

Do photovoltaic curtain walls improve the cost-effectiveness ratio?

After sensitivity analysis of the cost of photovoltaic curtain walls and the efficiency of solar panels, it was found that as the cost increases, the economy of photovoltaic curtain walls gradually deteriorates, and improving the efficiency of solar panels can improve the cost-effectiveness ratio of each facade.

Can photovoltaic curtain wall array be used in building complexes?

Xiong et al. [ 31] develops a power model for Photovoltaic Curtain Wall Array (PVCWA) systems in building complexes and identifies optimal configurations for mitigating shading effects, providing valuable insights for the application of PVCWA systems in buildings.

How does a curtain wall increase the temperature of a solar system?

Due to the expansion of PV coverage ratio, more solar energy is captured and converted into electrical energy, while more thermal energy is generated from the curtain wall and therefore increases the system component temperature. Fig. 21. .

Do VPV curtain walls save energy?

According to the literature review, VPV curtain walls exhibit significant potential for energy savings owing to their excellent thermal insulation performance . Furthermore, the shading effect of PV cells can alleviate discomfort glare and enhance occupants’ visual comfort .