Abstract

This thesis presents a numerical and experimental study of a building-integrated photovoltaic-thermal (BIPV/T) system in Concordia University, which generates both electricity and thermal energy. A 2-D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed to study the air dynamics and thermal behavior inside the BIPV thermal system and develop relationships for convective heat transfer coefficients. A 2-D k-ϵ turbulent model is used in the FLUENT program to simulate the turbulent flow and convective heat transfer in the cavity, in addition to the buoyancy effect. Longwave radiation between boundary surfaces is also modeled. Experimental measurements taken in a full scale outdoor test facility at Concordia University are in good agreement with the 2-D CFD model. Velocity and temperature profiles for various average air velocities are predicted and compared with experimental data. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is employed to investigate the velocity profile. Average and local convective heat transfer coefficients are generated for the system