Abstract

Integration of a photovoltaic-thermal system with housing roofs can replace shingles while generating electricity and heat. This thesis is focused on energy performance of different configurations of building integrated photovoltaic-thermal (BIPV/T) and HVAC system that utilize recovered heat. A dynamic model for Concordia solar house which included an open loop air-cooled BIPV/T roof system was developed. The thermal network approach with explicit finite difference method was used to simulate the thermal behaviour of the house. The system studied included an air-water heat exchanger for preheating domestic hot water (DHW), water tank and rockbed storage. Predicted temperatures of the preheated air in the BfPV/T systems, PV panels and DHW were obtained and verified with data collected from the solar house. Results showed the dependence of thermo-electrical performance of the BIPV/T roof on the ambient conditions, air velocity, length and PV cavity depth. For the unglazed BIPV/T system, the heated air is suitable to be used as a preheated air in the HVAC system; for the same reason, thermal rockbed storage is not beneficial for extreme winter conditions with unglazed BIPV/T open loop air system. The BIPV/T system considered is suitable for DHW preheating. By adding 1.5m of vertical glazed solar air collector (SAC) at the end of the unglazed B1PV/T section, significant air temperature increase at the outlet of the PV cavity can be achieved in winter and it is suitable for combination with the rockbed storage. With passing the air behind the absorber of the SAC and placing a low-emissivity coating on a glass cover, higher exiting air temperatures can be achieved. Appropriate air velocities in the PV cavity that limit the PV panel temperature of the glazed BIPV/T roof were determined