A Study of Optimal Specifications for Light Shelves with Photovoltaic Modules to Improve Indoor Comfort and Save Building Energy

Heangwoo Lee, Xiaolong Zhao and Janghoo Seo
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Heangwoo Lee: Major in Spatial Design, College of Design, Sangmyung University, Cheonan-si 31066, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea
Xiaolong Zhao: Department of Design, College of Design, Sangmyung University, Cheonan-si 31066, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea
Janghoo Seo: School of Architecture, Kookmin University, 77, Jeongneung-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02707, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-24

Abstract: Recent studies on light shelves found that building energy efficiency could be maximized by applying photovoltaic (PV) modules to light shelf reflectors. Although PV modules generate a substantial amount of heat and change the consumption of indoor heating and cooling energy, performance evaluations carried out thus far have not considered these factors. This study validated the effectiveness of PV module light shelves and determined optimal specifications while considering heating and cooling energy savings. A full-scale testbed was built to evaluate performance according to light shelf variables. The uniformity ratio was found to improve according to the light shelf angle value and decreased as the PV module installation area increased. It was determined that PV modules should be considered in the design of light shelves as their daylighting and concentration efficiency change according to their angles. PV modules installed on light shelves were also found to change the indoor cooling and heating environment; the degree of such change increased as the area of the PV module increased. Lastly, light shelf specifications for reducing building energy, including heating and cooling energy, were not found to apply to PV modules since PV modules on light shelf reflectors increase building energy consumption.

Keywords: light shelf; PV module; thermal environment; visual comfort; performance evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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