Performance Analysis of a Facade-Integrated Photovoltaic Powered Cooling System

Thomas Bröthaler, Marcus Rennhofer, Daniel Brandl, Thomas Mach, Andreas Heinz, Gusztáv Újvári, Helga C. Lichtenegger and Harald Rennhofer
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Thomas Bröthaler: Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Physics and Materials Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
Marcus Rennhofer: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Giefinggasse 4, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Daniel Brandl: Institute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25b, 8010 Graz, Austria
Thomas Mach: Institute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25b, 8010 Graz, Austria
Andreas Heinz: Institute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25b, 8010 Graz, Austria
Gusztáv Újvári: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Giefinggasse 4, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Helga C. Lichtenegger: Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Physics and Materials Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
Harald Rennhofer: Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Physics and Materials Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: Due to recent changing climate conditions and glazing of building facades, a rapid increase in the requirement of cooling systems can be observed. Still the main energy source for cooling are fossil fuels. In this article we report on a fully integrated approach of running a heat pump for actively cooling a test room by electric energy, generated by facade integrated photovoltaic modules, the “COOLSKIN” system. Photovoltaic facades are emission free in the operation phase, efficiently utilize otherwise unused surfaces, and portray a favorable method in terms of construction physics and the architectural design of buildings. Compared to existing systems, COOLSKIN is an entirely autonomous system where every component is located inside the facade structure which introduces a high level of plug and play character. In this article the analysis of the electric performance of the COOLSKIN system with respect to its operation under different environmental conditions is presented. The over all system efficiency was determined with 73.9%, compared to a simulated efficiency (PV*SOL) of 68.8%, and to the theoretically expected value of 85%. The system behavior is evaluated depending on photovoltaic output and the cooling demand. The analysis shows that a considerable amount of cooling demand could be decentrally fulfilled with photovoltaic energy, but environmental conditions as well as system layout have a considerable impact on system performance.

Keywords: photovoltaic; building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV); facade integrated heat pump system; solar cooling; heat islands (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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