This paper presents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study of a building-integrated photovoltaic thermal (BIPV∕T) system, which generates both electricity and thermal energy. The heat transfer in the BIPV∕T system cavity is studied with a two-dimensional CFD model. The realizable model is used to simulate the turbulent flow and convective heat transfer in the cavity, including buoyancy effect and long-wave radiation between boundary surfaces is also modeled. A particle image velocimetry (PIV) system is employed to study the fluid flow in the BIPV∕T cavity and provide partial validation for the CFD model. Average and local convective heat transfer coefficients are generated with the CFD model using measured temperature profile as boundary condition. Cavity temperature profiles are calculated and compared to the experimental data for different conditions and good agreement is obtained. Correlations of convective heat transfer coefficients are generated for the cavity surfaces; these coefficients are necessary for the design and analysis of BIPV∕T systems with lumped parameter models. Local heat transfer coefficients, such as those presented, are necessary for prediction of temperature distributions in BIPV panels.
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November 2007
Research Papers
Numerical and Experimental Study of Heat Transfer in a BIPV-Thermal System
L. Liao,
L. Liao
Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Concordia University
, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8
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A. K. Athienitis,
A. K. Athienitis
Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Concordia University
, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8
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L. Candanedo,
L. Candanedo
Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Concordia University
, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8
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K.-W. Park,
K.-W. Park
Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Concordia University
, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8
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Y. Poissant,
Y. Poissant
CANMET Energy Technology Centre —Varennes,
Natural Resources Canada
, 1615 Lionel-Boulet Blvd., Varennes, QC, J3X 1S6
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M. Collins
M. Collins
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering,
University of Waterloo
, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
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L. Liao
Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Concordia University
, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8
A. K. Athienitis
Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Concordia University
, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8
L. Candanedo
Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Concordia University
, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8
K.-W. Park
Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Concordia University
, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8
Y. Poissant
CANMET Energy Technology Centre —Varennes,
Natural Resources Canada
, 1615 Lionel-Boulet Blvd., Varennes, QC, J3X 1S6
M. Collins
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering,
University of Waterloo
, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1J. Sol. Energy Eng. Nov 2007, 129(4): 423-430 (8 pages)
Published Online: May 15, 2007
Article history
Received:
February 24, 2006
Revised:
May 15, 2007
Citation
Liao, L., Athienitis, A. K., Candanedo, L., Park, K., Poissant, Y., and Collins, M. (May 15, 2007). "Numerical and Experimental Study of Heat Transfer in a BIPV-Thermal System." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. November 2007; 129(4): 423–430. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2770750
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