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Experimental and numerical study on thermal and electrical performance of non-transparent photovoltaic curtain wall

Author

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  • Cao, Ye
  • Feng, Guohui
  • Li, Chenqi
  • Gao, Hexuan

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) curtain wall as a form of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), possess functions such as power generation, thermal insulation, and shading. However, comprehensive studies on the performance of PV curtain wall under different operating modes are limited, hindering their ability to guide the design and application of practical BIPV projects. This study established numerical models for the thermal and electrical performance of a non-transparent PV curtain wall under various operating modes. Testing and validation were conducted using experimental setups in the Beijing, combining experimental and simulation analyses to evaluate the thermal and electrical performance of the PV curtain wall and its impact on building heating and cooling loads. The results indicate that PV curtain wall provides superior thermal insulation and shading performance compared to conventional wall. The impact of operating modes on power generation performance is less significant than on thermal performance. From a comprehensive performance perspective, it is recommended to use the external circulation mode in summer and the internal circulation mode in winter for PV curtain wall in Beijing. The average thermal efficiency during the heating season is 8.11 %, while the average power generation efficiency during both the heating and cooling seasons is approximately 8.41 %. The PV curtain wall has a service life of over 25 years, with an incremental cost of 928.3 CNY/m2 and a Simple Payback (SPB) of 11.5 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Cao, Ye & Feng, Guohui & Li, Chenqi & Gao, Hexuan, 2025. "Experimental and numerical study on thermal and electrical performance of non-transparent photovoltaic curtain wall," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 341(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:341:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225048625
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139220
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