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Investigation of the Energy Performance of a Novel Modular Solar Building Envelope

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  • Gang Ren

    (School of Architecture, Heilongjiang Cold Climate Architectural Science Key Laboratory, Harbin Institute of Technology, 66 Xidazhi Street, Harbin 150001, China)

  • Xudong Zhao

    (School of Architecture, Heilongjiang Cold Climate Architectural Science Key Laboratory, Harbin Institute of Technology, 66 Xidazhi Street, Harbin 150001, China
    School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hull, Hull HU178XH, UK)

  • Changhong Zhan

    (School of Architecture, Heilongjiang Cold Climate Architectural Science Key Laboratory, Harbin Institute of Technology, 66 Xidazhi Street, Harbin 150001, China)

  • Hong Jin

    (School of Architecture, Heilongjiang Cold Climate Architectural Science Key Laboratory, Harbin Institute of Technology, 66 Xidazhi Street, Harbin 150001, China)

  • Aishen Zhou

    (Heilongjiang Environmental Monitoring Center Station, Harbin 150056, China)

Abstract

The major challenges for the integration of solar collecting devices into a building envelope are related to the poor aesthetic view of the appearance of buildings in addition to the low efficiency in collection, transportation, and utilization of the solar thermal and electrical energy. To tackle these challenges, a novel design for the integration of solar collecting elements into the building envelope was proposed and discussed. This involves the dedicated modular and multiple-layer combination of the building shielding, insulation, and solar collecting elements. On the basis of the proposed modular structure, the energy performance of the solar envelope was investigated by using the Energy-Plus software. It was found that the solar thermal efficiency of the modular envelope is in the range of 41.78–59.47%, while its electrical efficiency is around 3.51% higher than the envelopes having photovoltaic (PV) alone. The modular solar envelope can increase thermal efficiency by around 8.49% and the electrical efficiency by around 0.31%, compared to the traditional solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) envelopes. Thus, we have created a new envelope solution with enhanced solar efficiency and an improved aesthetic view of the entire building.

Suggested Citation

  • Gang Ren & Xudong Zhao & Changhong Zhan & Hong Jin & Aishen Zhou, 2017. "Investigation of the Energy Performance of a Novel Modular Solar Building Envelope," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:7:p:880-:d:103166
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Shukla, Ruchi & Sumathy, K. & Erickson, Phillip & Gong, Jiawei, 2013. "Recent advances in the solar water heating systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 173-190.
    3. Clarke, J.A. & Hand, J.W. & Johnstone, C.M. & Kelly, N. & Strachan, P.A., 1996. "Photovoltaic-integrated building facades," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 475-479.
    4. Kalogirou, Soteris, 1996. "Economic analysis of solar energy systems using spreadsheets," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 1303-1307.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Guoqiang Xu & Hong Jin & Jian Kang, 2019. "Experimental Study on the Indoor Thermo-Hygrometric Conditionsof the Mongolian Yurt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, January.
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