Building integrated photovoltaic modules and the integration of phase change materials for equatorial applications

The performance of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system depends on the geographical location and the incident angle of solar radiation. In this paper, a simple mathematical model has been developed to predict the performance of BIPV modules with and without phase change material (PCM). The effect of transmittance of the BIPV glass cover is studied with respect to incident solar radiation. The performance curves, annual energy and exergy gains are analysed for hot and humid climatic conditions of Kovilpatti (9°10′0′′N, 77°52′0′′E), Tamil Nadu, India. The annual electrical energy gains of the BIPV-PCM for the south orientation is (135 kWh) and the east orientation (110 kWh) obtained the minimum. Similarly, the annual electrical energy of the BIPV-PCM is maximum in the east orientation and minimum in the west orientation. The south orientation BIPV-PCM obtained the maximum energy (190 kWh) and exergy (27.3 kWh). The theoretically calculated results have good agreement with experimental results. Practical application: Integration of photovoltaic modules into the building structure has many benefits and challenges; before integrating into the building structure, the performance and impact of the BIPV module needs to be studied. This study will assist developers and designers to understand the likely performance of the BIPV modules and assess the benefit of integrated phase change materials for application in residential buildings in equatorial climate zones.