Modular Rooftop Building-Integrated Photovoltaic/Thermal Systems for Low-Rise Buildings in India
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the utilization of the abundant solar resources available in India to provide energy for low-rise mixed use buildings in the city of Chennai. To accomplish this, a modular rooftop building-integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPV/T) system is designed, developed and modeled for an archetypical mixed-use building. The BIPV/T system incorporates the production of electricity and useful heat, while considering the building envelope requirements for roof as well as façade applications. These systems can be alternatives to traditional cladding, while retrofitting with BIPV/T can turn unused or semi-conditioned spaces into fully enclosed conditioned spaces. For a roof coverage of 180 m2 and average summer day conditions in Chennai, a typical system with an efficiency of 15% would have an electrical output of approximately 150 kWh and a thermal output of approximately 230 kWh, which can be used for heating through a heat pump, directly, or for cooling through a thermally driven cooling system. For a climate such as the one in India, a BIPV/T application can utilize heat driven technologies such as absorption cooling systems.