Academic literature on the topic 'Semitransparent PV'

In this paper, an attempt of performance evaluation of semitransparent and opaque photovoltaic (PV) modules of different generation solar cells, having the maximum efficiencies reported in the literature at standard test conditions (STC), has been carried out particularly for the months of January and June. The outdoor performance is also evaluated for the commercially available semitransparent and opaque PV modules. Annual electrical energy, capitalized cost, annualized uniform cost (unacost), and cost per unit electrical energy for both types of solar modules, namely, semitransparent and opaque have also been computed along with their characteristics curves. Semitransparent PV modules have shown higher efficiencies compared to the opaque ones. Calculations show that for the PV modules made in laboratory, CdTe exhibits the maximum annual electrical energy generation resulting into minimum cost per unit electrical energy, whereas a-Si/nc-Si possesses the maximum annual electrical energy generation giving minimum cost per unit electrical energy when commercially available solar modules are concerned. CIGS has shown the lowest capitalized cost over all other PV technologies.

The exergoeconomic and enviroeconomic analysis of semitransparent and opaque photovoltaic (PV) modules based on different kinds of solar cells are presented. Annual electricity and net present values have also been computed for the composite climatic conditions of New Delhi, India. Irrespective of the solar cell type, the semitransparent PV modules have shown higher net energy loss rate (Len) and net exergy loss rate (Lex) compared to the opaque ones. Among all types of solar modules, the one based on c-Si, exhibited the minimum Len and Lex. Compared to the opaque ones, the semitransparent PV modules have shown higher CO2 reduction giving higher environmental cost reduction per annum and the highest environmental cost reduction per annum was found for a-Si PV module.

Different from the semitransparent building integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPV/T) system with air cooling, the semitransparent BIPV/T system with water cooling is rare, especially based on the silicon solar cells. In this paper, a semitransparent photovoltaic/thermal system (SPV/T) with water cooling was set up, which not only would provide the electrical power and hot water, but also could attain the natural illumination for the building. The PV efficiency, thermal efficiency, and exergy analysis were all adopted to illustrate the performance of SPV/T system. The results showed that the PV efficiency and the thermal efficiency were about 11.5% and 39.5%, respectively, on the typical sunny day. Furthermore, the PV and thermal efficiencies fit curves were made to demonstrate the SPV/T performance more comprehensively. The performance analysis indicated that the SPV/T system has a good application prospect for building.

Currently, standard semitransparent photovoltaic (PV) modules can largely replace architectural glass installed in the windows, skylights, and facade of a building. Their main features are power generation and transparency, as well as possessing a heat insulating effect. Through heat insulation solar glass (HISG) encapsulation technology, this study improved the structure of a typical semitransparent PV module and explored the use of three types of high-reflectivity heat insulation films to form the HISG building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) systems. Subsequently, the authors analyzed the influence of HISG structures on the optical, thermal, and power generation performance of the original semitransparent PV module and the degree to which enhanced performance is possible. The experimental results indicated that the heat insulation performance and power generation of HISGs were both improved. Selecting an appropriate heat insulation film so that a larger amount of reflective solar radiation is absorbed by the back side of the HISG can yield greater enhancement of power generation. The numerical results conducted in this study also indicated that HISG BIPV system not only provides the passive energy needed for power loading in a building, but also decreases the energy consumption of the HVAC system in subtropical and temperate regions.

An analysis of BIPVT system has been carried out in this paper based on arrays named as solar cell tile array and semi-transparent array. Previously comparisons and performance analysis were carried out for opaque and semitransparent system in non-optimized way but in the present case it has been optimized to get better results. As far as energy efficiency and exergy is concerned semitransparent PVT has an edge as compared to others in all respect. Semitransparent PVT has higher useful energy gain by 2.5 KWH as compared to SCT. Further the electrical and thermal efficiency has been derived and a conclusion has been made that semitransparent PV cell has an edge in all respects as compared to SCT. The electrical efficiency has been increased to 17.17% from the previous 16% and overall exergy to 18.4% from previous 17.1%. i.e. an overall growth of 6.8% and 7.6% respectively.

Buildings consume considerable amount of energy to maintain comfortable interior. By allowing daylight, visual comfort inside a building is possible which can enhance the occupant’s health, mood and cognitive performance. However, traditional highly transparent windows should be replaced with semitransparent type window to attain a comfortable daylight inside a building. Evaluation of visual comfort includes both daylight glare and colour comfort analysis. Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) type windows are promising systems and can possess a range of semitransparent levels depending on the type of PV used. In this work, the semitransparent Perovskite BIPV windows was investigated by employing daylight glare analysis for an office building located in Riyadh, KSA and three wavelength dependent transmission spectra for colour comfort analysis. The results showed that the transmissions range between 50–70% was optimum for the comfortable daylight for south facing vertical pane BPV-windows. However, excellent colour comfort was attained for the transmission range of 90% which provided glare issues. Colour comfort for 20% transparent Perovskite was compared with contemporary other type of PV which clearly indicated that wavelength dependent transmittance is stronger over single value transmittance.

A solution to the problem of reduction of available photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) due to the cover with conventional opaque photovoltaics (PV) of greenhouses is the use of semitransparent PV. The question is how dense the semitransparent PV should be and how dense the coverage should be in order not to burden plant growth. The present paper assesses the effect of the use of semitransparent organic photovoltaics (OPV) on the greenhouse roof cover on the available PAR inside the greenhouse. The method used is to simulate the transmission of radiation through the cover and into the greenhouse with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) using the discrete ordinates (DO) model. Three combinations of OPV/cover that give a normal (perpendicular) transmittance to PAR of 30%, 45%, and 60%, defining the required PV covering, were examined. Then the radiation transmission during eight indicative solar days was simulated. The results are given in terms of available PAR radiation inside the greenhouse and of crop photosynthesis rate, comparing them with the results of a polyethylene cover without OPVs and external conditions. The reduction observed to the mean daily PAR radiation integral for the cases with normal PAR transmittance of 30%, 45%, and 60% in relation to the bare polyethylene (PE) was 77%, 66%, and 52%, respectively while the respective simulated reduction to the daily average photosynthesis rate was 33%, 21%, and 12%, respectively. Finally, the yearly power production from the OPV per greenhouse length meter for the cases with normal PAR transmittance of 30%, 45%, and 60% was 323, 242, and 158 kWh m−1 y−1, respectively. The results of this work could be further used for the optimization of greenhouse design for maximizing the PAR at the crop level.

The integration of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy in zero-energy buildings requires durable and efficient solar windows composed of lightweight and semitransparent thin film solar cells. Inorganic materials with a high optical absorption coefficient, such as Sb2S3 (>105 cm−1 at 450 nm), offer semitransparency, appreciable efficiency, and long-term durability at low cost. Oxide-free throughout the Sb2S3 layer thickness, as confirmed by combined studies of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and synchrotron soft X-ray emission spectroscopy, semitransparent Sb2S3 thin films can be rapidly grown in air by the area-scalable ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method. Integrated into a ITO/TiO2/Sb2S3/P3HT/Au solar cell, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.5% at air mass 1.5 global (AM1.5G) is achieved, which is a record among spray-deposited Sb2S3 solar cells. An average visible transparency (AVT) of 26% of the back-contact-less ITO/TiO2/Sb2S3 solar cell stack in the wavelength range of 380–740 nm is attained by tuning the Sb2S3 absorber thickness to 100 nm. In scale-up from mm2 to cm2 areas, the Sb2S3 hybrid solar cells show a decrease in efficiency of only 3.2% for an 88 mm2 Sb2S3 solar cell, which retains 70% relative efficiency after one year of non-encapsulated storage. A cell with a PCE of 3.9% at 1 sun shows a PCE of 7.4% at 0.1 sun, attesting to the applicability of these solar cells for light harvesting under cloud cover.

Els sistemes integrats Fotovoltaics (FV) de doble pell, són components de l'edifici que combinen les funcions d'envolvent, amb les d'il·luminació natural, generació d'electricitat i generació d'energia tèrmica. La modelització dels processos de transferència d'energia d'aquests components, especialment en situacions de convecció natural, planteja una alta complexitat i és un dels inconvenients principals per a una disseminació massiva d'aquesta tecnologia. En les últimes dècades s'han dut a terme diferents intents per a superar aquest inconvenient i s'han desenvolupat diferents models de simulació. No obstant això, molt pocs estudis s'han enfrontat a una anàlisi detallat del rang de validesa d'aquestes correlacions i models i tampoc de les limitacions inherents en la seva definició. El segon inconvenient per a una àmplia propagació d'aquests components FV complexos, està relacionat amb la dificultat per a dur a terme campanyes experimentals de mesura del seu comportament energètic en condicions reals. A més dels mencionats inconvenients, s'hi afegeix una gran manca de coneixement per a la cal·libració dels models de simulació de components FV ventilats. Aquesta tesi doctoral aborda aquests inconvenients i introdueix una metodologia general per a la caracterització energètica i la validació experimental dels components FV ventilats. Aquesta investigació també contribueix a augmentar el coneixement sobre mètodes per a integrar el desenvolupament de models de simulació dinàmica, amb enfocaments innovadors per a la seva cal·libració.
Los sistemas integrados Fotovoltaicos (FV) de doble piel, son components del edificio que combinan las funciones de envolvente, con las de illuminación natural, generación eléctrica y generación de energía térmica. La modelización de los procesos de transferència de energía de estos components, especialmente en situaciones de convección natural, plantea una alta complejidad y es uno de los inconvenientes principales para una diseminación masiva de esta tecnología. En las últimas décadas, se han llevado a cabo diferentes intentos para a superar este inconveniente y se han desarrollado diferentes modelos de simulación para evaluar la eficiéncia energética global de estos sistemas. Sin embargo, muy pocos estudios se han enfrentado al análisis detallado del rango de validez de estas correlaciones y modelos y tampoco de las limitaciones inherentes en su definición. El segundo inconvenient para una amplia propagación de estos components FV complejos, está relacionado con la dificultad para llevar a cabo campañas experimentales de medida de su comportamento energético en condiciones reales. Además de estos inconvenientes, se constata una carencia significativa de conocimiento sobre métodos para la calibración de los modelos de simulación de componentes FV ventilados . Esta tesis doctoral aborda todos estos inconvenientes mencionados anteriormente e introduce una metodología general para la caracterización energética y la validación experimental de los componentes FV ventilados. Esta investigación también contribuye a aumentar el conocimiento sobre métodos para integrar el desarrollo de modelos de simulación dinámica, con estrategias innovadoras para su calibración.
Double skin semi transparent components with Photovoltaic integrated systems are building components which combine functions of the building envelope with natural lighting, electricity and thermal energy generation. The energy transfer modeling of these components, especially under free convection situations, raises a high complexity and is the first main drawback for a massive dissemination of this technology. Many attempts to fill this gap have been undertaken and some dynamic simulation models of these components have been obtained in the last decades. However, very few studies have faced a detailed analysis of the valid range of these mathematical expressions and simulation models and of the restrictions entailed. The second drawback for a wide spread of these complex PV components is related to the difficulty in setting up monitoring and experimental campaigns to measure their real energy performance with sufficient accuracy and precision. Besides these drawbacks, there is also a lack of knowledge on methods for calibrating building energy simulation models in general, and specifically in the calibration of dynamic models of ventilated PV components. This PhD thesis addresses these existing drawbacks and introduces an overall methodology for the energy characterization and experimental validation of ventilated PV components. This research also contributes in increasing the knowledge on methods for coupling the mathematical development of dynamic simulation models with innovative approaches for its calibration with experimental measures.

In this paper a detailed description of a modeling method for the heating cycle of a thin film Photovoltaic (PV) cell during Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) is presented. The paper explores the challenges of numerically simulating the heating of the PV during RTP and proposes a comprehensive solution for solving these problems. In the proposed method, the thermal model is based on the Component Interaction Network (CIN) approach, while radiation is calculated by a zonal method based on the flux planes approximation and the Thin Layer Approximation (TLA) adapted for semitransparent sheets with small thickness. Various simulations using the model are performed and compared with experimental results. The comparisons demonstrate the efficiency of the modeling approach developed for PV cells in RTP chambers.