Experimental study on the thermal influence of photovoltaic modules applied on façades in Curitiba, PR

Abstract

The Brazilian energy matrix is predominantly renewable due to the abundance of water resources and seeks diversification in response to growing demands and environmental, social, economic, and technological considerations. Photovoltaic solar energy emerges as a clean alternative with unlimited availability. The global trend of integrating multiple functions into photovoltaic modules, known as BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics), is gaining prominence especially when combined with thermal exchanges, forming BIPV/T. In this article, with the aim of revealing the thermal interferences of photovoltaic modules on façades, an experiment is conducted using a control cell and a test cell. The experiment includes comparative analyses of air temperatures between cells with and without Polycrystalline Silicon photovoltaic modules applied to the radiation-receiving face. It was concluded that, under the conditions of the experiment, without openings to allow air circulation between the back of the photovoltaic module and the interior of the test cell, the application of the photovoltaic module can minimize immediate heating during summer. In winter, despite its potential for heating, without ventilation mentioned and the low thermal inertia of the conventional masonry wall did not allow this potential to be utilized.