scholarly journals The Effect of Climate on the Solar Radiation Components on Building Skins and Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Materials

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1847
Author(s):  
Hassan Gholami ◽  
Harald Nils Røstvik
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Diffuse Radiation ◽  
Incident Radiation ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Ir Radiation ◽  
Building Integrated Photovoltaics ◽  
Envelope Material ◽  
Stable Performance ◽  
The Impact

The business model of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is developing expeditiously and BIPV will soon be recognised as a building envelope material for the entire building skins, among other alternatives such as brick, wood, stone, metals, etc. This paper investigates the effect of climate on the solar radiation components on building skins and BIPV materials in the northern hemisphere. The selected cities are Stavanger in Norway, Bern in Switzerland, Rome in Italy, and Dubai in the UAE. The study showed that for all the studied climates, the average incident radiation on the entire building skins is slightly more than the average incident radiation on the east or west facades, regardless of the orientations of the building facades. Furthermore, the correlation between solar radiation components and different BIPV technologies is discussed in this paper. It is also found that when it comes to the efficiency of different BIPV cells, the impact of the climate on some of the BIPV technologies (such as DSC and OSC) is much more significant than others (such as c-Si, mc-Si and CIGS). The evidence from this study suggests that in climates with higher diffuse radiation-or with more overcast days per year-the contribution of IR radiation decreases. Therefore, the efficiency of BIPV materials that their spectral responses are dependent on the IR radiation (like Si and CIGS) in such a climate would drop down meaningfully. On the other hand, the DSC and OSC solar cells could be a good option for cloudy climates since they have more stable performance, even in such a climate. Although, their efficiency compared to other BIPV materials such as Si-based BIPV solar cells is still significantly less thus far.

View Factors of Flat Solar Collectors Array in Flat, Inclined, and Step-Like Solar Fields

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nassar Yasser Fathi ◽  
Alsadi Samer
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Diffuse Radiation ◽  
Dynamic Parameter ◽  
Incident Radiation ◽  
Appreciable Amount ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
View Factor ◽  
Solar Radiation Incident ◽  
View Factors ◽  
Reflecting Surfaces

Solar radiation consists of direct beam, sky diffuse, and reflected radiations from the ground and adjacent surfaces. The amount of diffuse radiation falling on solar collector depends on the view factor of the collector to sky. The reflected radiation striking the collector's surface depends on the reflectivity of the surface, as well as on view factors and the amount of solar radiation reaching the reflecting surfaces. The amount of reflected radiation coming from the ground can be of an appreciable amount, and can be amplified using special reflector surfaces. This study develops general analytical expressions for the sky's view factors as well as factors related to the ground and those between collectors for the deployment of collectors in multiple rows, in three types of solar fields: flat, inclined, and steplike solar fields. All parameters presented in these expressions are measurable (edge-to-edge dimension). The effects of the design parameters such as the tilt of the angle of the collector, the distance between the collectors, the height of the collector, the position of the collector above the ground (as in the case of step-like field), and the inclination of the land of the field (as in the case of an inclined field) on the view factors are numerically demonstrated. The current study also specifies new terms such as the sunny zone and the shadow zone; these zones control the amount of solar radiation reflected onto the collector. As a result, the ground-view factor that depends on the altitude of the solar angle is considered to be a dynamic parameter. The results obtained may be used to estimate the solar radiation incident on all types of solar fields, with the possibility of increasing the incident radiation on a collector by using planar reflectors.

Impact of Thermal Hazards on Process Buildings Using CFD Techniques

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anay Raibagkar ◽  
Matthew Edel
Keyword(s):  
Incident Radiation ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Thermal Loads ◽  
Thermal Impact ◽  
Fire Dynamics ◽  
Thermal Hazards ◽  
Exterior Surface ◽  
Building Insulation ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
The Impact

The impact of thermal hazards on process buildings is an important component of site hazard evaluations. API RP-752 recommends that process facilities analyze thermal hazards and assess their impact to onsite buildings and their occupants. Thermal loads resulting from fires in process units and equipment can have a significant impact on buildings, especially if the building is close to the fire source. Some buildings may be designed for blast and toxic protection, which allows the buildings to be located near process units and equipment, but possibly exposed to thermal hazards from a potential fire. Screening-level thermal models typically used in process safety applications cannot account for detailed building geometries and how they may affect thermal impact from fire on building occupants. A more robust approach using the Fire Dynamics Simulator Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code has been used in this study to assess the impact of thermal hazards on a target building located downstream of a jet fire. Temperature and radiation increases inside the building due to the thermal loads at the building exterior surface were calculated. The results indicate that buildings can provide protection to occupants depending on exposure time and building/insulation design. The results clearly show that a detailed CFD model can be effectively used to assess the thermal impact of incident radiation on buildings and to assist designers with determining requirements for the building envelope to provide protection to building occupants.

scholarly journals Annual evolution of global, direct and diffuse radiation and fractions in tilted surfaces

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-260
Author(s):  
Adilson P. de Souza ◽  
João F. Escobedo ◽  
Alexandre Dal Pai ◽  
Eduardo N. Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Diffuse Radiation ◽  
Incident Radiation ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
Horizontal Surface ◽  
Direct Radiation ◽  
Incident Solar Radiation ◽  
Cover Ratio ◽  
Atmospheric Transmissivity

It was evaluated the annual evolution of global, direct and diffuse components of incident solar radiation on tilted surfaces to 12.85, 22.85 and 32.85º, facing north, in Botucatu, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The radiometric fractions were obtained for each component of the radiation in the aforementioned surfaces, through the ratio with the global and top of the atmosphere radiations. Seasonality was evaluated based on monthly averages of daily values. The measures occurred between 04/1998 and 07/2001 at 22.85º; 08/2001 and 02/2003 at 12.85º; and from 03/2003 to 12/2007 at 32.85º, with concomitant measures in the horizontal surface (reference). The levels of global and direct radiation on tilted surfaces were lower in summer and higher in the equinoxes when compared with the horizontal. The diffuse radiation on tilted surfaces was lower in most months, with losses of up to 65%. A trend of increasing differences occurred between horizontal and tilted surfaces with the increase of the angle in all the components and fractions of incident radiation. The annual evolution of rainfall and cloud cover ratio directly affected the atmospheric transmissivity of direct and diffuse components in the region.

scholarly journals Global radiation, photosynthetically active radiation, and the diffuse components dataset of China, 1981–2010

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Ren ◽  
Honglin He ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Guirui Yu
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Photosynthetically Active Radiation ◽  
Global Radiation ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Diffuse Radiation ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Ecosystem Productivity ◽  
Ecosystem Models ◽  
Active Radiation ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Solar radiation, especially photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), is the main energy source of plant photosynthesis; and the diffuse component can enhance canopy light use efficiency, thus increasing ecosystem productivity. In order to predict the terrestrial ecosystem productivity precisely, we not only need global radiation and PAR as driving variables, but also need to treat diffuse radiation and diffuse PAR explicitly in ecosystem models. Therefore, we generated a series of radiation datasets, including global radiation, diffuse radiation, PAR, and diffuse PAR of China from 1981 to 2010, based on the observations of China Meteorology Administration (CMA) and Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN). The dataset should be useful for the analysis of the spatio-temporal variations of solar radiation in China and the impact of diffuse radiation on terrestrial ecosystem productivity based on ecosystem models. The dataset is freely available from the Zenodo at the website of https://zenodo.org/record/1198894 (DOI: 10.11922/sciencedb.555).

scholarly journals Long-term variations in solar radiation, diffuse radiation, and diffuse radiation fraction caused by aerosols in China during 1961–2016

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0250376
Author(s):  
Hongfei Xie ◽  
Junfang Zhao ◽  
Kaili Wang ◽  
Huiwen Peng
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Atmospheric Aerosols ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Diffuse Radiation ◽  
Total Solar Radiation ◽  
Total Radiation ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Sunshine Hours ◽  
The Impact

The effects of atmospheric aerosols on the terrestrial climate system are more regional than those of greenhouse gases, which are more global. Thus, it is necessary to examine the typical regional effects of how aerosols affect solar radiation in order to develop a more comprehensive understanding. In this study, we used global AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) data and robust radiation observational evidence to investigate the impact of aerosols on total radiation, diffuse radiation, and the diffuse radiation fraction in China from 1961 to 2016. Our results showed that there were different temporal changes in the aerosol optical depth (AOD), total solar radiation, diffuse radiation and diffuse radiation fraction over the past 56 years. Specifically, the 550 nm AOD from 2005 to 2016 decreased significantly, with annual average AOD of 0.51. Meanwhile, the average total solar radiation reduced by 2.48%, while there was a slight increase in average diffuse radiation at a rate of 3.10 MJ·m-2·yr-1. Moreover, the spatial heterogeneities of AOD, total radiation, diffuse radiation, and the diffuse radiation fraction in China were significant. Aerosol particle emissions in the developed eastern and southern regions of China were more severe than those in the western regions, resulting in higher total radiation and diffuse radiation in the western plateau than in the eastern plain. In addition, aerosols were found to have negative effects on total radiation and sunshine hours, and positive effects on diffuse radiation and diffuse radiation fraction. Further, the diffuse radiation fraction was negatively correlated with sunshine hours. However, there was a positive correlation between AOD and sunshine hours. These results could be used to assess the impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecosystem productivity and carbon budgets.

scholarly journals Treatment of Data and GIS Implementation of Solar Radiation and Temperature Maps: Example in South-East of Spain

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
F. Vera-García ◽  
J. R. García-Cascales ◽  
Z. Hernández-Guillén ◽  
J. P. Delgado-Marín
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Horizontal Plane ◽  
Theoretical Data ◽  
Diffuse Radiation ◽  
Incident Radiation ◽  
Technical Program ◽  
Available Energy ◽  
Inclined Surfaces ◽  
Weather Stations

This paper presents the maps of solar radiation on the surface of south-east region of Spain named Región de Murcia. These maps are the result of treatment, study, and correlations obtained by data of 35 weather stations distributed throughout the region. These stations have collected data for 6 to more than 25 years. The paper presents the work performed for the treatment of collected data, the correlations used for the adjustment of the data, and the parameters obtained as a result of this adjustment. The weather stations are equipped with various sensors to collect several parameters, the measures covered and used for the study were global and diffuse radiation (in case that the station has pyranometer diffuse) and ambient temperature. The results were used to produce maps of horizontal radiation (global and diffuse) and ambient temperature at the surface of the region studied. To achieve the irradiation maps for this extended region has been used “r.sun” program, technical program that with the help of GRASS program uses geographic information systems (GISs) to evaluate the influence of geographical variables captured on horizontal plane at the surface. Using the results of the program for theoretical data and/or generic, and with the feedback obtained by the correlations of measures covered from weather stations, we have studied the incident radiation on the region. The main result of this study was to produce maps of irradiation on horizontal plane, correction for inclined surfaces, and also maps of temperature of the studied region. On this basis, results have been produced maps and tables of monthly solar radiation (mean maximum and minimum) for each of the 45 municipalities of the Region of Murcia. Thus, was obtained a useful tool for the calculation of available energy and thermal needs at the design process of plants using solar thermal and photovoltaic.

Measurement and Calculation of Luminous Characteristics of Photovoltaic Glazing Samples

2016 ◽  
Vol 824 ◽  
pp. 724-731
Author(s):  
Paulína Šujanová ◽  
Jozef Hraška
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Visual Comfort ◽  
Combined Approach ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Building Integrated Photovoltaic

Photovoltaic glazing is a relatively novel type of glazing material, suitable for application in nearly-zero energy buildings. As a special type of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV), it generates energy from solar radiation and ensures the performance characteristics of building envelope. This paper presents a combined approach of evaluation of luminous characteristics of glazing based on photopic and circadian action spectra. Measurements were performed on 6 photovoltaic glazing samples with amorphous silicon solar cells. The samples differ in type of spacing and rear glazing colour. The results have shown that PV glazing with coloured glazing should be used with caution, especially in rooms with high daylighting requirements. Obtained results can be used during designing process to evaluate impact of PV glazing on visual comfort.

scholarly journals Analysis of the impact of a flexible photovoltaic tile shape on its performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 00085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Kurz ◽  
Lena Morawska ◽  
Robert Piechota ◽  
Grzegorz Trzmiel
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Output Power ◽  
Inclination Angle ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
The Body ◽  
Building Integrated Photovoltaics ◽  
Base Measurement ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Power Curves

This paper addresses the subject of the building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). The flexible thin-film CIGS module has been subjected to testing in order to investigate its electrical parameters and the possibilities of adaptation to the building structure. During analysis of performance of the tested building in real conditions, particular attention has been paid to changes in its parameters depending on the inclination angle and the shape of its surface in relation to the incident solar radiation. Current-voltage characteristics and power curves in the selected configuration of module deflections have been analysed. Changing the module’s inclination angle from the optimal 40° to 0° (horizontal arrangement of the module on the ground) reduced the value of generated current (by approx. 26%), voltage increase (by approx. 4%) and output power reduction by approx. 25%. The module generated a lower power compared to the basic test due to the irradiation limit reaching its surface (decrease in the irradiance value of less than 60% from 800 to 330 W/m2). Bending the module at an angle 90° to the ground affected the large unevenness of solar radiation values reaching its surface and even greater losses of generated energy. The values of idle voltage, short-circuit current and voltage in MPP did not change much in relation to the base measurement, however, a large drop in the value of current in MPP was noted, which led to a significant reduction of output power. Thus, the need to strive for the most advantageous exposure of BIPV elements in relation to the sun was demonstrated and the losses on energy yields resulting from the integration of photovoltaic tiles into the body of the building have been estimated.

scholarly journals Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) in Europe, Rational Feed-In Tariffs and Subsidies

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2531
Author(s):  
Hassan Gholami ◽  
Harald Nils Røstvik
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Selling Price ◽  
Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Building Integrated Photovoltaics ◽  
Generation Cost ◽  
Envelope Material ◽  
The Cost

Building integrated photovoltaics is one of the key technologies when it comes to electricity generation in buildings, districts or urban areas. However, the potential of building façades for the BIPV system, especially in urban areas, is often neglected. Façade-mounted building integrated photovoltaics could contribute to supply the energy demand of buildings in dense urban areas with economic feasibility where the availability of suitable rooftop areas is low. This paper deals with the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) of building integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV) in the capitals of all the European member state countries plus Norway and Switzerland and presents a metric to investigate a proper subsidy or incentive for BIPV systems. The results showed that the average LCOE of the BIPV system as a building envelope material for the entire outer skin of buildings in Europe is equal to 0.09 Euro per kWh if its role as the power generator is considered in the economic calculations. This value will be 0.15 Euro per kWh if the cost corresponding to its double function in the building is taken into the economic analysis (while the average electricity price is 0.18 Euro per kWh). The results indicate that the BIPV generation cost in most case studies has already reached grid parity. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that on average in Europe, the BIPV system does not need a feed-in tariff if the selling price to the grid is equal to the purchasing price from the grid. Various incentive plans based on the buying/selling price of electricity from/to the main grid together with LCOE of the BIPV systems is also investigated.

scholarly journals Modeling the radiative effects of biomass burning aerosols on carbon fluxes in the Amazon region

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 14785-14810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demerval S. Moreira ◽  
Karla M. Longo ◽  
Saulo R. Freitas ◽  
Marcia A. Yamasoe ◽  
Lina M. Mercado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
South America ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Radiation Effect ◽  
Diffuse Radiation ◽  
Amazon Region ◽  
Co2 Fluxes ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Effects ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Every year, a dense smoke haze covers a large portion of South America originating from fires in the Amazon Basin and central parts of Brazil during the dry biomass burning season between August and October. Over a large portion of South America, the average aerosol optical depth at 550 nm exceeds 1.0 during the fire season, while the background value during the rainy season is below 0.2. Biomass burning aerosol particles increase scattering and absorption of the incident solar radiation. The regional-scale aerosol layer reduces the amount of solar energy reaching the surface, cools the near-surface air, and increases the diffuse radiation fraction over a large disturbed area of the Amazon rainforest. These factors affect the energy and CO2 fluxes at the surface. In this work, we applied a fully integrated atmospheric model to assess the impact of biomass burning aerosols in CO2 fluxes in the Amazon region during 2010. We address the effects of the attenuation of global solar radiation and the enhancement of the diffuse solar radiation flux inside the vegetation canopy. Our results indicate that biomass burning aerosols led to increases of about 27 % in the gross primary productivity of Amazonia and 10 % in plant respiration as well as a decline in soil respiration of 3 %. Consequently, in our model Amazonia became a net carbon sink; net ecosystem exchange during September 2010 dropped from +101 to −104 TgC when the aerosol effects are considered, mainly due to the aerosol diffuse radiation effect. For the forest biome, our results point to a dominance of the diffuse radiation effect on CO2 fluxes, reaching a balance of 50–50 % between the diffuse and direct aerosol effects for high aerosol loads. For C3 grasses and savanna (cerrado), as expected, the contribution of the diffuse radiation effect is much lower, tending to zero with the increase in aerosol load. Taking all biomes together, our model shows the Amazon during the dry season, in the presence of high biomass burning aerosol loads, changing from being a source to being a sink of CO2 to the atmosphere.

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