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Assessment of active double skin facade integrated with PV cell

Conference Paper · January 2015

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Assessment of Active Double Skin Façade
Integrated With PV Cell

Hagar Elarga, Michele De Carli, Angelo Zarrella, Mohamed Abo Elazm, Constantina Alvarez

ABSTRACT

Integration of semitransparent PV cell inside air cavity of the Double Skin Façade (DSF) buildings can be considered a good ecological
solution but the high temperature during the summer period may raise the air temperature in the cavity and reduce the PV cell energy efficiency.
Numerical simulation of different DSF configurations is presented to evaluate thermal performance of inner glass , air inside the cavity and the
effects on PV cell energy efficiency after cooling the gap by the ventilation air flow rate supplied to the conditioned zone, for the purpose of Indoor
Air Quality (IAQ). This work focused the attention on validation of the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical model and analyzed
different strategies of DSF air ventilation. A comparison has been carried out to evaluate the best technique in air circulation and the lowest
temperature distribution attained on both the PV cell surface and the inner glass at Cairo-Egypt in summer maximum design conditions as well
as on the average cooling season time scale. Energy efficiency of PV cell has been calculated for each configuration in order to illustrate the
improvement in cell energy conversion performance.

INTRODUCTION
Using of Double Skin Façade (DSF) became a very demanding trend in most kind of buildings, since it provides
natural light, creates a connection between indoor inhabitants and the external environment without getting affected by
harsh weather conditions. An example of high rise DSF building built in Abu Dhabi - U.A.E. is shown in Figure 1.a.
Zollner et al. (2002) mentioned that in mechanically ventilated DSF systems, because of relatively high air flow speeds in
comparison with naturally ventilated systems, the use of turbulent models in CFD numerical simulations is usually justified
over the laminar models. Stec et al.(2004) have mentioned that HVAC systems can be used in a three ways in a double skin
façade office building: Full HVAC system (the double skin façade is not a part of the HVAC) which can result in high
energy use; Limited HVAC system (the double façade contributes partly to the HVAC system), in this way the Double
Façade can play the role of pre-heater for the ventilation air, and pre-cooler (mostly for night cooling); No HVAC, the
Double Facade fulfills all the requirements of an HVAC system. Corgnati et al.(2007) have mentioned that during the hot
season the exhaust air flowing inside the air gap removes part of the heat loads (solar and transmission loads) through the
facade, thus reducing the heat gains in the indoor environment. Due to the cooling action of the air flow, the surface
temperature of the indoor facing glass panes is reduced compared to a non-ventilated transparent surface, which leads to a
better local thermal comfort. Saelens et al. (2008) have applied different strategies on four typologies of multiple skin façade
to optimize energy efficiency, such as controlling the cavity ventilating air flow rate and applying heat recovery on the air
returning from the cavity which has shown that it is the most useful strategy to lowering heating demands. However it is
possible to integrate PV cells in the DSF (Han et al., 2009). Nemati (2010) have presented a numerical and experimental
study on the thermal behavior of combined multiple skin façade integrated with photovoltaic (PV) cells combined with
shading system, panes venetian blinds, under mechanical ventilation to attain thermal energy in the form of preheated fresh
H. Elarga is PhD student at Industrial Engineering Department, Padua University, Italy. M. De Carli is PhD assistant professor at Industrial
Engineering Department, Padua University, Italy. A. Zarrella is PhD researcher at Industrial Engineering Department, Padua University, Italy.
M. Abo Elazm is PhD assistant professor at the Mechanical Engineering Department, Arab Academy For Science And Technology, Egypt. C.
Alavarez is PhD professor in Communication Engineering Department in Oviedo University, Spain.
air and produce electricity. Operating surface temperature of PV cell is playing a central role in conversion process as both
the electrical efficiency and hence the out power of a PV module depend on practically linearly but rather strongly on it
(Skoplaki et al., 2008).
The present work is a numerical study on the thermal behavior of mechanically ventilated (in-out) DSF integrated
with PV cell by means of cooling the air cavity from the cold fresh air supplied to each zone. The used DSF schematic, as
illustrated in Figure 1.b. The air inlet type, location and air throw deflection angles have been investigated. The main
purpose of the study is to investigate the principle thermal performance improvements of DSF which will affect on PV cell
conversion efficiency and air conditioning loads of inner zone. Numerical validation model is discussed; two cases of
minimum and maximum values are presented and thermal results comparisons from the five geometries are shown.

a) b)

Figure 1 (a) Façade Building- International commercial Center, Abu Dhabi,U.A.E. (b) DSF Scheme.

TUNING OF THE NUMERICAL MODEL

CFD simulations were performed for five geometries, however a preliminary analysis related to the validation of
applied numerical model has been carried out in order to check the mesh and if the boundary conditions have been set in a
proper way. For these purposes the work presented by Safer et al. (2004) was considered for tuning the model. Safer has
several published works discussing the use of CFD numerical simulation code to investigate thermal performance of DSF
and the influence of several linked parameters such as the direct solar radiation, and the venetian blinds tilt angle effects. In
order to validate the CFD model, a 2D case with a simple flow inside a mechanically ventilated DSF has been carried out.
As previously mentioned, the simulation results were compared to the published values of Safer et al. (2004). Safer’s DSF
case is equipped with venetian blinds. The ventilation is external, i.e. (the air circulating in the cavity comes from and is
rejected to the outside). As usual the inlet and the outlet are placed respectively in the bottom and the top of the external
glazing, as shown in Figure 2. Safer claimed that the 2D model shall be enough to reduce the solving time as possible. The
cavity was 200 mm (8”) wide and 3 m (120”) high. The blind slats were 25 mm (1”) in width. Inlet air open was at 100 mm
(4”) from the bottom of the façade and outlet air open was a 100 mm (4”) from the top of the façade. It is important to
mention that in Safer study several scenarios and configurations were considered, such as using blinds slats angles of 0°,
30°, 45°, 60°, varying direct solar radiation value, incident radiation angle and changing the blinds slats location with respect
to the outer glass. The validation process in the present work has been based on the following scenario:
1- Blind slats deflection angle is 45°, slats located in the middle of the cavity.
2- Discrete Ordinates (DO) radiation model was used, as illustrated in (CFD-software user guide). The discrete
ordinates (DO) radiation model solves the radiative transfer equation (RTE) for a finite number of discrete solid angles,
each associated with a vector ⃗ direction fixed in the global Cartesian system ( ).
3- Turbulence model used was ‘ k-ε model”, buoyancy effect has been activated too. (Pasut and De Carli, 2012)
4- Boundary conditions were fixed according to Safer’s work , as illustrated in Table-1.
Temperature values have been calculated at middle of cavity height; the compared results showed a good agreement
between Safer’s and validation work to proceed with the same concept, as shown in Figure 3.

Table 1. Safer’s Work Boundary conditions

Component Value
Direct solar radiation W/m² (BTU/hr.ft2) 910 (288.4)
Diffuse solar radiation W/m² (BTU/hr.ft2) 145 (45.9)
Incidence angle 66°
External temperature °C (°F) 29 (84.2)
External convective heat coeff. W/m².K (BTU/hr.ft2. °F) 10 (1.76)
Internal temperature °C (°F) 25 (77)
Internal Convective heat coeff. W/m².K (BTU/hr.ft2. °F) 2.5 (0.44)
Air inlet velocity m/s (fps) 0.22 (0.72)
Slat angle 45°

Figure 2 Safer 2D model geometry with blinds slats angle of 45°

Figure 3 CFD Model Validation

CASE STUDY DESCRIPTION
The description of the geometry and dimensions of the different five cases are summarized in Table.1 and, shown
in Figure 4. The DSF has 3 m (120”) width, 2 m (80”) height and the cavity depth is 100 mm (4”). The air inlet is in Case 1
a rectangular opening 150 mm (6”) by 200 mm (8”) at the low level in the inner glass and the exhaust opening is located in
the opposite angle on the top level of the outer glass, in order to improve air circulation inside the air cavity. Case 2
presents two rectangular air inlets on the bottom side of the inner glass and one exhaust air opening which is located in the
center of the outer glass layer. Case 3, Case 4 and Case 5 all of these cases are the same in dimensions, only differs in grille
inclination angle: Case 3 with 90°, Case 4 with 45°, Case5 with 30°. PV cell for all five cases has the same dimensions 2 m
(80”) width, 1.25 m (50”) height and a thickness of 2 mm (0.08”). Mechanical ventilation has been used to withdraw the air
flow rate from the adjacent conditioned zone; this air flow rate represents the amount of fresh air supplied to the zone for
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) purposes. The air can be extracted from conditioned zones, either in all air system or in air-water
system in order to cool the air cavity inside DSF through air inlets installed in the inner glass.
An office occupied by 6 persons has been considered; each person will need 8.5 L/s (18 cfm) (ASHARE-62-2007), i.e.
the amount of fresh air used in all investigated models is about 50% of the total supplied fresh air equal 30 L/s (63.5 cfm).

Table 2. Cases Description

Case-1 Case-2 Case-3 Case-4 Case-5

One opening Two openings Bar grille, 90° Bar grille, 45° Bar grille, 30°

Figure 4 Five different analyzed configurations

The numerical simulation has been done based on two conditions the peak external temperature in Cairo-Egypt equals
to 42°C (107.6°F) and average outside temperature during the cooling season which equals to 34°C (93.2°F) by a CFD
commercial solver tool based on the finite-volume method developed by Patankar (1980). The grids of the models were
created in three-dimensions. In all cases, the mesh was based on tetrahedral cell; a range of 400000- 500000 volume cells
has been used. The boundary conditions and CFD simulation models are summarized in Table 3. Velocity was calculated
on the air inlet based on continuity equation, hence it is considered to be 1 m/s (3.2 ft/s) when there is one opening (Case
1), and in Case 2 it was 0.5 m/s (1.6 ft/s) for each opening, in the other Cases (3, 4 and 5) velocity was 1.3 m/s (4.2 ft/s)
with a free area percentage equal 30%. In order to simulate the solar load in all models (CFD-software user guide), the solar
calculator was chosen with specific data such as the location of Egypt (Lon. = 31 Lat. =30, grid orientation and time zone).
Total horizontal irradiation was assumed 1000 W/m2 though the average value of irradiation in Egypt could reach 1300
W/m2 (412 Btu/(hr.ft2)) (Trabea at al., 2000). This choice was made to facilitate the comparison with technical data from
different PV cells manufactures, as defined in the STC (Standard Test Conditions), i.e. 1000 W/m2 (316.9 BTU/hr.ft2) and
25°C (77°F).
Table 3. Boundary Conditions
Temperature Viscous Radiation Direct beam Glass Glass cp Glass thermal
Inside-Peak/Average model model irradiation density J/(kg K) conductivity,
Outside W/m2 kg/m3 (Btu/lb·°F) W/(m K)
°C (°F) (BTU/hr.ft ) (lb/ft3)
2 (Btu/h.ft·°F)
22 (71.6) – 42 (107.6) 1000 2700 840 1
k-ε DO
/34 (93.2) (316.9) (168.75) (0.2) (0.57)

RESULTS
Two of the five cases are presented as the minimum and maximum performance values in the condition of the peak
external temperature equals to 42°C (107.6 °F). The contours of temperature at both, shown in Figures 5.a-b, of the inner
glass layer, which is attached to the conditioned zone, and of the PV cell front surface’s. The temperature contours is
affected by different geometries as denoted by variation in blue/red color scale, the blue color is denoting the minimum
temperature of ventilating air which is considered the inside room design temperature equal to 22°C (71.6°F). For Case 1
with one rectangular opening on the low level, the average temperature on the inner glass layer has reached 27°C (80.6°F).
On the other hand average temperature of inner glass in Case 5 has reached 25°C (77°F) which is considered a good result
for both thermal comfort and in decreasing zone thermal loads. The average temperature of the PV cell in Case 1 reached
32°C (89.6°F) and decreased down to 25°C (77°F) in Case 5 due to the enhanced air circulation inside the cavity by using
the linear bar grille with 30° as a deflection angle. In order to evaluate the enhancement in PV cell performance voltage
open circuit value Voc has been calculated based on Equation-1, average technical characteristics of amorphous silicon cell
has been obtained from different commercial producers.

( ) (1)
Where:
:is the temperature dependence of the PV module material type [V/°C]
is the open circuit voltage at module temperature
is the module temperature at STC [°C]
is the module temperature [°C]
is the open circuit voltage at STC

The reduction happened in PV cell surface temperature has a positive consequence on its conversion efficiency and
Voc has improved by 2.25% from Case 1 of 22.2 V till Case 5 of 22.7 V. In order to assess more PV cell performance a
cooling factor is derived as below in Equation 2, and as shown in Table 4 the for Case 5 equals to 0 which is
considered the optimum value when the surface temperature of PV cell equals to STC.

(2)

Table 4. Cooling factor values

Cases Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5
0.019 0.016 0.011 0.004 0.0

°C

(a)

°C

(b)

Figure 5 (a) Temperature contours of Inner glass, Case 1 and Case 5 (b) Temperature contours of PV cell front
face Case 1,and, Case 5 (Respectively from left side)

To confirm the effect of cavity ventilation another numerical simulation was carried out on Case 1 neglecting the
ventilation. As result, the average surface temperature of PV cell equal 35° (95°F) and it is higher than the ventilated Case 5
by 10°C (18°F),Voc decreased by 2.8%. As illustrated in Figure 6 the average temperature contours on PV cell are
uniform due to the natural convection inside the cavity
Inverse proportional relation between average surface temperature of PV cell and its voltage open circuit value Voc at the
peak and the seasonal average external temperature values respectively has shown the improvement achieved as
summarized in Figures 7a-b.
 °C

Figure 6 Average temperature contours on PV cell in Case 1 without ventilation

(a) (b)

Figure 7 (a) Toutside=42˚C (PV Surface temperature and Voc), (b) Toutside=34˚C (PV Surface temperature and Voc)

CONCLUSIONS
The main purpose of the research is to study the efficient implementation of solar energy system barred in semi
transparent PV cell inside the active air cavity of a façade building. Forced ventilation of the cavity has been considered to
be supplied from the conditioned zone. Certain percentage of the ventilation air flow rate used in cooling the cavity should
be exhausted by over pressure through the envelope, so this technique is not affecting building energy costs. Applying this
technique of cooling with different geometries has increased PV Voc by 2.25% and enhanced thermal performance of the
façade by reducing inner glass temperature to 25°C (77°F) which should reflect on energy consumption of the building, and
fortunately this technique could be applied in different climatic conditions in summer season when the solar intensity and
external temperature is high. Calculations have been made on the maximum and average summer cooling weather
conditions of Cairo-Egypt. Five different configurations of air inlet types and locations have been investigated. Average
surface temperature distribution of inner glass has been observed on all cases until it reached an acceptable value of 25°C
(77°F) at Case 5 which is the linear air grille with deflection angel 30°. After comparing the DSF with and without the
ventilated cavity technique, it was found that Voc has improved by of 2.85%. The improvement in Voc per PV cell is
considered accepted from surface cell temperature point of view because the cooling process is retaining surface
temperature to the STC., It is expected to have better thermal performance inside the façade cavity and air conditioned
 zone if air flow rate is increased due to increment of occupancy, also changing of air distribution techniques such as using
two linear grilles in opposite location could enhance air circulation inside the cavity . Applying those techniques specially in
an growing architecture sector such as façade buildings could prompt the nearly zero energy building prevalence.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work has been simulated by Fluent6.3.26 2006 Inc and GAMBIT 2.3.16.2002.

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