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An experiment was conducted to test the optical efficiency of the lenses of the Concentrating Photovoltaic Glazing (CoPVG) concept. The CoPVG is a seasonal glazing system consisting of longitudinal prismatic lenses. The lenses concentrate sunlight onto the focus where Photovoltaic (PV) cells are bonded, generating electricity while simultaneously preventing excessive glare indoors during summer. The system transmits sunlight for daylight purposes in winter. The experimental results were compared with an analytical model developed at Ulster University. Although there were discrepancies between the model and the experimental results, the model can still predict the optical performance of the lenses reliably, and can therefore still provide an overview of the concept's optical performance. The model was then used to create a visual representation of the glazing's annual optical performance, demonstrating how the glazing responds to changes in the sun's position in the sky throughout the year. This analysis allows for balancing the need for natural lighting and energy generation, and so enables designers to evaluate annual optical performance of the CoPVG lens quickly and accurately. A case study of a building in Belfast is presented to demonstrate the application of the model. As an example, the results indicate that utilizing the lenses in glazing towards the south leads to a shift in its performance from room lighting to shading on 1st April, and vice versa on 15 September. The analyses also show that utilizing the CoPVG lenses can potentially enhance the electrical output power of the glazing ranging between 5% and 8% and from 46% up to 52% during winter and summer, respectively, compared with traditional Semi-Transparent Photovoltaic (STPV) glazing with the same opaque area percentage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an enhanced version of Concentrating Photovoltaic Glazing (CoPVG) device. The original CoPVG system was designed as a seasonal glazing, that concentrates sunlight onto the focus of the lens during summer. Whilst, in winter, the system transmits light for indoor daylighting purposes. The newly developed version, entitled Concentrating Photovoltaic/Thermal Evacuated Glazing (CoPVTEG), is capable of simultaneously harvesting thermal energy and electricity while vacuum glazing (VG) has been integrated into the device. A finite element method was employed to simulate the glazing computationally. The developed model was validated by conducting experiments verifying that the model predicts the glazing performance reliably. Two different configurations were considered: placing the VG facing either outside, called disposition A, or inside, called disposition B. These dispositions were analysed computationally to determine the thermal and electrical output powers of the device in Belfast, UK. It was found that locating the VG inside potentially doubled the output electrical power ranging from 63.32 W/m 2 to 92.56 W/m 2 and from 36.03 W/m 2 to 43.88 W/m 2 at noon throughout the year for disposition B and A, respectively. However, the thermal harvesting potential of disposition A is higher than disposition B. In this case, the device potentially generates from 216.46 W/m 2 to 406.20 W/m 2 thermal power at noon. While the potential will be reduced from 163.54 W/m 2 to 396.11 W/m 2 in disposition B. Disposition A is more advantageous for cold-dominant climate zones while disposition B is the suggestion for temperate climate zone like the studied case. • This study presents Concentrating Photovoltaic/Thermal Evacuated Glazing, a semi-transparent and energy-efficient building façade. • The device serves multiple functions by not only passively managing energy, but also generating clean electricity and heat. • An experiment campaign was conducted to characterize the concept and validate a FEM model. • This research investigates the interaction of vacuum glazing and its placement within the device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]