Performance study of air-type BIPVT coupled water-cooled wall

Building-integrated photovoltaic-thermal (BIPVT) systems can provide both electrical and thermal energy for building, realizing efficient use of solar power and decreasing the energy consumption of the building. In this study, water-cooled walls were installed on both sides of the air flow channel to improve the heat exchange between the photovoltaic (PV) panels and the air by cooling the air, thus realizing an improvement in the thermal/electrical performance of air-type BIPVT. An experimental system of coupled BIPVTs was conducted to study the influence of cooling water temperature on performance of the system. The results show that a 10 K reduction in cooling water temperature increases the heat efficiency by 26% and the electrical efficiency by approximately 2%. The results can be used for the optimized operation of BIPVT system.