Measured Versus Predicted Performance of Building Integrated Photovoltaics.
Measured Versus Predicted Performance of Building
Integrated Photovoltaics.
(548 K)
Davis, M. W.; Fanney, A. H.; Dougherty, B. P.
Journal of Solar Energy Engineering (Transactions of the
ASME), Vol. 125, No. 1, 21-32, February 2003.
Keywords:
computer simulation; technology utilization; insulation;
thermal resistance; evaluation; temperature; panels
Abstract:
The lack of predictive performance tools creates a
barrier to the widespread use of
building integrated photovoltaic panels. The National
Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) has created a building integrated photovoltaic
(BIPV) test bed to capture
experimental data that can be used to improve and
validate previously developed computer
simulation tools. Twelve months of performance data have
been collected for building
integrated photovoltaic panels using four different cell
technologies - crystalline,
polycrystalline, silicon film, and triple-junction
amorphous. Two panels using each cell
technology were present, one without any insulation
attached to its rear surface and one
with insulation having a nominal thermal resistance
value of 3.5 m2.K/W attached to its
rear surface. The performance data associated with these
eight panels, along with meteorological
data, were compared to the predictions of a photovoltaic
model developed
jointly by Maui Solar Software and Sandia National
Laboratories (SNL), which is implemented
in their IV Curve Tracer software. The evaluation of the
predictive performance
tools was done in the interest of refining the tools to
provide BIPV system designers
with a reliable source for economic evaluation and
system sizing.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899