Effect of packing factor on the performance of a building integrated semitransparent photovoltaic thermal (BISPVT) system with air duct

In this paper, an attempt has been made to study the effect of packing factor of semitransparent photovoltaic (PV) module integrated to the roof of a building, on the module and room air temperature, and electrical efficiency of PV module. Energy and exergy analysis have been carried out by considering different packing factors (0.42, 0.62, and 0.83) of PV module namely mono crystalline silicon (m-Si), poly crystalline silicon (p-Si), amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), and a heterojunction with thin layer (HIT). It is observed that the decrease in the temperature of PV module due to decrease in packing factor, increases its electrical efficiency. It is also found that the decrease in packing factor increases the room temperature. Maximum annual electrical and thermal energy is found to be 813 kWh in HIT and 79 kWh in a-Si PV module respectively with packing factor of 0.62.

► In this study, PV modules are installed on to the roof by providing air duct. ► Different types of PV module material and packing factors are considered. ► Electrical and thermal performance is better in packing factor of 0.62 than 0.83.