Theoretical analysis of the blinds integrated photovoltaic modules

The purpose of this study is to analyze the electric energy harvesting efficiency of Venetian blinds according to their design parameters using photovoltaic modules. The size of photovoltaic modules attached to the blind panel and the inclined angle of the blind frame's photovoltaic modules are the primary parameters in its efficiency because of shading effects except geographical characteristics. The ventilation's affect on the temperature decrease of photovoltaic modules in a double-layer window facade was analyzed using a heat exchange network analysis between layers of the photovoltaic module integrated blind (PV-blind). The temperature of the components in a PV-blind and the amounts of harvested energy are calculated with an hourly time step during one sunny day. The maximum temperature of a photovoltaic module without ventilation is almost 78 degrees C, which means a daily electric energy production rate decrease from 14.1% to 10.4% compared to temperature independent case studies. Blinds with a ventilated facade for buoyancy driven airflow provide a maximum photovoltaic temperature of 58.4 degrees C and have a greater efficiency at 11.7%. Crown Copyright (c) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.