An Investigation of the Optimal Configurations of PV Integration in Building Fa\ue7ades : Analysis of Natural Convective flows in a Differentially Heated Vertical Channel

The context of this study is related to the integration of a combined photovoltaicthermal (PV-T) collector as a component of building fa\ue7ades. This concept is developed so as to determine the best integration strategy-to make the most efficient use of a solar energy-collecting surface in terms of both electrical conversion and air heating, taking into account the fact that thermal effects help to maintain the PV module operating temperature at an optimal level for photo-conversion phenomena. Therefore natural convection in a vertical parallel plate channel has been investigated experimentally. The experimental channel is formed 2 walls constituted of 10 heaters each. A non intrusive measurement technique has been implemented in order to provide detailed information of the convective heat transfer occurring for the parameter considered and give insight in the nature of flow development. Different scenario of both wall boundary conditions have been investigated in which alternating PV modules and semi-transparent zones are represented by electric heater sections cooled by natural convection. These results are the first ones and further exploitation based on data reduction will provide engineering design data which will permit optimum positioning at the PV panel sections