Integration of photovoltaic cells in building shading devices: Enhancing energy efficiency and indoor environment in administrative building

Abstract

This study focuses on the thermal performance simulation of the CSERS administrative building. It proposed the integration of shading elements on the south façade of the building to enhance thermal comfort for office occupants. These shading elements incorporate photovoltaic cells, displaying the potential of utilizing photovoltaic in external shading devices. The main objective of this approach is effectively address issues related to high internal temperatures and excessive solar radiation exposure. Furthermore, it ensures the preservation of key functions of the building envelope, such as thermal insulation, provision of natural lighting, and prevention of internal thermal glare. Comparative analysis is conducted between the building equipped with shading devices and the one without, with a focus on measuring the total electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels. Simulation programs such as SketchUp and EnergyPlus are utilized for this purpose. The results of the simulations reveal that strategically designed shading on southfacing windows leads to 17.15% reduction in annual heat gains transmitted to the building. In addition, the integration of photovoltaic shading devices demonstrates outstanding performance characteristics, contributing a productive capacity of around 5916.388 MW/h to the building. This integration effectively harnesses solar energy to improve the indoor environment of the building.