Investigation of the Geometric Shape Effect on the Solar Energy Potential of Gymnasium Buildings

Gymnasium are typically large-span buildings with abundant solar energy resources due to their extensive roof surface. However, relevant research on this topic has not been thoroughly conducted to investigate the effect of the geometric shape of gymnasium buildings on their solar potential. In this paper, an investigation of the geometric shape effect on the solar potential of gymnasium buildings is presented. A three-dimensional radiation transfer model coupled with historical meteorological data was established to estimate the real-time solar potential of the roof of a gymnasium building. The rooftop solar potential of three typical building foundation shapes and different types of roof shapes that have evolved was systematically analyzed. An annual solar potential cloud map of each gymnasium building is generated. The monthly and annual average solar radiation intensities of the different types of roof shapes are investigated. Compared to the optimal tilt angle, the maximum decrease in the average radiation intensity reached −20.42%, while the minimum decline was −8.64% for all types of building shapes. The solar energy potential fluctuated by up to 11% across the various roof shapes, which indicate that shape selection is of vital importance for integrated photovoltaic gymnasium buildings. The results presented in this work are essential for clarifying the effects of the geometric shape of gymnasium buildings on the solar potential of their roofs, which provide an important reference for building design.