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 façade 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°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 façade for buoyancy driven airflow provide a maximum photovoltaic temperature of 58.4°C and have a greater efficiency at 11.7%.