Photovoltaic and Thermal Solar Concentrator Integrated into a Dynamic Shading Device

Abstract

This paper presents the design of a photovoltaic/thermal solar concentrator (PV/ST) integrated into a system for external shading device suitable for different building typologies such as office facilities or residential houses.

The paper addresses the problem of designing efficient shading devices for buildings. The novelty of this project is a dynamic design for shading devices, new in the market of photovoltaic and concentrator systems, that changing orientation and configuration allows the best lighting comfort in buildings while producing energy.

This device consists of a series of linear low concentrator with monoaxial sun tracking and a semi-parabolic profile reflector providing the solar radiation concentration into a string of monocrystalline cell PV, with 5.5× concentration factor. The thermal energy production is achieved through the cooling system of the device whereby hot water is produced.

The contribution of this study is a new concept, and developments in solar thermal concentrator systems reveal new trends for the technology to be integrated into architecture, especially in dynamic solution for shading devices.