Using solar photovoltaic thermal collectors in phase change materials enhanced buildings for thermal performance management

This paper presents the investigation of using air-based solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collectors in phase change materials (PCMs) enhanced buildings for effective thermal management. PVT collectors are used to generate electricity and provide low grade heating energy to buildings for winter space heating. PCMs are either integrated into building walls to increase the local thermal mass or used as a temporary centralized thermal storage to store the low grade thermal energy derived from the PVT collectors. The thermal performance of buildings due to the integration of the PVT collectors and PCMs is tested and evaluated through computer simulations. It is found that appropriate use of PCMs in buildings can smooth the indoor temperature fluctuations. Using heated thermal energy generated from the PVT collectors in PCM enhanced buildings can significantly improve the indoor thermal comfort in winter heating conditions and appropriate integration of PVT collectors and PCMs can avoid undesirable overheating problems.