Thermal and Electrical Characterization of a Semi-Transparent Dye-Sensitized Photovoltaic Module under Real Operating Conditions

Dye-sensitized solar cell technology is having an important role in renewable energy research due to its features and low-cost manufacturing processes. Devices based on this technology appear very well suited for integration into glazing systems due to their characteristics of transparency, color tu...

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Main Authors: Cristina Cornaro, Ludovica Renzi, Marco Pierro, Aldo Di Carlo, Alessandro Guglielmotti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-01-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/1/155
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author Cristina Cornaro
Ludovica Renzi
Marco Pierro
Aldo Di Carlo
Alessandro Guglielmotti
author_facet Cristina Cornaro
Ludovica Renzi
Marco Pierro
Aldo Di Carlo
Alessandro Guglielmotti
author_sort Cristina Cornaro
collection DOAJ
description Dye-sensitized solar cell technology is having an important role in renewable energy research due to its features and low-cost manufacturing processes. Devices based on this technology appear very well suited for integration into glazing systems due to their characteristics of transparency, color tuning and manufacturing directly on glass substrates. Field data of thermal and electrical characteristics of dye-sensitized solar modules (DSM) are important since they can be used as input of building simulation models for the evaluation of their energy saving potential when integrated into buildings. However, still few studies in the literature provide this information. The study presented here aims to contribute to fill this lack providing a thermal and electrical characterization of a DSM in real operating conditions using a method developed in house. This method uses experimental data coming from test boxes exposed outdoor and dynamic simulation to provide thermal transmittance (U-value) and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of a DSM prototype. The device exhibits a U-value of 3.6 W/m2·K, confirmed by an additional measurement carried on in the lab using a heat flux meter, and a SHGC of 0.2, value compliant with literature results. Electrical characterization shows an increase of module power with respect to temperature resulting DSM being suitable for integration in building facades.
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spelling doaj.art-018f6cbc5fb14eaaab14db329fb640562022-12-22T04:00:17ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-01-0111115510.3390/en11010155en11010155Thermal and Electrical Characterization of a Semi-Transparent Dye-Sensitized Photovoltaic Module under Real Operating ConditionsCristina Cornaro0Ludovica Renzi1Marco Pierro2Aldo Di Carlo3Alessandro Guglielmotti4Department of Enterprise Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Enterprise Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Enterprise Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, ItalyCHOSE, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, ItalyDyepower, Fonte Nuova, 00013 Rome, ItalyDye-sensitized solar cell technology is having an important role in renewable energy research due to its features and low-cost manufacturing processes. Devices based on this technology appear very well suited for integration into glazing systems due to their characteristics of transparency, color tuning and manufacturing directly on glass substrates. Field data of thermal and electrical characteristics of dye-sensitized solar modules (DSM) are important since they can be used as input of building simulation models for the evaluation of their energy saving potential when integrated into buildings. However, still few studies in the literature provide this information. The study presented here aims to contribute to fill this lack providing a thermal and electrical characterization of a DSM in real operating conditions using a method developed in house. This method uses experimental data coming from test boxes exposed outdoor and dynamic simulation to provide thermal transmittance (U-value) and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of a DSM prototype. The device exhibits a U-value of 3.6 W/m2·K, confirmed by an additional measurement carried on in the lab using a heat flux meter, and a SHGC of 0.2, value compliant with literature results. Electrical characterization shows an increase of module power with respect to temperature resulting DSM being suitable for integration in building facades.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/1/155DSCDSMBIPVbuildingsphotovoltaicthermal propertieselectric propertiesglazingenergy efficiency
spellingShingle Cristina Cornaro
Ludovica Renzi
Marco Pierro
Aldo Di Carlo
Alessandro Guglielmotti
Thermal and Electrical Characterization of a Semi-Transparent Dye-Sensitized Photovoltaic Module under Real Operating Conditions
Energies
DSC
DSM
BIPV
buildings
photovoltaic
thermal properties
electric properties
glazing
energy efficiency
title Thermal and Electrical Characterization of a Semi-Transparent Dye-Sensitized Photovoltaic Module under Real Operating Conditions
title_full Thermal and Electrical Characterization of a Semi-Transparent Dye-Sensitized Photovoltaic Module under Real Operating Conditions
title_fullStr Thermal and Electrical Characterization of a Semi-Transparent Dye-Sensitized Photovoltaic Module under Real Operating Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Thermal and Electrical Characterization of a Semi-Transparent Dye-Sensitized Photovoltaic Module under Real Operating Conditions
title_short Thermal and Electrical Characterization of a Semi-Transparent Dye-Sensitized Photovoltaic Module under Real Operating Conditions
title_sort thermal and electrical characterization of a semi transparent dye sensitized photovoltaic module under real operating conditions
topic DSC
DSM
BIPV
buildings
photovoltaic
thermal properties
electric properties
glazing
energy efficiency
url http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/1/155
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