A NÁLISIS DE LOS DATOS OBTENIDOS

Systems which utilize solar radiation for the purpose of reducing energy needs in a building can be passive or active. Active technologies include BIST, BIPV and BIPV/T systems. BAPV systems are similar to the BIPV concept in that they are also located on a building, but they do not replace the envelope or structural components. PV cells are most commonly made from silicon.

Polycrystalline cells are categorized as wafer-based PV technologies and are lower in price than

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most of the other technologies. A PV module consists of the silicon cells contained within an encapsulant which is sandwiched between a frontsheet (typically glass) and a backsheet (glass or polymer) and held together at the perimeter with an aluminum frame for structural strength. PV module warranties are typicaly 25 years. The temperature of the PV is of great importance. The electrical efficiency of the modules decreases as the cell temperature increases.

There are four main options for building integration with opaque modules: sloped roofs, flat roofs, facades, and shading systems. STPV modules can be used in fenestration and shading.

PV/T systems collect some of the heat generated by PV cells, maintaining them at relatively low temperatures. Water based, concentrator types, and air based PV/T systems exist. Air-based systems can be passive or active, with the active systems being open-loop or closed-loop. BIPV/T systems supply buildings with both electrical and thermal energy, and are usually connected to systems such as heat pumps or heat recovery units to utilize the heat generated. Types of building integrations include replacing roofing elements on existing flat or low-slope roofs, taking the place of ventilated facades, rainscreen claddings and also, CW systems.

Air-based BIPV/T systems are lightweight and eliminate the risk of leakage which would be a problem with fluid mediums. As a consequence of this, they generally require less maintenance. However, natural convection is often not enough to cool the PV panels adequately to maintain optimal electrical efficiency and the use of a fan to assist airflow is required.

This gives the opportunity to collect part of the excess heat for additional use. Many thermal enhancements have been studied to aid in this. BIPV/T systems are preferred to solar thermal systems for most applications, due to the better quality of electrical energy over thermal.

Several existing BIPV/T projects include the Ecoterra house, the Varennes library, and the JMSB building. The Ecoterra has good integration of the various systems but uses amorphous silicon PV modules and therefore does not produce as much electricity as with a polycrystalline technology. The Varennes library has a only a small portion of the BIPV roof as a BIPV/T, and the excess hot air is often exhausted to the environment instead of being utilized. The JMSB BIPV/T facade is a custom design, making it difficult to reproduce or apply to other project profiles.

Facade assemblies that could be replaced with BIPV and BIPV/T systems include masonry wals, panelized metal wall systems, precast concrete walls, thin stone walls, EIFS, and CW

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systems (which includes rainscreens). Two types of rainscreen systems that are relevant to BIPV/T integration are face-drained and back-ventilated systems. The latter can also be pressure-equalized.

Integrated PV modules also have to deal with physical issues such as heat and moisture transfer, high and low exterior temperatures, rapid temperature changes, freezing and thawing in colder climates, and wind and snow loads. Installation and maintenance considerations include wiring and cabling methods, sealant compatibility, and regular visual inspections.

Some of the challenges of BIPV design include ensuring proper ventilation to increase operating life, dealing with limited availability of mounting systems and the need for performance monitoring systems, warranties for the full system, and definitive maintenance procedures for PV protection and cleaning. While implementing a PV system has a large cost of construction, the costs are minimal during the operating phase. Installing conventional cladding materials, such as steel or glass, is only lower by 2% - 5% as compared to installing BIPV systems

A number of standards exist for PV systems, and more recently, several BIPV standards have become available primarily in Europe, with North America still lacking any building standard for these systems. Requirements for BIPV standards arise from safety, quality and durability issues related to circuits and inverters. Architectural and building codes typically include elements which would impose requirements on BIPVs as construction materials. One of the bigger gaps in existing standards is that they are limited only to reliability testing, without focusing on durability and long-term performance. It is also important for BIPV standards to conform to building manufacturer product codes. Currently, standards EN 50583:1 BIPV Products and 50583:2 BIPV Systems are the only known documents that address both PV and building performance. There are no known standards for BIPV/T systems.

There is a strong need to develop a best practice guide for BIPV/T systems. Instead of using custom designs for each unique project, there needs to be a focus on generic assemblies and conventional building product use for integration. Simple and accessible simulation tools should be developed for rapid, iterative BIPV/T early design phases by architectural teams. Standards, especially in North America, must be compiled for BIPV/T performance requirements.

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Chapter 3