Influence of Vent Aperture Size on Natural Convection Cooling of Pv Panels in a Bipv Double-Skin Façade

Abstract

double-skin façades (DSF) by enhancing heat dissipation from the rear surface of the PV module. A numerical investigation is conducted to analyze heat removal driven by natural convection within the DSF air channel. The system includes a vent aperture located on the unheated façade to facilitate airflow circulation. The double-skin channel is subjected to non-uniform heating with a uniform heat flux and is immersed in a water-filled reservoir to reproduce environmental conditions and generate overpressure at the inlet and outlet of the PV-DSF channel. A two-dimensional steady laminar flow model is solved using the finite volume method under realistic geometric and boundary conditions. The study examines the influence of the vent aperture on the heat transfer characteristics and flow behavior within the channel. Numerical results are presented in terms of Nusselt number, temperature distribution, isotherms, and velocity profiles. The numerical predictions are validated against experimental data, showing very good agreement.