Comparison of the energy conversion efficiency of a solar chimney and a solar PV-powered fan for ventilation applications

journal article in Web of Science

English

A study into the performance of a solar chimney and a solar photovoltaic (PV)-powered fan for ventilation applications was carried out using numerical simulations. The performance of the solar chimney was compared with that of a direct current (DC) fan powered by a solar PV panel. The comparison was carried out using the same area of the irradiated surface—the area of the solar absorber plate in the case of the solar chimney and the area of the solar panel in the case of the photovoltaic-powered fan. The two studied cases were compared under various solar radiation intensities of incident solar radiation. The results indicate that the PV-powered fans significantly outperform solar chimneys in terms of converting solar energy into the kinetic energy of air motion. Moreover, ventilation with PV-powered fans offers more flexibility in the arrangement of the ventilation system and also better control of the air flow rates in the case of battery storage

building ventilation; solar energy; solar chimney; solar photovoltaics; DC fan; energy conversion

KLIMEŠ, L.; CHARVÁT, P.; HEJČÍK, J.

12. 4. 2018

MDPI

Basel, Switzerland

1996-1073

ENERGIES

11

4

Swiss Confederation

912:1

15

15

http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/4/912

http://hdl.handle.net/11012/179565