Performance study of radiation heating system coupled with solar photovoltaic and graphene coating

Abstract

Energy consumption and safety concerns in building heating systems are gaining increasing attention. This paper proposes an innovative radiant heating system that combines solar photovoltaic technology with graphene-based electrothermal coatings. By utilizing photovoltaic power generation to replace traditional high-voltage drive systems for supplying electricity to the electrothermal coatings, the system reduces building energy consumption while ensuring efficient heating. Based on the excellent conductivity and thermal conductivity of graphene, this system can quickly convert electrical energy into thermal energy and achieve efficient heat transfer through far-infrared radiation. The study was conducted from July to August 2022 in Changzhou, China, where an experimental platform was established to investigate the effects of photovoltaic voltage, photovoltaic current, and coating area on the thermal performance of graphene-based electrothermal coatings. The results demonstrate that the graphene-based electrothermal coating exhibits low saturation voltage and saturation current, with voltage having a more pronounced impact on heating performance. Under optimal conditions, the surface temperature of a 20 × 40 cm heating panel reached 63.19 ℃, increasing the ambient temperature to 35 ℃. As the area of the graphene-based electrothermal coating expanded, the proportion of radiant heating significantly improved, with the radiant heat transfer efficiency of a 60 × 60 cm heating panel reaching 71 %. Economic analysis indicates that the system holds good application potential, with a payback period of approximately 3.87 years and a levelized cost of electricity of $0.0742/kWh. The findings of this study are of great significant for exploring a novel radiant heating approach.