Numerical study of Building Integrated Photovoltaic modules for Nearly Zero Energy Building Case Study: Tunis, Tunisia

In this paper, we have highlighted the impact of Building Integrated PV systems (BIPV) and Building Integrated PV-Phase Change Material (BIPV-PCM) systems with the exterior envelope of the room on thermal comfort, under Tunisian climatic conditions. The objectives set in the first step were to improve and optimize the performance of photovoltaic panels integrated into the building wall using the passive regulation method by coupling them to a macro encapsulated phase change material. In the second step, our objectives were to highlight the impact of the integration of these systems on indoor thermal comfort and on building efficiency. It was revealed that a Building Integration of PV systems causes a significant increase in indoor air temperature. However, for the South direction, the addition of Phase Change Material plays an important role in reducing the heat transfer rate to the room. In fact, the maximum temperature of the south-facing wall has been reduced by around 2.2 ° C when attaching Phase Change Material layers behind the Building Integrated Photovoltaics systems. The average temperature of the vertical and inclined BIPV cells temperature, at midday, is reduced by about 3 °C and 25 °C, respectively, due to the integration of PCM at the back sides of the systems. It is concluded that coupling the Building Integrated Photovoltaic system with a layer of phase change material and integrating such system with the room envelope is an interesting solution to improve the performance of photovoltaic systems and to be closer to the thermal comfort of the individual simultaneously.