Energy modeling of integrated photovoltaic-thermal panels with thermoelectric systems in buildings

This paper introduces a novel building-integrated solar system combining Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) panels and thermoelectric coolers (TEC). The PV/T panels increase electricity efficiency by cooling the PV cells, simultaneously generating electricity and thermal energy. TEC devices provide space cooling or heating through heat transfer controlled by the direction of the electrical current. By integrating PV/T panels with TEC devices, various PVT-TEC system layouts can be created to meet a building's electricity, heating, and cooling demands while enhancing the self-consumption rate of PV production. To evaluate the energy performance of PVT-TEC systems, a new 2D dynamic simulation model using a resistive-capacitance thermal network was developed. This model is implemented in a MATLAB-based tool to analyze building energy performance. The tool allows for comparing different PVT-TEC configurations from both energy and economic perspectives.