CoolShift – Cooling of buildings by chiller-assisted nocturnal radiation and convection

Abstract

A novel approach for cooling an office building is numerically evaluated. PVT collectors are used for nocturnal radiative and convective cooling. A TABS ceiling serves as thermal storage. If the free cooling power of the PVT collectors is too low, it is boosted by a chiller raising the collector temperature. While the energy efficiency improves compared to a conventional daytime chiller cooling system, the room temperature cannot always be kept in the desired band. Furthermore, the PVT collectors stay cooler than comparable PV modules during the day, increasing the electricity generation.