Modelling and Simulation of BIPV/T in EnergyPlus and TRNSYS

A BIPV/T model, called BIPVTSYSTEM, was developed and implemented into EnergyPlus, a building energy simulation software that currently lacks BIPV/T modelling capabilities. The EnergyPlus model was based on the same equations of TRNSYS Type 567 but with a few modifications in regards to its thermal-fluidic relations. This new EnergyPlus object will assist users using EnergyPlus in large scale community modelling that will employ both façade and roof integrated BIPV/T systems. EnergyPlus's BIPVTSYSTEM and a modified version of TRNSYS Type 567 were both used to conduct a yearlong simulation of a BIPV/T system. The factors contributing to the discrepancies of the results between the two models were attributed to the different weather data interpolation methodologies, sky temperature computations, and electrical models employed by both software.