PhD Oral Exam - Masoud Valinejadshoubi, Building Engineering

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

Building-integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPV/T) façades combine photovoltaic electricity generation with thermal energy recovery, but many existing systems rely on fixed façade geometries or airflow configurations that cannot respond effectively to changing weather and operating conditions. This dissertation examines how adaptable façade geometry and switchable airflow-path selection can improve the performance of façade-integrated BIPV and BIPV/T systems under different operating modes and seasonal conditions. The work comprises two principal building-scale studies and a related infrastructure application. The first study evaluates a dynamic multilayer BIPV façade for a cold-climate office building. The selected façade configurations reduced excessive work-plane illuminance by approximately 94–97%, reduced direct glare probability by 31–52%, and decreased lighting energy use by y 11–21% during the evaluated representative periods, generating 106.41 kWh of photovoltaic electricity during the evaluated period. The second study develops a switchable multi-inlet BIPV/T curtain-wall system. The preferred airflow path changed with airflow velocity, confirming that no single fixed inlet configuration performed best under all operating conditions. Compared with fixed operation, the switchable strategy increased recovered thermal energy by up to 19.8% and improved thermal efficiency by up to 25.0%. The third study evaluates the technical feasibility of infrastructure-integrated PV/T system for preventive bridge anti-icing with two possible inlets – from liquid PV/T system or from seasonal borehole thermal storage. The annual gross collected thermal energy was equivalent to approximately 108% of the estimated annual anti-icing demand. The gross monthly matched winter-period potential represented approximately 55% of the annual demand, while the minimum useful contribution required from seasonal storage represented approximately 45%. Overall, the dissertation demonstrates a progression from geometric adaptability in a dynamic photovoltaic façade, to operational adaptability through switchable BIPV/T airflow paths, and finally to condition-dependent allocation of recovered solar heat between concurrent use and seasonal storage. The results show that solar-integrated systems can perform more effectively when geometry, airflow path, and thermal-energy pathway are treated as adaptable design and operating variables rather than fixed conditions.