Performance analysis and operational control of a photovoltaic Trombe wall

Building energy consumption constitutes a substantial proportion of global energy consumption, which highlights the necessity for low-energy consumption building technology. The photovoltaic Trombe wall (PVTW) integrates photovoltaic power generation with solar thermal utilization, presenting a route for enhancing building energy efficiency. This study investigates the performance of a PVTW. A three-dimensional transient numerical model was established and employed to analyze the key variables: solar irradiance, air channel width, vent size, and PV operating mode. Transition season weather data were applied to simulate the actual response. The results indicate that an air channel width of 130 mm and vent dimensions of 500 × 30 mm achieve the best balance between flow resistance and convective heat transfer. The dynamic switching of the PV mode regulated the trade-off between heat storage and PV cooling. Under transition season conditions, the highest total useful energy output of 536 Wh was obtained using an intraday control strategy. These findings illustrate that the dynamic control significantly enhances PVTW performance, providing guidance for climate-responsive design and operation.