The existing LCPV-prototype, that has been realised through the collaboration of the research group of Sustainable Energy (HAN) and S.M.E. SKIPSS B.V., was the starting ground for this graduation project. While the prototype is a successful proof of concept for its initial purpose (letting through light and keeping heat in public spaces inside, while generating electric energy), there’s a few key aspects that need to be developed further, in order to come to a scalable and commercially attractive design. The most important aspects that need to be solved, have been ‘gathered’ to form the core question that was answered during this graduation project:

“What steps need to be taken, in order to make sure the ‘LCPV-roof’ -concept is visually and financially attractive, integratable in architecture, safe and maintenance friendly?”

During the starting phase, a set of branching off questions have been draft, which formed the input for the analysis-phase. To answer these questions, research has been conducted in the form of mainly, but not exclusively: researching the prototype on location, analysing scientific research, contacting relevant businesses and partners of the research group, and analysing existing architecture to understand how an added construction can be implemented in existing, or new architecture.

During the analysis-phase, and later in the design-phase, it became clear, that the biggest challenge would be to find an effective solution that can be implemented in multiple locations and types of architecture. This, due to the wide variety of glass-roof construction types.
In compliance with BOVEMA (partner of the research group), the TKI252-system with aluminium support-profile (‘dwarsroede’), was chosen as the target construction-principle, to design a solution for. During the design-phase, multiple concepts have been formed, that can be applied to this system, in case of design for existing architecture. However, the existing architecture needs to conform to a set of conditions, for which (in the Netherlands) it is quite rare to tick all the boxes (correct inclination, sun- orientation, no shadows from neighbouring architecture, no obstructing interior architecture). Because of this, in combination with the added benefits of applying the Fresnel-structure inside double glass, rather than underneath or on top, it has been decided to continue the design process, for a solution that focusses on application to future (not yet built) architecture, so that the necessary criteria for a cost effective LCPV-construction, can be met. This decision came with new challenges, but mostly new opportunities: The possibility to ‘hide’ the components ínside the carrying architecture, instead of hanging it underneath, and more (cost-) effective ways to assemble the design, prior to integration on set location.

In terms of the core question(s), the following changes were applied to the original design, and can be considered as the ‘answer’ to this graduation project:

Visually attractive & integratable in architecture: The redesign can fully be integrated/hidden in (to be built-) architecture, and can be blended in per location, by applying fitting colours or textures to the aluminium profiles. Locations can also decide to implement different modules (underneath heatsink), like LED-lighting, or loudspeakers, to make use of the added benefits, that come with the nature of the construction, and compensate for the inability to see the sky clearly (diffused because of lens), and the more ‘busy’ look that exists because of the added construction.

Financially attractive: The redesign is estimated to earn itself back in ~6.2 years, however, errors in the estimation of power-output per year, need to be taken into account. With errors in estimations taken into account, the total earn-back time, shouldn’t surpass ~15 years.

Safety & Maintenance: During and after the design process, thermal- and strength simulations have been conducted, in order to validate the safety of the construction, and research whether active cooling is needed for sufficient efficiency. The current redesign, complies to the minimum safety factor of four (4), and is compliant to relevant safety-measurements. In terms of maintenance, a definitive life-expectancy, is hard to estimate, the most concrete life expectancy of the used components, is that of the linear actuator, which has been tested for 20.000 cycles, resulting in ~50 years, in case of the us in a LCPV-construction. Research on the specific bearings and their lifespan, will have to be done in future iterations of this project.