JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, cilt.17, sa.5, ss.43703, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Heating homes during winter poses a significant challenge due to rising electricity demand. Searching for energy-efficient and sustainable solutions is more urgent than ever. Solar energy systems offer a promising alternative to indoor air heating, offering a clean and cost-effective thermal energy source. Thus, in this study, ambient cold air during winter enters a room, where it flows over a photovoltaic (PV) panel surface, cooling the panel to improve its generation efficiency, and the heated air enhances thermal comfort inside the room. The PV panel is integrated with an absorber plate, offering new insights into optimising thermal performance for winter heating. The mathematical model features a solar PV panel at the top of a 1.8-m-high room, with an absorber plate 1.6 m × 0.8 m placed directly above. The air enters through an inlet 0.2 m above the floor, with an outlet positioned at the same height. The study examines Reynolds number variations from 4,000 to 30,000 and solar radiation levels between 100 and 1000 W/m² to assess their combined effect on thermal performance. Findings reveal that higher Reynolds numbers enhance convective heat transfer, improving heat distribution across the room, while increased solar radiation raises the thermal load on the panel and absorber plate. These factors are crucial in optimising heat retention and ensuring stable indoor temperatures during colder months. The results highlight the vital role of fluid dynamics and solar radiation in improving the thermal efficiency of building-integrated renewable energy systems. This research provides valuable insights for designing more energy-efficient solutions for passive and active room heating, offering a pathway to reduce electricity consumption while maintaining indoor comfort during winter.