摘要
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•Effective thermal control of tiles, sub-tile air, and attic layers is achieved.•Carefully selected PCM and optimized fins are integrated beneath the solar tiles.•Thermal management leverages latent heat, heat capacity, and conduction resistance.•Thermal-managed solar tiles yield > 10 % more power without additional energy input.•Thermal management adds negligible heat load to the attic and indoor environment.
Solar roof tiles (SRTs) are a common form of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), but their performance is strongly limited by high operating temperatures. While various passive cooling methods have been proposed, few studies have addressed the impact on both power throughput and the thermal comfort of building occupants. This study presents a novel thermal management strategy that targets not only the SRTs but also the underlying air and attic layers. A composite structure comprising phase change material (PCM) plates and optimized metallic fins is installed beneath the SRTs. The design leverages the latent heat of the PCM, increased thermal capacitance, and enhanced thermal resistance to the building interior. A combined numerical–experimental approach is adopted, including transient simulations and 48-hour continuous field experiments under real weather conditions. Results show that the proposed system reduces the peak SRT temperature by up to 16.6 °C and delays its occurrence, maintaining larger power generation during peak irradiance hours. Daily electricity generation is enhanced by over 10 % without any additional energy input. Furthermore, any increase in downward heat flux remains below 10 W/m2, indicating a negligible thermal burden on the attic space and occupants. These results highlight an effective and energy-free strategy for improving the overall performance of BIPV systems.