Performance-based architectural design, simulation and optimisation of complex building integrated photovoltaics

Digital tools has become inevitable in today architectural design process. New concepts emerge constantly in the area of performance simulation and optimisation, leading the design process towards being performance-based. However, building performance simulation is mostly used in the later design stages, without informing conceptual early stage design, when critical design decisions are made. In the case of designing Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) façade for achieving Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB), lack of tools, even for detailed design stages, means that architects cannot comprehend major added value of BIPV, energy production, with ease and having trouble to justify increase in the investment cost. Furthermore, lack of designed BIPV that have outstanding aesthetic prevents them from being object of desire. This thesis proposes an expert system for early stage architectural design of complex BIPV facades, aimed to assist architects designing and optimising BIPV thus eventually approaching ZEB target. The system consists of two phases. The first phase aims to calculate and assign performances with the all possible angle settings for different BIPV products and store them in a Performance Knowledge Database (PKD). The second phase is related to the design process where tool that interprets the PKD information and, with the significantly reduced time for calculation and need for expertise, proposes optimal façade layouts to the user according to the previously set input criteria. The methodology uses parametric design framework, within Rhinoceros 3D design environment, to support the design versioning with the live updates of the design states performances and suggestions for improvement. The thesis is structured in three parts. Introduction part containing theoretical background and overview of the thesis context and research fields, as well as need and motivation for the research. Second part represents state-of-the-art review of the currently available methods and tools for solar design, simulation and optimisation. Third part shows complete expert system methodology consisting of development and validation of the ray tracing tool used to create PKD, PKD assessment and expert system design workflow. Third part contains expert system validation and evaluation, providing information on its reliability and effectiveness and its potential to assist design process.