Collimated solar energy allocation in smart window using Monte Carlo ray-tracing method

A solar radiative heat transfer model has been developed to study the collimated solar energy harvest in a smart window consisting of multiple silica glass louvers filled with water. The domain is divided into triangular grids, and Monte Carlo method and ray-tracing method are used to allocate energy harvest into grids. The full solar spectrum is divided into discrete bands, and the solar irradiation intensity on each band is distributed among a huge number of independent energy bundles. Band-averaged spectral properties of medium (silica glass and water) are used on each band. Results of different band division methods and different energy bundle numbers are compared to find optimal fits that are both time-saving and accurate. The influence of solar irradiation incoming direction on energy harvest is also discussed.