Comparative study of internal storage and external storage absorption cooling systems

This work presents a comparative study of the performance of absorption cooling systems with internal storage and with external storage. A full dynamic simulation model including the solar collector field, the absorption heat pump system and the building loads has been performed. The first system is composed by four heat pumps that store energy in the form of crystallized salts so that no external storage capacity is required. The second one is a conventional system composed of one liquid absorption pump and external storage in a water tank. Many batteries of simulations have been done to evaluate the performance of these cooling machines when varying solar field surface, solar collector’s efficiency curve and the storage capacity of the systems. Two different indices have been calculated to analyze the response of both systems: Solar Fraction and Primary Energy Ratio. The comparison between both absorption chillers indicates that in order to reach similar values of storage energy, conventional system has a greater room requirement than four units with internal storage working in parallel, requiring an external water tank of at least 15 m³.     

Modelling,simulation and warming impact assessment of a domestic-size absorption solar cooling system

In this paper the modelling, simulation and total equivalent warming impact (TEWI) of a domestic-size absorption solar cooling system is presented. The system consists of a solar collector, storage tank, a boiler and a LiBr–water absorption refrigerator. Experimentally determined heat and mass transfer coefficients were employed in the design and costing of an 11 kW cooling capacity solar driven absorption cooling machine which, from simulations, was found to have sufficient capacity to satisfy the cooling needs of a well insulated domestic dwelling. The system is modelled with the TRNSYS simulation program using appropriate equations predicting the performance of the unit. The final optimum system consists of 15 m² compound parabolic collector tilted at 30° from horizontal and 600 l hot water storage tank. The total life cycle cost of a complete system, comprising the collector and the absorption unit, for a lifetime of 20 years will be of the order of C£ 13,380. The cost of the absorption system alone was determined to be C£ 4800. Economic analysis has shown that for such a system to be economically competitive compared to conventional cooling systems its capital cost should be below C£ 2000. The system however has a lower TEWI being 1.2 times smaller compared to conventional cooling systems.     

Modelling and simulation of an absorption solar cooling system for Cyprus

In this paper a modelling and simulation of an absorption solar cooling system is presented. The system is modelled with the TRNSYS simulation program and the typical meteorological year file containing the weather parameters of Nicosia, Cyprus. Initially a system optimisation is carried out in order to select the appropriate type of collector, the optimum size of storage tank, the optimum collector slope and area, and the optimum thermostat setting of the auxiliary boiler. The final optimised system consists of a 15-m² compound parabolic collector tilted 30° from the horizontal and a 600-l hot water storage tank. The collector area is determined by performing the life cycle analysis of the system. The optimum solar system selected gives life cycle savings of C£1376 when a nonsubsidized fuel cost is considered. The system operates with maximum performance when the auxiliary boiler thermostat is set at 87°C. The system long-term integrated performance shows that 84,240 MJ required for cooling and 41,263 MJ for hot water production are supplied with solar energy.     

Modeling of the CSU heating/cooling system

This paper resents a thermal simulation of the Colorado State University solar house. A computer model of the solar energy system was developed and computer runs were made using one year of meteorological data to determine the important design features. The system consists of a flat plate solar collector, main storage tank, service hot water storage tank, auxiliary heater, absorption air conditioner with cooling tower and heat exchangers between the collector and storage, storage and service hot water tank and storage and residence. This system very closely models the CSU house in operating mode one.The results are in the form of monthly integrated values for the pertinent energy quantities. In addition, results are presented which show the effect on the system performance of the collector tilt, collector area and number of covers.     

Design and test results of a low-capacity solar cooling system in Alicante (Spain)

Despite its attractiveness, solar cooling technology is still in an early stage of development. Most installations currently in operation show differences in the collector area per kilowatt of cooling capacity that cannot be explained only by project-specific circumstances. The purpose of this paper was twofold. First, to answer some questions that came up during the design process of the plant by using a TRNSYS system model and statistical tools. Second, to gain knowledge about the plant operation and validate the TRNSYS model through measured data. The system was equipped with a flat-plate collector field of 38.4 m². A lithium bromide-water single-effect absorption chiller (17.6 kW) was selected in order to provide chilled water to fan-coils. Performance data were registered at the solar plant working with a 1000-l heat storage tank and a required temperature of 80 °C to drive the absorption machine. An average of 29% of the solar energy incident on the solar collectors’ surface was transferred to the hot water storage. The registered average COP of the absorption chiller was 0.691. The performance data were compared with the values predicted by the TRNSYS plant model and a high level of agreement was obtained.     

A comparison of solar absorption system configurations

Solar thermal driven cooling systems for residential applications are a promising alternative to electric compression chillers, although its market introduction still represents a challenge, mainly due to the higher investment costs. The most common system configuration is an absorption chiller driven by a solar thermal system, backed up by a secondary heating source, normally a gas boiler. Heat storage in the primary (solar) circuit is mandatory to stabilize and extend the operation of the chiller, whereas a cold storage tank is not so common.This paper deals with the selection of the most suitable configuration for residential cooling systems with solar energy. In Spain, where cooling needs are usually higher than heating needs, the interest of a reversible heat pump as auxiliary system and a secondary cooling storage are analyzed.A complete TRNSYS model has been developed to compare a configuration with just hot storage (of typical capacity 40 L/m² of solar collector surface) and a configuration with both, hot and cool storages. The most suitable configuration is very sensible to the solar collector area. As the collector area increases, the advantages of a cool storage vanish. Increasing the collector area tends to increase the temperature of the hot storage, leading to higher thermal losses in both the collector and the tank. When the storage volume is concentrated in one tank, these effects are mitigated. The effect of other variables on the optimal configuration are also analyzed: collector efficiency curve, COP of the absorption chiller, storage size, and temperature set-points of the chillers.     

Yearly simulation of a solar-aided R22-DEGDME absorption heat pump system

The performance of a solar-aided R22-DEGDME absorption heat pump system designed for 100 kW cooling capacity is investigated by a computer simulation using hourly data for Ankara. In summer the generator, and in winter the evaporator, receives solar energy while the remaining demands are met by auxiliary heaters. When needed, these boost the temperature of the water from the storage tank to the minimum allowable levels which are determined as 20°C in winter and over 80°C in summer. The system performance, judged by the fraction of the load supplied from solar energy, is affected mostly from the climate, source temperature limit, collector type and area but little from storage tank size, for the sizes and configuration under investigation. With 400 m² of high efficiency collectors, the solar energy supplied 38% of the demand in winter and 91% of the demand in summer.     

Experimental investigation and theoretical analysis of the solar adsorption cooling system in a green building

A solar adsorption cooling system was constructed in the green building of Shanghai Institute of Building Science. The system consisted of evacuated tube solar collector arrays of area 150 m², two adsorption chillers with nominal cooling capacity of 8.5 kW for each and a hot water storage tank of 2.5 m³ in volume. A mathematical model of the system was established. According to experimental results under typical weather condition of Shanghai, the average cooling capacity of the system was 15.3 kW during continuous operation for 8 h. The theoretical analysis of the system was verified and found to agree well with the experimental results. The performance analysis showed that solar radiant intensity had a more distinct influence on the performance of solar adsorption cooling system as compared with ambient temperature. It was observed that the cooling capacity increased with the increase of solar collector area, whereas, solar collecting efficiency varied quite contrary. With the increase of water tank volume, cooling capacity decreased, while, the solar collecting efficiency increased. The system performances can be enhanced by increasing the height-to-diameter ratio of water tank. Additionally, it was observed that solar collecting efficiency decreased with the increase of the initial temperature of water in the tank; however, cooling capacity varied on the contrary. Also can be seen is that optimum nondimensional mass flow rate is 0.7 when the specific mass flow rate exceeds 0.012 kg/m² s.     

太阳能吸收式空调及供热系统的设计和性能

一套太阳能吸收式空调及供热综合系统已在山东省乳山市建成。该系统由热管式真空管集热器、溴化锂吸收式制冷机、储水箱、循环、冷却塔、空调箱、辅助燃油锅炉和自动控制系统等内部分组成，具有夏季制冷、冬季供热和全年提供生活用热水等功能。太阳能集热器总采光面积540m∧2，制冷、供热功率100kW，空调、采暖建筑面积1000m∧2供生活用热水量32m∧3／d。文中着重介绍了系统的设计特点和测试性能。     

Performance of a solar-powered air conditioning system in Hong Kong

To study the feasibility of utilizing solar power for comfort cooling in Hong Kong, a solar-powered absorption air-conditioning system was designed and successfully constructed on the campus of the University of Hong Kong (HKU). The system consisted of a flat-plate collector array with a surface area of 38.2 m², a 4.7-kW nominal cooling capacity LiBr---H₂O absorption chiller, a 2.75-m³ hot-water storage tank, a cooling tower, a fan-coil unit, an electrical auxiliary heater, a data-acquisition system and the associated control systems. In the present paper, the design of the HKU solar-powered air-conditioning system is described in detail and its performance over an entire cooling season is also discussed and compared with similar systems in Italy and Singapore. It was found that the HKU solar air-conditioning system had an annual system efficiency of 7.8% and an average solar fraction of 55%.     

Simulation and optimization of a LiBr solar absorption cooling system with evacuated tube collectors

Solar radiation is a clean form of energy, which is required for almost all natural processes on earth. Solar-powered air-conditioning has many advantages when compared to a conventional electrical system. This paper presents a solar cooling system that has been designed for Malaysia and similar tropical regions using evacuated tube solar collectors and LiBr absorption unit. The modeling and simulation of the absorption solar cooling system is carried out with TRNSYS program. The typical meteorological year file containing the weather parameters for Malaysia is used to simulate the system. The results presented show that the system is in phase with the weather, i.e. the cooling demand is large during periods that the solar radiation is high. In order to achieve continuous operation and increase the reliability of the system, a 0.8 m³ hot water storage tank is essential. The optimum system for Malaysia's climate for a 3.5 kW (1 refrigeration ton) system consists of 35 m² evacuated tubes solar collector sloped at 20°.     

Experimental study of the performance of a solar thermal-photovoltaic integrated system

In this work a self-contained solar heating forced water cooling unit was selected and assembled. It consists of three flat-plate solar collectors, each of area 1.2 m², a.d.c. pump, a photovoltaic module and a storage tank. The electrical power produced by the photovoltaic module operates the d.c. pump, which circulates the cooling water through the solar collectors to transfer the heat to the storage tank. The electrical voltage and current, the water rate of flow, and water temperature at inlet and outlet of the collector were all measured. Solar irradiation, wind speed and ambient temperature were also measured. Daily distribution of electrical current, water mass rate of flow, module efficiency and collector efficiency were plotted in figures. Module efficiency, pump efficiency and collector efficiency were taken as dependent variables, while the solar irradiation, ambient temperature and time were the independent variables. Optimum values were graphically indicated and related to each other in a clear discussion. An economic study and comparison of three different systems were carried out: a common thermosyphon system; an a.c. pump circulating system; and this system, which is a d.c. pump circulating system. Results revealed that collector efficiency reached a daily average value of 47% due to d.c. pump installation powered by photovoltaic electric output.     

An experimental investigation into the performance of a domestic thermosyphon solar water heater under varying operating conditions

An experimental investigation has been carried out on a thermosyphon solar water heater. The system consisted of a flat-plate collector of 1.5 m² absorber area with 21 tubes/m width and storage tank of 125 litre capacity. Experiments were carried out for both cloudy and clear weather conditions in winter and summer. The hourly system performance was evaluated for all test conditions. The final mean tank temperature was measured daily which enabled the calculation of the possible contribution of solar energy for domestic hot water supply in Basrah, Iraq (latitude 30.76°N). The system was tested at both no-load and loading conditions. Intermittent and continuous load was imposed, and system performance was evaluated for each condition.     

风冷式太阳能吸收式制冷机性能模拟研究

在环境温度和太阳辐射动态变化的情况下,对制冷量为5 kW的风冷式太阳能吸收式制冷机的性能进行了模拟,得出了集热器出口水温和热水储槽温度随时间变化的规律曲线以及在此规律的影响下吸收式制冷机的性能曲线.模拟结果表明风冷式太阳能吸收式制冷机在理论上是切实可行的,但是环境温度的变化以及风冷系统的散热能力对系统性能有较大的影响,环境温度的升高会使需要风冷降温的冷凝器、吸收器温度升高,从而提高了发生温度的要求,这不利于太阳能的利用和系统的制冷.为此需要强化冷凝器和吸收器的散热效果,来降低境温度对系统的不利影响.     

Performance assessment of an integrated free cooling and solar powered single-effect lithium bromide-water absorption chiller

In this study, performance assessment of an integrated cooling plant having both free cooling system and solar powered single-effect lithium bromide–water absorption chiller in operation since August 2002 in Oberhausen, Germany, was performed. A floor space of 270 m² is air-conditioned by the plant. The plant includes 35.17 kW cooling (10-RT) absorption chiller, vacuum tube collectors’ aperture area of 108 m², hot water storage capacity of 6.8 m³, cold water storage capacity of 1.5 m³ and a 134 kW cooling tower. The results show that free cooling in some cooling months can be up to 70% while it is about 25% during the 5 years period of the plant operation. For sunny clear sky days with equal incident solar radiation, the daily solar heat fraction ranged from 0.33 to 0.41, collectors’ field efficiency ranged from 0.352 to 0.492 and chiller COP varies from 0.37 to 0.81, respectively. The monthly average value of solar heat fraction varies from 31.1% up to 100% and the five years average value of about 60%. The monthly average collectors’ field efficiency value varies from 34.1% up 41.8% and the five-year average value amounts about 28.3%. Based on the obtained results, the specific collector area is 4.23 (m²/kW_cold) and the solar energy system support of the institute heating system for the duration from August 2002 to November 2007 is 8124 kWh.     

Performance study of a partitioned thermally stratified storage tank in a solar powered absorption air conditioning system

Accurate modeling of solar heating or cooling with storage generally requires an accounting of the stratification within such storage tank, since overall system performance is significantly affected by the storage temperature distribution. In this study, a simple one-dimensional multi-node approach, taking into account of the axial heat conduction between nodes, has been used to theoretically analyze temperature stratification in the thermal storage tank. The results indicate that, for less collector area, the heat removal factor plays a major role in increasing the system performance, than the thermal stratification. Also, an optimum ratio of tank volume over collector area exists for a solar powered absorption air conditioning system. This paper also reviews the state of the art on different kinds of variable inlet design, and a simple new inlet design (partitioning the tank) has been introduced to effect better thermal stratification in storage tank.     

Effect of storage tanks on solar-powered absorption chiller cooling system performance

Thermal storage, low power tariff at night, and low nocturnal temperature can be used in synergy to reduce the cooling costs of the solar-powered absorption chiller cooling systems. This study aims to reduce the required cooling capacity of an absorption chiller (ACH) powered by a solar parabolic trough collector (PTC) and a backup fuel boiler by integrating thermal storage tanks. The thermal performance of the system is simulated for a building that is cooled for 14 h/day. The system uses 1000 m² PTC with 1020 kW ACH. Chilled water storage (CHWS) and cooling water storage (CWS) effects on the system performance for different operation hours per day of the ACH under Izmir (Turkey) and Phoenix (USA) weather conditions are analyzed. When the ACH operates 14 h/day as the load for both systems and both locations, the variations of the solar collector efficiency and the cooling load to heat input ratio remain less than 4% after the modifications. From the addition of CHWS to the reference system, a parametric study consisting of changing the ACH operation hours per day shows that the required cooling capacity of the ACH can be reduced to 34%. The capacity factor of the ACH is improved from its reference value of 41% up to 96%.     

Economical and environmental assessment of an optimized solar cooling system for a medium-sized benchmark office building in Los Angeles,California

This paper presents a systematic energetic, economical, and environmental assessment on a solar cooling system for a medium-sized office building in Los Angeles, California by means of system modeling. The studied solar cooling system primarily consists of evacuated tube solar collectors, a hot water storage tank, a single-effect LiBr–H₂O absorption chiller, and a gas-fired auxiliary heater. System performance optimization and sensitivity analysis were conducted by varying two major parameters (i.e. storage tank volume and collector area). The results suggest that a trade-off exists between economic performance indicated by the equivalent uniform annual cost (EUAC) and the energetic/environmental performance indicated by the solar fraction and CO₂ reduction percentage, respectively. The cost of carbon footprint reduction was defined and served as an indicator for the overall system performance. Based on this indicator, the optimal system design could be found for a solar cooling system. The approach adapted in this study can be applied to other buildings located in different climate zones to reveal the cost and benefits of solar cooling technologies and facilitate decision-making.     

Solar operated absorption air-conditioner for a Kufra house

The use of solar energy for domestic water heating and space heating has proved to be viable. Space cooling is another promising avenue for utilization of solar energy. Solar operated absorption air-conditioning systems, in different situations, have been found to be feasible. Such systems can make use of the expensive collectors which are, in any case, installed for water and space heating.

In this paper the cooling of a prototype house, in Kufra, is reported. Starting with measured radiation and ambient data, calculations are performed on an hourly basis to determine the cooling load, radiation in the collector plane, heat delivered by the collectors and the heat stored in or discharged from the storage tank. Three different types of collectors with varying efficiencies are considered. These collectors are of the evacuated tube, selective coated and black painted types. The study confirms that the water-lithium bromide absorption system can provide summer air conditioning in arid zones of Jamahiriya where there are diffuclties with the supply of electricity and fossil fuels.