An assessment of the feasibility of solar absorption and vapor compression cooling systems

For absorption cooling systems to operate and produce their cooling effects they need both thermal and electrical energy, while vapor compression systems need electrical energy only. When operating on solar energy the absorption system may receive all its thermal energy needs from solar sources while its electrical needs (parasitic power) are to be supplied from conventional sources. In order to conduct a fair comparison between the two cooling systems, it is proposed to supply both systems with equal amounts of conventional power and to supplement the rest of their needs from solar sources. A solar coefficient of performance, defined as the ratio of the refrigeration effect to the solar radiation input, is introduced and used for comparing some parameters of engineering ane economic importance in both systems. Economic analysis of solar cooling systems indicates that their initial cost is a function of both their design capacities and the number of hours of full load operation required to fulfill the total daily cooling demand. It indicates, also, that the initial cost of both solar cooling systems would break even before the cost of their respective solar conversion devices do.