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.     

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.     

基于辐射供冷的太阳能吸收式空调试验研究

对基于辐射供冷的太阳能吸收式空调系统进行了试验。该系统采用96 m2的U型管式真空管太阳能集热器驱动额定制冷量为8 kW的吸收式制冷机组,吸收式制冷机产生的冷冻水被输送到辐射吊顶中,为50 m2的实验室提供夏季空调。吸收式制冷机运行在夏季晴朗天气时,平均制冷量为4.5 kW。辅助独立除湿机组与辐射吊顶联合运行。试验房间的热舒适指标PMV为-0.29~0.32,可满足热舒适要求。     

太阳能双效吸收式空调系统的研究

介绍了太阳能空调技术的研究现状,分析了太阳能溴化锂双效吸收式制冷机的工作原理,提出了采用直通式真空集热管、槽式抛物面聚光机构跟踪和聚焦太阳能加热产生热媒水驱动双效吸收式空调运行的技术构思,并对其结构、工作流程和推广应用进行了研究和展望。     

Choice of thermal energy system for solar absorption cooling

It is essential to operate a solar vapour absorption cooling system only at design conditionsin order to maximize the saving of conventional electrical energy. The paper deals with the analysis of a solar thermal energy system by coupling the collector field, an auxiliary thermal energy source, the thermal energy reservoir and the generator of the absorption chiller in a single closed loop, thus ensuring optimum performance of the chiller at design conditions. This analysis is preceded by a quasi steady-state analysis for the system without the auxiliary source to obtain the temperature history of the reservoir, the hourly thermal energy availability and the resulting cooling effect. The comparative results of the two systems highlight the importance of auxiliary thermal energy source in mximizing the electrical energy saving. The utility of auxiliary energy input is highly attractive because of its high effective COP and higher equivalent electrical conversion efficiency.     

Numerical investigation of a two-stage air-cooled absorption refrigeration system for solar cooling: Cycle analysis and absorption cooling performances

Two-stage air-cooled ammonia–water absorption refrigeration system could make good use of low-grade solar thermal energy to produce cooling effect. The system simulation results show that thermal COP is 0.34 and electrical COP is 26 under a typical summer condition with 85 °C hot water supplied from solar collector. System performances under variable working conditions are also analyzed. Circular finned tube bundles are selected to build the air-cooled equipment. The condenser should be arranged in the front to get an optimum system performance. The mathematical model of the two-stage air-cooled absorber considering simultaneous heat and mass transfer processes is developed. Low pressure absorber should be arranged in front of middle pressure absorber to minimize the absorption length. Configuration of the air-cooled equipment is suggested for a 5 kW cooling capacity system. Temperature and concentration profiles along the finned tube length show that mass transfer resistance mainly exists in liquid phase while heat transfer resistance mainly exists in cooling air side. The impacts on system refrigeration capacities related to absorption behaviors under variable working conditions are also investigated. Both cycle analysis and absorption performances show that two-stage air-cooled ammonia–water absorption chiller is technically feasible in practical solar cooling applications.     

Improvement of an existing solar powered absorption cooling system by means of dynamic simulation and experimental diagnosis

This paper focuses on the validation of a dynamic simulation model used to describe the performance of an existing solar cooling installation located in Zaragoza (Spain). The dynamic model has been developed under the simulation environment TRNSYS. The aim of this simulation model is to dispose of a tool in order to use it to evaluate different energy improvement actions in a real solar cooling installation. This solar cooling installation has been monitored and analyzed since 2007. The COP of this experimental solar cooling system presents a great influence from its heat rejection sink, a dry cooling tower. Once the model was validated with the experimental data obtained from the real installation, it was used to predict the chiller performance with a new geothermal sink, which started to operate in 2009. The present work describes the design and validation model process, as well as the comparison between the model results and the monitoring ones with the geothermal heat rejection system.     

Simulation of an absorption heat pump solar heating and cooling system

An absorption heat pump (AHP) is a heat driven heat pump utilizing the absorption process. A continuous, liquid absorbent AHP with chemical storage is modeled using mass and energy balances and assuming mass transfer equilibrium. This model is used with the TRNSYS program [5] to simulate the performance of an AHP in a residential solar-driven heating and cooling system. The effects of collector area for an AHP using the NaSCN---NH₃ chemical system are investigated for the Columbia, MO, Madison, WI, and Fort Worth, TX climates. The AHP system is compared to a conventional solar heating and cooling system and the effects of heat exchanger effectiveness, storage mass, additional thermal capacitance and alternative control strategies are studied for the Columbia climate.     

Modeling, simulation and optimization of a solar collector driven water heating and absorption cooling plant

A cogeneration system consisting of a solar collector, a gas burner, a thermal storage reservoir, a hot water heat exchanger, and an absorption refrigerator is devised to simultaneously produce heating (hot water heat exchanger) and cooling (absorption refrigerator system). A simplified mathematical model, which combines fundamental and empirical correlations, and principles of classical thermodynamics, mass and heat transfer, is developed. The proposed model is then utilized to simulate numerically the system transient and steady state response under different operating and design conditions. A system global optimization for maximum performance (or minimum exergy destruction) in the search for minimum pull-down and pull-up times, and maximum system second law efficiency is performed with low computational time. Appropriate dimensionless groups are identified and the results presented in normalized charts for general application. The numerical results show that the three way maximized system second law efficiency, η_{II,max,max,max}, occurs when three system characteristic mass flow rates are optimally selected in general terms as dimensionless heat capacity rates, i.e., (ψ_sp,s,ψ_wx,wx,ψ_H,s)_opt≅(1.43,0.23,0.14). The minimum pull-down and pull-up times, and maximum second law efficiencies found with respect to the optimized operating parameters are sharp and, therefore important to be considered in actual design. As a result, the model is expected to be a useful tool for simulation, design, and optimization of solar collector based energy systems.     

Modeling and simulation of solar absorption system performance in Beirut

An analytical study is performed on solar energy utilization in space cooling of a small residential application using a solar lithium bromide absorption system. A simulation program for modeling and performance evaluation of the solar-operated absorption cycle is done for all possible climatic conditions of Beirut. The results have shown that for each ton of refrigeration it is required to have a minimum collector area of 23.3 m² with an optimal water storage tank capacity ranging from 1000 to 1500 liters for the system to operate solely on solar energy for about seven hours a day. The monthly solar fraction of total energy use in cooling is determined as a function of solar collector area and storage tank capacity.An economic assessment is performed based on current cost of conventional cooling systems. It is found that the solar cooling system is marginally competitive only when combined with domestic water heating.     

Simulation and experimental investigation of solar absorption cooling system in Reunion Island

With the development of technologies and the fast increase of our population we will need to adjust the conventional electrical source to meet the continuous increasing demand. Since the energy cost as well as the environmental awareness is growing fast, technologies using renewable energies appear as an interesting alternative. The aim of this research is to present a solar-driven 30 kW LiBr/H₂O single-effect absorption cooling system which has been designed and installed at Institut Universitaire Technologique of Saint Pierre. The first part of this article deals with the simulation of the solar thermal plant. A pilot plant has been setup as part of RAFSOL which is a research program managed by the national research agency (ANR).     

Test and simulation of a solar-powered absorption cooling machine

At the Institut fuer Thermodynamik und Waermetechnik (ITW) a solar cooling machine has been built for demonstration purposes. The main part of the device is an absorber/desorber unit which is mounted inside a concentrating solar collector. The working pair consists of NH₃ used as the refrigerant and SrCl₂ used as the absorbing medium. Performance of the solar refrigeration unit was measured in a field test. The working principle of a periodically working, dry absorption cooling machine will be explained using the demonstration machine as an example. Results obtained from a field test performed in 1995 are presented and discussed. Further, a simulation program for the numerical simulation of a solar-powered dry absorption cooling machine has been developed and tested.     

Simulation of a solar heating and cooling system

This paper presents thermal and economic analyses of a solar heated and air conditioned house in the Albuquerque climate. The system includes the following components: water heating collector, a water storage unit, a service hot water facility, a lithium bromide-water air conditioner (with cooling tower), an auxiliary energy source, and associated controls. The analysis of the thermal performance indicates the dependence of output on collector area (considered as the primary design variable) and shows, for example, the manner in which annual system efficiency decreases as collector area increases. Based on the computed thermal performance, cost estimates are made which show variations in annual cost as functions of collector area and costs of collector and fuel.     

Augmentation of the performance of solar regenerator of open absorption cooling system

In open cycle liquid desiccant air conditioning, the solar collector regenerator is one of the effective ways of regenerating liquid solution. In this work, the regeneration of liquid solution using cross flow of air stream with flowing film of desiccant on the surface of a solar collector/regenerator has been investigated. To evaluate the effect of cross flow of air stream on the performance of the unit, two identical units are constructed and tested in the same conditions of operation. One of the two units was augmented with air blower. The absorber plate is a black cloth layer. The forced air stream, which flows across the absorber removes the moisture from the liquid solution. The regeneration in the other collector/regenerator unit is free. The results show enhancement of regeneration efficiency for the forced cross flow compared with the free regeneration. The effect of concentration and flow rate on the performance is discussed. Two relations for regeneration efficiency as a function of concentration for the two units are introduced.     

Unglazed collector/regenerator performance for a solar assisted open cycle absorption cooling system

This study includes the results of an investigation on a prototype solar assisted absorption cooling system. The liquid absorbents, for example, lithium chloride or lithium bromide used in this type of system absorb water, the refrigerant, in the absorber and require energy input for a subsequent desorption process. An ordinary black shingled roof was used as a collector/regenerator for the evaporation of water to obtain a strong solution of absorbent for use in the absorber. The rate of evaporation from the collector/regenerator determines the overall cooling capacity of the system. Experiments were conducted on a 11 m × 11 m (36 ft × 36 ft) collector/regenerator to measure solution flow rates and concentrations at inlet and outlet, and temperatures at several locations of the collector. Altogether, there were 100 sets of data taken under various environmental and flow conditions. An iterative solution of the equations describing the conservation of mass and energy led to the prediction of local concentrations of the absorbent solution, and local heat and mass transfer coefficients. Correlations for nondimensional heat and mass transfer parameters were developed in terms of local Reynolds number, Grashof number, Prandtl number, Schmidt number, and N, the ratio of buoyancy force due to mass transfer to buoyancy force due to heat transfer. These heat and mass transfer correlations were used for the simulation of performance of the collector/regenerator. A parametric study of the collector/regenerator performance enabled the identification of important variables. A good agreement between these results and those from a warm, humid climate indicates that the simulation model can be used as a tool for the design of systems operating under similar conditions. The experimental results also show a regeneration efficiency varying between 38 and 67%, and the corresponding cooling capacities ranged from 31 to 72 kW (8.8 to 20 tons).     

Modelling and simulation of a wood solar dryer in a Moroccan climate

We present a numerical simulation of the functioning of a wood solar dryer in atmospheric conditions of Moroccan climate. A comparison of our numerical results with experimental measurements carried out on a wood solar dryer shows a good agreement. Results show that drying period is closely linked to glass partitions and timber thickness. The type of ventilation has no effect on the drying period (initial timber humidity lower than 40%). The substitution of east and west glass faces by concrete walls has practically no effect on drying period.     

Exergy analysis of a solar assisted absorption cooling system on an hourly basis in villa applications

A solar assisted absorption refrigeration system (SAARS) was designed for acclimatizing of villas in Mardin which is located in Turkey and the performance of the system under different temperatures was analyzed by using MATLAB. Hourly cooling load calculation of the villas was done between 15th of May and 15th of September by considering the season for the cooling. Cooling capacity of the system (SAARS) was calculated as 106 kW. During the cooling period, the temperature of the environment shows the alteration between 40.3 °C and 13.2 °C. In the study, hourly exergy loss values are calculated with the software developed in matlab program and for the entire components of SAARS. The effect of the temperature alterations of the dead state on the exergy results is determined by taking dead state temperature as 25 °C and with more realistic approach, by taking it as the environment temperature. It was observed that the most of the exergy losses in the system have taken place in the solar collectors and then in the generator. Exergy loss in the collector changes between 10% and 70% while exergy loss in the generator changes between 5% and 8%. The effects of environmental temperature and solar insolation were stated for optimization.     

Design of a solar heating and cooling system for CSU solar house II

This paper describes the design of a solar air heating and night/day exchange cooling system with emphasis on the operational modes. In this type of system the collector absorbs solar energy and converts it to heat for space heating and domestic water heating. Cooling is accomplished by using the cool night air available in dry climates) to cool a pebble-bed storage unit and subsequently using the cool pebbles to lower the air temperature in the building during the day. Circulation is from the solar system to the building in the same manner as most modern heating and air conditioning units but uses air as the medium for heat transfer. The air system is particularly suited for climatic regions where heating loads are high and cooling requirements are moderate. The system utilized in Solar House II operates in either the heating or cooling mode as selected through a seasonable change-over switch. Solar preheated hot water is furnished for domestic use in either mode.     

Optimum hot water temperature for absorption solar cooling

The hot water temperature that maximizes the overall instantaneous efficiency of a solar cooling facility is determined. A modified characteristic equation model is used and applied to single-effect lithium bromide-water absorption chillers. This model is based on the characteristic temperature difference and serves to empirically calculate the performance of real chillers. This paper provides an explicit equation for the optimum temperature of vapor generation, in terms of only the external temperatures of the chiller. The additional data required are the four performance parameters of the chiller and essentially a modified stagnation temperature from the detailed model of the thermal collector operation. This paper presents and discusses the results for small capacity machines for air conditioning of homes and small buildings. The discussion highlights the influence of the relevant parameters.