Study of a solar powered solid adsorption–desiccant cooling system used for grain storage

A hybrid solar cooling system, which combines the technologies of rotary desiccant dehumidification and solid adsorption refrigeration, has been proposed for cooling grain. The key components of the system are a rotary desiccant wheel and a solar adsorption collector. The former is used for dehumidification and the later acts as both an adsorption unit and a solar collector. The heating load from sunshine can thus be reduced to a greater extent since the solar adsorption collector is placed on the roof of the grain depot. Compared with the solid adsorption refrigeration system alone, the new hybrid system performs better. Under typical conditions, the coefficient of performance of the system is >0.4 and the outlet temperature is <20°C. It is believed that the system can be used widely in the regions with abundant solar resources due to such advantages as environmental protection, energy saving and low operation costs. Additionally, some parameters, for example, ambient conditions, the effectiveness of the heat exchanger and evaporative cooler, mass air-flow rate, etc., which affect system performance, are also analyzed.     

A novel solar bi-ejector refrigeration system and the performance of the added injector with different structures and operation parameters

A novel solar bi-ejector refrigeration system was investigated, whose difference compared to the traditional system is that the circulation pump is replaced by a thermal injector. The new system works more stably and needs less maintenance work than the old one, and the whole system can more fully utilize the solar energy. The mathematical models for calculating the performance of the injector and the whole solar refrigeration system were established. The pressure rise performance of injector under different structure and operation parameters and the performance of solar bi-ejector refrigeration system were studied with R123. The results show that the discharged pressure of injector is affected by structure dimensions of injector and operation conditions. With increasing generation temperature, the entrainment ratio of ejector becomes better while that of injector becomes worse and the overall thermal efficiency of the solar bi-ejector refrigeration system first increases and then decreases with an optimum value of 0.132 at generation temperature of 105 °C, condensation temperature of 35 °C and evaporation temperature of 10 °C.     

采用不同集热器的太阳能吸收式制冷系统经济性分析

以能源平均成本和动态投资回收期为经济性指标,对采用平板集热器、真空管集热器、复合抛物面集热器和槽式集热器驱动的太阳能单效溴化锂吸收式制冷系统进行了对比分析,同时以?效率和动态投资回收期为目标对优选的太阳能制冷系统进行了多目标优化。结果表明：采用真空管集热器的太阳能制冷系统的能源平均成本最低及动态投资回收期最短;发生器热水进口温度存在最优值使得系统?效率最高,能源平均成本最低;增加系统装机容量可有效降低系统的能源平均成本并且缩短投资回收期;太阳辐照强度越大,太阳能制冷系统的能源平均成本越低及投资回收期越短。此外,多目标优化结果表明发生器热水进口温度存在最优值可使得综合目标函数取得最小值。     

新型平板式太阳能冷热联供装置

在积累了太阳固体吸附式制冷循环研究的基础上，与现有的平板式太阳热水器制造技术紧密结合，提出了平板式太阳冷热联供循环方式，并在实验室内成功地制作了实物样机。该装置能有效地回收太阳固体吸附式制冷不中吸附床的显热及吸附热，且操作简便。实验结果有效地支持了所提出的设想，为太阳固体吸附式制冷的实用化应用打下了良好基础。     

Exergetic optimization of flat plate solar collectors

In this paper, an exergetic optimization of flat plate solar collectors is developed to determine the optimal performance and design parameters of these solar to thermal energy conversion systems. A detailed energy and exergy analysis is carried out for evaluating the thermal and optical performance, exergy flows and losses as well as exergetic efficiency for a typical flat plate solar collector under given operating conditions. In this analysis, the following geometric and operating parameters are considered as variables: the absorber plate area, dimensions of solar collector, pipes' diameter, mass flow rate, fluid inlet, outlet temperature, the overall loss coefficient, etc. A simulation program is developed for the thermal and exergetic calculations. The results of this computational program are in good agreement with the experimental measurements noted in the previous literature. Finally, the exergetic optimization has been carried out under given design and operating conditions and the optimum values of the mass flow rate, the absorber plate area and the maximum exergy efficiency have been found. Thus, more accurate results and beneficial applications of the exergy method in the design of solar collectors have been obtained.     

太阳能喷射/压缩复合制冷循环性能研究

研究了一种太阳能喷射/压缩复合制冷循环,由太阳能集热子系统、喷射制冷子系统及压缩制冷子系统组成,系统充分利用热电两种能源以及两种制冷方法各自的优点,优化喷射制冷子系统工作性能的同时,改善压缩式子系统的工作条件,从而提高复合制冷循环性能的同时节约高品位电能。采用性能较好的高蒸发温度式喷射制冷带走压缩机排气余热具有实际意义。通过数值模拟的手段分析系统性能及其主要影响因素,并优化工作条件。研究表明,与相同工作条件下的单压缩制冷循环相比,复合制冷循环工作日全天候运行时电力性能系数提升约为31.5%,节电优势显著。存在一个最佳的喷射子系统蒸发温度使得复合制冷循环性能系数达到运行工况的最大值。     

太阳能喷射式制冷功冷联供系统

以太阳能为驱动热源,基于喷射式制冷和ORC,构建一种太阳能喷射式制冷功冷联供系统,该系统分为太阳能集热子系统和功冷联供子系统两部分。以R161为功冷联供子系统循环工质,通过Matlab建立该系统热力学模型,对其性能进行模拟,在设计工况下该系统制冷量为2.893 kW,净输出功为1.594 kW,功冷联供子系统制冷效率为12.47%,发电效率为6.87%,效率为41.45%。通过分析可知,该系统损占比较大的部件依次为太阳能集热器（73.3%）、发生器（12.14%）、蒸发器（5.03%）和透平（4.81%）。考虑到实际过程,分别研究系统内部参数改变和外部环境参数改变,对系统的影响,发现高低压发生器的温升由利于系统性能的提升,同时环境温度的升高以及太阳辐照度的提升均可改善集热器效率,从而提升系统性能。     

太阳能冷管的研究及其进展

太阳能冷管以沸石分子筛—水为工质对，在一根玻璃管内完成吸附式制冷循环，一根冷管即为一个制冷单元，成功地解决了太阳能吸附式制冷技术难以转化为成果的问题。本文综述了作者近几年来对太阳能冷管首创性提出，以及其结构性能的研制和改进情况。采用真空集热方式和选择性涂层加强冷管对太阳能的吸收，采用整体固化复合吸附剂提高吸附床的吸附和脱附性能。本文还介绍了已制作的三代太阳能冷管型制冷系统的试验样机，在单一提供制冷的基础上，提出了既可以制冷又可以供热水的多功能太阳能冷管。目前，实验结果表明，最新的多功能太阳能冷管COP可达0．268，太阳能制冷与供热的总效率可达87．7％。     

Analytic method for thermal performance and optimization of an absorber plate fin having variable thermal conductivity and overall loss coefficient

The absorber of a collector receives solar energy which is delivered to the transport medium to be carried away as useful energy. During this process, temperature of the absorber plate increases and therefore, thermophysical parameters engaged to determine the thermal performance of an absorber plate varies with temperature of the plate. The present study demonstrates analytically to determine the performance of an absorber plate fin with temperature dependent both thermal conductivity and overall heat loss coefficient. The decomposition method is proposed for the solution methodology. An optimum design analysis has also been carried out. A comparative study has been executed among the present results and that of existed in the published work, and a notable difference in results has been found. Finally, unlike published work, dependency parameters on the performances and optimum design have been highlighted.     

Theoretical study of a transcritical ejector refrigeration cycle with refrigerant R143a

In this paper, a transcritical ejector refrigeration cycle (TERC) using refrigerant R143a as working fluid is proposed to improve the performance of the ejector refrigeration systems driven by low-grade thermal energy. This method adopts an adequate combination of thermal and mechanical energy through the operation of the transcritical process for generator to enhance the performance of the conventional ejector refrigeration cycle (ERC) at the cost of additional driving mechanical energy. The performance characteristics of the TERC are investigated based on theoretical simulations. The TERC is also compared with the conventional ERC using refrigerant R134a. The study shows that when utilizing the low-grade thermal energy, the TERC yields significant increase in COP by adding auxiliary mechanical energy of the cycle pump and has a higher potential in making effective use of the low-grade thermal energy with gradient temperature, such as solar energy gained by a flat plate or evacuated tube solar collector. This also indicates that the TERC is an attractive alternative to the ejector refrigeration systems driven by low-grade thermal energy. Further experimental work for the TERC may be launched in the near future to verify practical applications.     

降低吸附式制冷系统驱动热源温度的研究进展

吸附式制冷是一种环境友好的制冷方式,可以利用低品位热能提供冷量,因此具有重要的节能意义。目前,吸附式制冷技术在太阳能热利用、工业余热利用等中低温余热领域已有应用,但对低于60℃热源的利用实例较少。降低吸附式制冷系统所需的驱动热源温度是扩大吸附式制冷系统使用范围的重要手段。吸附式制冷系统所需驱动热源温度与系统循环方式、吸附剂性能等因素密切相关。从二级/多级吸附式制冷循环、表面酸性强度与孔结构等影响吸附剂再生温度方面阐述了降低吸附式制冷系统驱动热源温度技术的国内外研究现状。分析结果显示,多级循环吸附式制冷系统可以降低装置的驱动热源温度,但装置结构较为复杂;低再生温度吸附剂能够拓宽吸附式制冷装置的驱动热源温度范围,吸附剂的脱附温度与表面极性、酸性、孔结构等参数有关,对吸附剂进行改性,吸附剂极性弱、酸性低的表面特性有利于降低脱附温度。另外,还介绍了数据中心余热驱动的吸附式制冷技术。开展降低吸附式制冷系统驱动热源温度的研究为低温余热高效利用提供了技术参考。     

Theoretical variations of the thermal performance of different solar collectors and solar combi systems as function of the varying yearly weather conditions in Denmark

The thermal performances of solar collectors and solar combi systems with different solar fractions are studied under the influence of the Danish design reference year, DRY data file, and measured weather data from a solar radiation measurement station situated at the Technical University of Denmark in Kgs. Lyngby. The data from DRY data file are used for any location in Denmark. The thermal performances of the solar heating systems are calculated by means of validated computer models. The measured yearly solar radiation varies by approximately 23% in the period from 1990 until 2002, and the investigations show that it is not possible to predict the yearly solar radiation on a tilted surface based on the yearly global radiation.The annual thermal performance of solar combi systems cannot with reasonable approximation be fitted to a linear function of the annual total radiation on the solar collector or the annual global radiation. Solar combi systems with high efficient solar collectors are more influenced by weather variations from one year to another than systems with low efficient solar collectors.The annual thermal performance of solar collectors cannot be predicted from the global radiation, but both the annual thermal performance and the annual utilized solar energy can with a reasonable approximation be fitted to a linear function of the yearly solar radiation on the collector for both flat plate and evacuated tubular solar collectors. Also evacuated tubular solar collectors utilize less sunny years with large parts of diffuse radiation relatively better than flat plate collectors.     

Energy and exergy analysis of novel solar bi‐ejector refrigeration system with injector

Energy and exergy balances were done on a novel solar bi‐ejector refrigeration system with R123, whose circulation pump is replaced by an injector. The analysis result of the novel system was compared with that of the original one. The effect of operation condition on system energy efficiency, exergy efficiency and exergy loss was analyzed, and the dynamic performance of a designed solar bi‐ejector refrigeration system was also studied. The comparative results indicate that under the same operating condition, the novel system and the original system have equal energy efficiency, exergy efficiency and exergy loss, and the only difference between them is the exergy losses of the generators and the added injector. The other conclusions mainly include: the solar collector has the largest exergy loss rate of over 90% and for the bi‐ejector refrigeration subcycle, the ejector has the largest exergy loss rate of about 5%; the total exergy loss changes inversely proportional to the evaporation temperature and positively proportional to the condensation temperature; when the other parameters are fixed, there exists an optimum generation temperature, at which the overall energy and exergy efficiencies are both the maximum and the total exergy loss is the minimum. The study points out the direction for optimizing the novel solar bi‐ejector refrigeration system. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental study of CPC type ICS solar systems

Extensive experimental study on solar water heaters, which were developed in our laboratory, is presented. These solar devices are integrated collector storage (ICS) systems with single horizontal cylindrical storage tank properly placed in symmetric CPC type reflector trough. In this paper we study ICS solar systems, which differ in storage tank diameter and correlate their thermal performance and the ratios of the stored water volume per aperture area and also per total external surface area. Based on the results of this study and aiming to achieve improved ICS systems, we considered an effective tank diameter and we extracted by outdoor tests the performance of a number of experimental models differing in the absorbing surface, reflector and transparent cover. We calculated the mean daily efficiency and the thermal loss coefficient during night of each system combination. In addition, 24 h and four days operation diagrams of the variation of water temperature of the studied ICS systems are compared with the corresponding diagrams of two flat plate thermosiphonic units with mat black and selective absorbing surface, respectively. The experimental results show that ICS system with selective absorbing surface, high transmissivity of the transparent cover and high reflectance of its reflector surface performs efficiently enough, both during the day and night operation, approaching the thermal performance of the corresponding thermosiphonic unit of flat plate collector with selective absorber.     

The thermal and economic characteristics of solar air collectors with different delta turbulators arrangement

The benefits of using a solar air collector with different array delta turbulators absorber plate are experimentally investigated to assess this type of collector under western and middle of Iraq climate conditions. The solar collector was investigated with four different absorber plate in which flat plate, in‐line delta turbulators, staggered delta turbulators and inclined staggered delta turbulators with different mass airflow rate. The economic characteristics and overall thermal performance of the collector are compared with other heating systems. The major findings show that the delta turbulators enhance the economic characteristics and the overall thermal performance of collectors due to vortex generation and damping the development of the thermal boundary layer in the direction of airflow. A substantial enhancement is observed in lowering both life‐cycle cost and increasing energy saving with delta turbulators. This study will likewise provide a new direction to the work trend in western and middle of Iraq climate conditions during winter days.     

Numerically assisted analysis of flat and corrugated plate solar collectors thermal performances

The paper presents the results of experimentally supported numerical analysis performed in order to investigate the possibilities to improve the thermal efficiency of plate solar collectors. Different numerical models were developed in order to asses the influence of design and operating parameters such as bond conductance between absorber plate and tube, tube diameter, glass cover to absorber plate distance, optical properties of absorber and flow rate on thermal efficiency of collectors. Following the results, two designs of collector without tubes, with parallel flat and corrugated absorber plates of chevron type, is further considered and shown to be an effective way to increase the thermal efficiency of solar energy conversion beyond that of commercial glazed and unglazed solar water heaters. Based on the results, the guidelines for design of a new collector prototype consisting of chevron type corrugated plates normally used in plate heat exchangers are provided.     

Performance analysis of a double-pass photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) solar collector with CPC and fins

The use of PV/T in combination with concentrating reflectors has a potential to significantly increase power production from a given solar cell area. A prototype double-pass photovoltaic-thermal solar air collector with CPC and fins has been designed and fabricated and its performance over a range of operating conditions was studied. The absorber of the hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector under investigation consists of an array of solar cells for generating electricity, compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) to increase the radiation intensity falling on the solar cells and fins attached to the back side of the absorber plate to improve heat transfer to the flowing air. Energy balance equations have been developed for the various nodes of the system. Both thermal and electrical performance of the collector are presented and discussed.     

Thermohydraulic performance of solar air heaters with roughened absorber plates

Artificial roughness has been found to enhance the heat transfer from the absorber plate to the air in a solar air heater duct. However, this improvement is invariably accompanied by increased pumping power. In this work, the effect of roughness and operating parameters on the thermal as well as the hydraulic performance of roughened solar air heaters is discussed and the thermohydraulic performance of roughened solar air heaters is compared with that of conventional smooth solar air heaters. The optimum design and operating conditions have been determined. On the basis of thermohydraulic considerations it has been found that the systems operating in a specified range of Reynolds number show better thermohydraulic performance depending upon the insolation. A relationship between the system and operating parameters that combine to yield optimum performance has been developed.     

Comparative study of different solar cooling systems for buildings in subtropical city

In recent years, more and more attention has been paid on the application potential of solar cooling for buildings. Due to the fact that the efficiency of solar collectors is generally low at the time being, the effectiveness of solar cooling would be closely related to the availability of solar irradiation, climatic conditions and geographical location of a place. In this paper, five types of solar cooling systems were involved in a comparative study for subtropical city, which is commonly featured with long hot and humid summer. The solar cooling systems included the solar electric compression refrigeration, solar mechanical compression refrigeration, solar absorption refrigeration, solar adsorption refrigeration and solar solid desiccant cooling. Component-based simulation models of these systems were developed, and their performances were evaluated throughout a year. The key performance indicators are solar fraction, coefficient of performance, solar thermal gain, and primary energy consumption. In addition, different installation strategies and types of solar collectors were compared for each kind of solar cooling system. Through this comparative study, it was found that solar electric compression refrigeration and solar absorption refrigeration had the highest energy saving potential in the subtropical Hong Kong. The former is to make use of the solar electric gain, while the latter is to adopt the solar thermal gain. These two solar cooling systems would have even better performances through the continual advancement of the solar collectors. It will provide a promising application potential of solar cooling for buildings in the subtropical region.     

Design optimization of the flat plate collector for a solid absorption solar refrigerator

A study of the effects of various collector design parameters on the performance of a solar powered solid absorption refrigerator is presented. The refrigerator uses specially treated CaCl₂ as absorbent and NH₃ as refrigerant and operates intermittently in a diurnal cycle. The study is undertaken using version 4.0 of a simulation programme, COSSOR, developed from a transient analysis of the system. A large number of simulations was undertaken to test the performance of the refrigerator for various choices of the collector design parameters. The latter include the plate emissivity and material; absorbent pellet diameter, thermal conductivity and packing density; collector tube size, spacing and material; and number of glazing. The refrigerator performance indicators, namely total condensate yield, mass of ice produced, coefficient of performance and effective cooling, are presented for the range of values of the collector parameters of interest. Using a multiple linear regression technique, the performance indicators are correlated with the collector parameters by simple linear polynomial expressions. An objective function, suitable for selecting optimal values of the parameters, is defined, subject to specified constraints. Optimization was then carried out for the objective function. For the collector with steel tubes and steel plate, the refrigerator coefficient of performance obtained with optimal choices of tube size, spacing and plate emissivity is 0.073, representing an improvement of at least 30% with respect to the reference collector. A similar level of improvement was obtained for a collector with aluminium tubes and plate.