| Abstract: | Using solar thermal energy is an interesting option for heat-driven air conditioning, e.g. desiccant cooling. In this article, the autonomous operations of a solar desiccant cooling plant powered by direct-flow vacuum-tube collectors are investigated. A model of the solar installation and the desiccant air handling unit is presented and implemented in the SPARK simulation environment and then it is validated experimentally. The overall cooling efficiency of the system is evaluated using simulation for humid and moderately humid climates and the effect of increasing the regeneration temperature on the cooling capacity, the overall cooling efficiency is studied and finally the overall efficiency of the collectors is calculated for the studied cases. |
