Solar-powered single-and double-effect directly air-cooled LiBr-H2O absorption prototype built as a single unit Articles uri icon

authors

  • IZQUIERDO MILLAN, MARCELO
  • GONZALEZ GIL, ARTURO
  • Palacios, Elías

publication date

  • October 2014

start page

  • 7

end page

  • 19

volume

  • 130

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0306-2619

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1872-9118

abstract

  • This work describes an installation in Madrid, Spain, designed to test a new solar-powered air-cooled absorption refrigeration system. This installation essentially consists of a-48m2 field of flat-plate solar collectors, a 1500-L hot water storage tank and a single and-double effect air-cooled lithium bromide absorption prototype. Designed and built by our research group, this prototype is able to operate either as a single-effect unit (4.5kW) or as a double-effect unit (7kW). In operation as single-effect mode, the prototype is driven by solar energy, whereas in operation as a double effect mode, an external energy source may be used. The prototype's evaporator is connected to a fan-coil placed inside an 80-m2 laboratory that represent the average size of a Spanish housing unit. In August 2009, the cooling system was tested in the single-effect operation mode. The results show that the system is able to meet approximately 65% of the laboratory's seasonal cooling demand, although 100% may be reached for a few days. The prototype can also operate in double-effect mode to meet the cooling demand. In that case, the prototype is fed by thermal oil, which is warmed until it reaches the process temperature in the high-temperature generator. The prototype can operate in either single-effect mode or in double-effect mode or can also operate simultaneously both modes using the components common to both modes, namely, the absorber, evaporator, condenser, solution pumps and control equipment. This paper reports the experimental results from the prototype operating separately in single-effect and double-effect mode. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

keywords

  • absorption; cooling systems; evaporators; solar energy; absorption refrigeration system; direct air-cooled; external energy sources; flat-plate solar collectors; hot water storage tanks; lithium bromide; single-double effect; solar cooling; absorption; cooling; demand-side management; energy efficiency; high temperature; solar radiation; water resource; direct air-cooled; lithium bromide; single-double effect; solar cooling