Design and experimental testing of the performance of an outdoor LiBr/H{sub 2}O solar thermal absorption cooling system with a cold store

Journal Article · Sat May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Solar Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SOLENER.2010.01.013· OSTI ID:21318373

Agyenim, Francis; Knight, Ian; Rhodes, Michael ^[1]

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1. The Welsh School of Architecture, Bute Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3NB Wales (United Kingdom)

A domestic-scale prototype experimental solar cooling system has been developed based on a LiBr/H{sub 2}O absorption system and tested during the 2007 summer and autumn months in Cardiff University, UK. The system consisted of a 12 m{sup 2} vacuum tube solar collector, a 4.5 kW LiBr/H{sub 2}O absorption chiller, a 1000 l cold storage tank and a 6 kW fan coil. The system performance, as well as the performances of the individual components in the system, were evaluated based on the physical measurements of the daily solar radiation, ambient temperature, inlet and outlet fluid temperatures, mass flow rates and electrical consumption by component. The average coefficient of thermal performance (COP) of the system was 0.58, based on the thermal cooling power output per unit of available thermal solar energy from the 12 m{sup 2} Thermomax DF100 vacuum tube collector on a hot sunny day with average peak insolation of 800 W/m{sup 2} (between 11 and 13.30 h) and ambient temperature of 24 C. The system produced an electrical COP of 3.6. Experimental results prove the feasibility of the new concept of cold store at this scale, with chilled water temperatures as low as 7.4 C, demonstrating its potential use in cooling domestic scale buildings. (author)

• OSTI ID: 21318373
• Journal Information: Solar Energy, Journal Name: Solar Energy Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 84; ISSN 0038-092X; ISSN SRENA4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
ABSORPTION
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
Absorption chillers
BLOWERS
BUILDINGS
COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE
COLD STORAGE
DESIGN
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Electrical COP
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLOW RATE
INSOLATION
LITHIUM BROMIDES
MASS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
TANKS
WATER