Development of a solar-powered freezer

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:33229

Ameen, A ^[1]

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1. Nanyang Technological Univ. (Singapore). School of Mechanical and Production Engineering

This paper describes a contribution to the development of a solar-powered freezer suitable for storing 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of medicine and vaccine at {minus}10 C in remote tropical areas where electricity is not available. The system comprises a freezer unit and a solar-powered conversions storage system that includes an array of photovoltaic cells and a battery. The freezer unit employs a conventional vapor-compression refrigeration cycle using R-12 as a refrigerant and a capillary tube as an expansion device. The length of the capillary tube and the refrigerant charge were optimized at 11.18 ft (3.41 m) and 0.144 lb (65.2 g), respectively, for the most efficient operation. The effectiveness of photovoltaic cells in charging lead acid batteries to supply power to the freezer compressor was also investigated and, based on the findings, recommendations were made to modify the configuration. The paper highlights the methodology used in the optimization procedure and describes the performance tests carried out on the solar-powered freezer.

• OSTI ID: 33229
• Report Number(s): CONF-9406105--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
FREEZERS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
REMOTE AREAS
SOLAR REFRIGERATION
SOLAR REFRIGERATORS