High-temperature solar-cooling systems

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5439250

Curran, H M

The favorable aspects and the constraints on increasing the design point energy input temperature of solar cooling systems are identified. The study is primarily concerned with heat engines used to drive vapor compression chillers. Using existing technology, a 500/sup 0/C solar Rankine chiller could be expected to have a design point COP about 1.3 to 1.4 times as large as the design point COP of 150/sup 0/C chillers. In order to maximize the COP, water cooling is preferable to air cooling. Concentrating collectors are required to obtain acceptable efficiency at high output temperatures, and solar tracking is required. The value of heat storage in water, organic or inorganic fluids or phase change materials is discussed. Building codes and standards are considered that may limit operating temperatures and pressures, selection for working fluids, or require stationary engineers. Intermediate and large capacity mature high-temperature solar cooling systems may be expected to have somewhat lower first cost than lower temperature systems. The space heating function could best be provided in a high-temperature system by arranging the vapor compressor component as a heat pump. (LEW)

• Research Organization: Hittman Associates, Inc., Columbia, MD (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-79CS30202
• OSTI ID: 5439250
• Report Number(s): H-C-1007/010-81-1013; ON: DE82008266
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
BUILDING CODES
COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
ENERGY STORAGE
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HEAT ENGINES
HEAT PUMPS
HEAT STORAGE
HIGH TEMPERATURE
RANKINE CYCLE ENGINES
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
STANDARDS
STORAGE
VAPOR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION CYCLE