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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Absorption equipment for solar air conditioning

Journal Article · · Build. Syst. Des.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6493202

An absorption chiller unit was added to the solar heating system in an elementary school in Timonium, Maryland, to supply the building with air conditioning. In a lithium bromide absorption chiller system, the refrigerant is vaporized by a generator as heat from the solar collectors or storage area is supplied. The vapor is condensed, then evaporated into a gas, and then absorbed by a solution of water and lithium bromide. When the cooling tower water circuit is allowed to decrease below 70-80/sup 0/F, the absorber-condenser circuit temperature is reduced, requiring a lower inlet hot water temperature to maintain an efficient coefficient of performance value. Thorough analysis of several factors is recommended in designing the solar cooling system. Load curves depicting times and ambient temperatures of system usage can be correlated with graphs representing the annual number of hours in a specific area that a range of ambient temperatures is sustained. An absorption chiller system can be tailored to the load capacity required by a system by calculating the equivalent heat source temperature (EHST) required from the solar collectors to provide the appropriate chilled water temperature (CHWT) and the equivalent cooling water temperature (ECWT). Graphical comparison of the EHST versus COP at various CHWT and ECWT values will permit proper sizing of the solar collection and storage system. The installation of a heat energy flywheel within the system is recommended. It was concluded that the feasibility of solar-powered air conditioning has been demonstrated, and that a solar system may be most financially justifiable for a commercial building when it is used to both heat and cool.

OSTI ID:
6493202
Journal Information:
Build. Syst. Des.; (United States), Journal Name: Build. Syst. Des.; (United States) Vol. 75:4; ISSN BUSDB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English