Analysis of an improved solar-powered cooling system utilizing open-cycle absorbent regeneration

Conference · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6637116

Collier, R K

A solar-powered cooling system which promises high system C.O.P.'s and low collector costs is analyzed. It consists of a desiccant and an absorption cooling system operating in series to both dry and cool the air. A common solution of lithium chloride is used as the absorbant. The lithium chloride solution is regenerated by evaporating the excess water to the atmosphere in an ''open'' collector. This collector consists merely of a blackened flat surface. The weak solution of lithium chloride is introduced at the top of the collector and then flows by gravity over the entire collector surface where it is subsequently heated and dried. The daily performance of this combined system is compared by computer simulation to that of either an absorption or desiccant system alone using actual weather data for five typical U.S. cities. The performance improvement of the combined system ranged from 25% to 95%, the greatest improvement being for humid, windy conditions.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6637116
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-78-1663; CONF-780808-10
• Resource Relation: Conference: Meeting of the American Section of the International Solar Energy Society, Denver, CO, USA, 28 Aug 1978
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION CYCLE
PERFORMANCE
DESICCANTS
FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS
HUMIDITY
LITHIUM CHLORIDES
OPEN-CYCLE SYSTEMS
REGENERATION
SIMULATION
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM HALIDES
SOLAR COLLECTORS
140901* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Space Heating & Cooling