MANUFACTURE AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF SOLAR ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION UNIT FOR POTATO STORAGE

Abstract

Solar diffusion absorption refrigeration system, consisted of solar water heater (flat plate solar collectors), generator with bubble pump, condenser, evaporator and absorber, was locally manuactured to be used for potato storage. The temperature in cabinet, evaporator, generator, condenser and absorber were measured to evaluate the performance of the absorption refrigeration with load and without load. The solar and electrical consumption were measured under two conditions (electrical heater and solar water heater). Performance of the refrigeration system was evaluated by the coefficient of performance (COP). The main results of this research work can be concluded and summarized as follows:- The absorption refrigeration system has the ability to refrigerate potato especially under fluid flow rate of 2l/ min with the use of 2.994 m2 solar collector area. The values of COP ranged from 0.002 to 0.204 under different treatments. The electrical consumption for the cooling load of 200 kg potato was higher than other cooling loads under electrical heater. The electrical energy consumption with electrical heater ranged from 3.5 to 6.2 kW.hLday. Also, with load the cabient temperature was ranged from 4.5 to 8.5 °C, but withoutload it ranged from 2 to 13.5°C.