Study of a novel solar adsorption cooling system and a solar absorption cooling system with new CPC collectors

Abstract

One two-phase thermo-syphon silica gel-water solar adsorption chiller and LiBr-H 2 O absorption chiller with new medium CPC (Compound Parabolic Concentrator) solar collectors were investigated. The reliability of adsorption chiller can be improved, because there is only one vacuum valve in this innovative design. Medium temperature evacuated-tube CPC solar collectors were firstly utilized in the LiBr-H 2 O air conditioning system. The former system was applied in north of China at Latitude 37.45° (Dezhou city, China), the latter system was applied at Latitude 36.65° (Jinan city, China). Experimental results showed that the adsorption chiller can be powered by 55 °C of hot water. The adsorption chiller can provide 15 °C of chilled water from 9:30 to 17:00, the average solar COP (COPs) of the system is 0.16. In the absorption cooling system, the efficiency of the medium temperature evacuated-tube CPC solar collector can reach 0.5 when the hot water temperature is 125 °C. The absorption chiller can provide 15 °C of chilled water from 11:00 to 15:30, and the average solar COPs of absorption system is 0.19. ► Two-phase thermo-syphon adsorption chiller is designed. ► The adsorption chiller can be powered by hot water of 55 °C. ► New CPC solar collectors are used in LiBr-H 2 O absorption cooling system. ► Solar collector efficiency can reach 0.5 when the hot water temperature is 125 °C.