Sustainable development of a solar adsorption cooling machine

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the possibility of the use of a solar adsorption refrigeration machine, using the pair activated carbon/ammonia within the framework of sustainability and development of rural areas.Design/methodology/approachThe limited availability of electrical grid in rural areas of Morocco makes necessary the adoption of new methods in order to provide the needs of energy services, which represent an important factor affecting the quality of life. The studies that were undertaken in this current paper investigated the sensitivity of the COP as well as the production of the cold at various refrigeration machine temperatures.FindingsIt can be recognized that the feasibility of the machine with significant production of cold in the form of ice is between 3.33 and 4.14 kg/m2 for a solar flat plate collector; and between 7.16 and 9.94 kg/m2 for solar flat plate.Originality/valueThe paper presents a model of decision‐making support for selecting the optimal conditions for the use of a solar adsorption refrigeration machine. The model optimises the quantity of cold produced and the coefficient of performance (COP) of the machine and investigates the sensitivity of the COP to the characteristic temperatures of the cycle of the machine.