Analytical optimization of a solar absorption cooling system

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Islamic Azad University – North Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

One of the applications of solar energy is solar absorption cooling system in air conditioning systems. Energy for these systems is supplied using a solar system. In this research, two different problems have been investigated by changing the conditions of an absorption system. So, the pressure in the low pressure region in one of the problems and the pressure in the high pressure region in the other problems is constant. Therefore, the best operating mode can be investigated for the selected system. According to the conditions of this problem, the best operation conditions for this selected solar absorption system were evaporator temperature of 7°C and heat flux of 530W/m2. Finally, some important parameters of the solar collector (glass cover thickness, distance between the absorber pipes, distance between the absorber plate and the glass cover, specific heat capacity of the fluid, heat transfer coefficient of air, heat transfer coefficient of fluid) are optimized to supply the required load of the absorption system. According to the results, the glass cover thickness, the distance between the absorber plate and the glass cover, and the heat transfer coefficient of the fluid are in the optimal conditions. But, the heat absorbed in the collector can be increased by about 10% by changing the distance between the absorber pipes, the specific heat capacity of the fluid, and the heat transfer coefficient of the air. Also, the present results error were about 1% and 1.5% for modeling of the solar collector and the absorption system, respectively.

Keywords

References

 [1] F. Trieb, C. Schillings, M. O’sullivan, T. Pregger and C. Hoyer-Klick, "Global potential of concentrating solar power," in In SolarPACES Conference, 2009.
[2] Gh. A. Karaminia, Energy balance sheet, Tehran, 2010. (in Persian)
[3]   M. Enjavi-Arsanjani, K. Hirbodi and M. Yaghoubi, "Solar energy potential and performance assessment of CSP plants in different areas of Iran.," Energy Procedia, vol. 69, pp. 2039-2048, 2015.
[4] Gh. A. Karaminia, Energy balance sheet, Tehran, 2012. (in Persian)
 [5]  A. Erhard and E. Hahne, "Test and simulation of a solar-powered absorption cooling machine," Solar Energy, vol. 59, no. 4, pp. 155-162, 1997.
[6]   H. E. Zinian and Z. Ning, "A solar absorption air-conditioning plant using heat-pipe evacuated tubular collectors," in In Proceedings of ISES Solar World Congress on CD-ROM, Jerusalem, Israel., 1999.
 [7]  G. A. Florides, S. A. Kalogirou and S. A. Tassou, "Modelling and simulation of an absorption solar cooling system for Cyprus," Solar energy, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 43-51, 2002.
[8]   S. F. Hassell. Stress Analysis in Pressure Vessels, Accessed 8 September 2009; http://www.shieldco.com/tutorial/24.
[9]   F. Assilzadeh, S. A. Kalogirou, Y. Ali and K. Sopian, "Simulation and optimization of a LiBr solar absorption cooling system with evacuated tube collectors," Renewable Energy, vol. 30, no. 8, pp. 1143-1159, 2005.
[10] M M. Balghouthi, M. H. Chahbani and A. Guizani, "Feasibility of solar absorption air conditioning in Tunisia," Building and environment, vol. 43, no. 9, pp. 1459-1470, 2008.
[11] B. Khaled and Y. Taamneh, "Review and recent improvements of solar sorption cooling systems," Energy and Buildings, vol. 128, pp. 22-37, 2016.
[12] B. Evangelos and C. Tzivanidis, "Performance analysis and optimization of an absorption chiller driven by nanofluid based solar flat plate collector," Journal of cleaner production, vol. 174, pp. 256-272, 2018.
[13] V. A. Nourpoor, Evaluation of the performance of the absorption refrigeration cycle of two effects of parallel flow of lithium bromide-water based on analysis, The 3rd International Conference on Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Tehran, 2018. (in Persian)
 [14] H. Sheikhani, R. Barzegarian, A. Heydar, A. Kianifar, A. Kasaeian, G. Gróf and O. Mahian, "A review of solar absorption cooling systems combined with various auxiliary energy devices," Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, vol. 134, no. 3, pp. 2197-2212, 2018.
[15] B. Evangelos and C. Tzivanidis, "A review of concentrating solar thermal collectors with and without nanofluids," Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, vol. 135, no. 1, pp. 763-786, 2019.
[16] S. A. Kalogirou, Solar energy engineering: processes and systems. ., Academic Press, 2013.
[17] Ö. Kızılkan, . A. Şencan and S. A. Kalogirou, "Thermoeconomic optimization of a LiBr absorption refrigeration system," Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification, vol. 46, no. 12, pp. 1376-1384, 2007.
[18] H. Khorasani, A. Aghaee, R. Ehteram and A. Azimi, Study and optimization of exergy of a flat solar thermal collector equipped with reflectors and lenses in a closed circuit using the results of experiments, Journal of Energy Engineering and Management, vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 40-51, 2013. (in Persian)
[19] G. A. Florides, A. K. Soteris, A. T. Savvas and L. C. Wrobel, "Design and construction of a LiBr–water absorption machine," Energy conversion and management, vol. 44, no. 15, pp. 2483-2508, 2003.
[20] S. A. Kalogirou, "Chapter 6—Solar Space Heating and Cooling," in Solar Energy Engineering (Second Edition), Boston, Academic Press, pp. 323-395, 2014.
Journal of Renewable and New Energy
Volume 8, Issue 2 - Serial Number 16
September 2021
Pages 120-130

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 17 October 2020
  • Revise Date: 13 December 2020
  • Accept Date: 06 March 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics