RAJARAJESHWARI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

TECHNICAL SEMINAR
ON
“ SOLAR COOLING”
UNDER THE GUIDENCE OF PRESENTED BY
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR NAGARAJA C
MANJU T 1RR15ME060
INTRODUCTION
Solar air conditioning refers to any air conditioning (cooling) system that uses
solar power.
This can be done through passive solar, solar thermal energy conversion and
photovoltaic conversion (sunlight to electricity). The U.S. Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007[1] created 2008 through 2012 funding for a new solar air
conditioning research and development program, which should develop and
demonstrate multiple new technology innovations and mass production economies
of scale.
 Solar air conditioning will play an increasing role in zero energy and
energy-plus buildings design.
 Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by
humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies.
Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind
and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the
available renewable energy on earth. Only a minuscule fraction of the
available solar energy is used.
 Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active
solar depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute solar
energy. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels and
solar thermal collectors to harness the energy. Passive solar techniques
include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable
thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that
naturally circulate air.
HISTORY
in the late 19th century, the most common fluid for absorption cooling was a
solution of ammonia and water. Today, the combination of lithium bromide
and water is also in common use. One end of the system of
expansion/condensation pipes is heated, and the other end gets cold enough to
make ice. Originally, natural gas was used as a heat source in the late 19th
century. Today, propane is used in recreational vehicle absorption chiller
refrigerators. Hot water solar thermal energy collectors can also be used as
the modern "free energy" heat source. A National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) sponsored report in 1976 surveyed solar energy
system applications of air conditioning. Techniques discussed included both
solar powered (absorption cycle and heat engine / Rankine cycle) and solar
related (heat pump) along with an extensive bibliography of related literature.
Thermal Solar Cooling Techniques
 Absorption cooling techniques:
Energy is transferred through phase-change processes.
Adsorption cooling techniques
Energy is transferred through phase-change processes.
 Desiccant Cooling
Energy is transferred through latent heat processes.

“The cooling capacity is based on the physical properties of the cooling

fluid that will change phases. At different temperatures, depending on
its pressure.”
Absorption cooling
The absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source (e.g., solar,
kerosene-fueled flame) to provide the energy needed to drive the cooling
system. The principle can also be used to air-condition buildings using the
waste heat from a gas turbine or water heater. Using waste heat from a gas
turbine makes the turbine very efficient because it first produces electricity,
then hot water, and finally, air-conditioning (called cogeneration/trigeneration).
Principles
Both absorption and compressor refrigerators use a refrigerant with a very low boiling point
(less than −18 °C (0 °F)). In both types, when this refrigerant evaporates (boils), it takes some
heat away with it, providing the cooling effect. The main difference between the two systems
is the way the refrigerant is changed from a gas back into a liquid so that the cycle can repeat.
An absorption refrigerator changes the gas back into a liquid using a method that needs only
heat, and has no moving parts other than the refrigerant itself.
The absorption cooling cycle can be described in three phases:
 Evaporation: A liquid refrigerant evaporates in a low partial pressure environment, thus
extracting heat from its surroundings (e.g. the refrigerator's compartment). Because of the
low partial pressure, the temperature needed for evaporation is also low.
 Absorption: The now gaseous refrigerant is absorbed by another liquid (e.g. a salt solution).
 Regeneration: The refrigerant-saturated liquid is heated, causing the refrigerant to evaporate
out. The hot gaseous refrigerant passes through a heat exchanger, transferring its heat
outside the system (such as to surrounding ambient-temperature air), and condenses. The
condensed (liquid) refrigerant supplies the evaporation phase.
Absorption cooling process
Water spray absorption refrigeration
Another variant, uses air, water, and a salt water solution. The
intake of warm, moist air is passed through a sprayed solution
of salt water. The spray lowers the humidity but does not
significantly change the temperature. The less humid, warm air
is then passed through an evaporative cooler, consisting of a
spray of fresh water, which cools and re-humidifies the air.
Humidity is removed from the cooled air with another spray of
salt solution, providing the outlet of cool, dry air.
The salt solution is regenerated by heating it under low
pressure, causing water to evaporate. The water evaporated
from the salt solution is re-condensed, and rerouted back to the
evaporative cooler.
ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR COOLING
Dramatic increase of air conditioning since the early 80ies
• Cost of energy.
• Issues related to environmental pollution.
-Due to energy production.
-Due to the use of CFC’s and HCFC’s.
• Matches demand with source availability.
• Crucial for improving life standards in developing countries.
Disadvantages of Solar Cooling
 Weather-dependant
 Tracking the sun
 Limited power supply
 Expensive batteries
 High set-up cost
 Cleaning
 Easily broken
APPLICATIONS
 SOLAR WATER HEATER
 SOLAR THERMAL POWER
 PHOTOVOLTAIC(PV)SOLAR COOLING(SOLAR AIR
CONDITIONING)
 SOLAR THERMAL COOLING
 ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS
 FIT PROGRAM