Authors

Energy and economic analysis of a solar cooling system driven by a double-acting collector

DOI: 10.17586/1606-4313-2022-21-4-3-14
UDC 536.33

Energy and economic analysis of a solar cooling system driven by a double-acting collector

Camara S., Sulin A.B., Olga S. Malinina

For citation: Camara S., Sulin A.B., Malinina O.S. Energy and economic analysis of a solar cooling system driven by a double-acting collector. Journal of International Academy of Refrigeration. 2022. No 4. p. DOI: 10.17586/1606-4313-2022-21-4-3-14

Abstract
Solar cooling systems are recognized as alternative energy-saving and environmentally friendly installations. In this paper we consider a single-stage H2O-LiBr solar absorption cooling system, which uses a double-acting collector as a solar thermal drive during the day and passive radiative cooling of the coolant at night. The efficiency of the system was studied from thermodynamic, energy, exergy, and economic positions for climatic conditions of Bamako city (Republic of Mali). It has been found that the optimal operating parameters are achieved at the temperatures of generator, condenser with absorber, and evaporator, respectively, 90, 38, and 5 °C. The annual cooling capacity of the system is 51.11 MW·h with an annual solar energy consumption of 115.6 MW·h. The system coefficient of perfomance (SCOP) and exergy efficiency are 0.45 and 0.035 respectively. The economic analysis showed that the capital cost of the installation is 28100 €, the cost of cooling is 0.08 €/kW·h, and the payback period is about 7.7 years.

Keywords: solar cooling, single-stage lithium bromide water absorption chiller, combined solar collector, coefficient of performance, exergy efficiency.

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