Review of solar refrigeration and cooling systems

Abstract Providing cooling by utilizing renewable energy such as solar energy is a key solution to the energy and environmental issues. This paper provides a detailed review of different solar refrigeration and cooling methods. There are presented theoretical basis and practical applications for cooling systems within various working fluids assisted by solar energy and their recent advances. Thermally powered refrigeration technologies are classified into two categories: sorption technology (open systems or closed systems) and thermo-mechanical technology (ejector system). Solid and liquid desiccant cycles represent the open system. The liquid desiccant system has a higher thermal coefficient of performance (COP) than the solid desiccant system. Absorption and adsorption technologies represent the closed system. The adsorption cooling typically needs lower heat source temperatures than the absorption cooling. Based on COP, the absorption systems are preferred to the adsorption systems, the higher temperature issues can be easily handled with solar adsorption systems. The ejector system represents the thermo-mechanical cooling, and has a higher thermal COP but require a higher heat source temperature than other systems. The study also refers to solar hybrid cooling systems with heterogeneous composite pairs, to a comparison of various solar cooling systems, and to some use suggestions of these systems.

[1]  S. Iniyan,et al.  A review of solar thermal technologies , 2010 .

[2]  Petras Punys,et al.  Review of renewable energy use in Lithuania , 2005 .

[3]  Naci Kalkan,et al.  Solar thermal air conditioning technology reducing the footprint of solar thermal air conditioning , 2012 .

[4]  Todd Otanicar,et al.  Prospects for solar cooling – An economic and environmental assessment , 2012 .

[5]  Reinhard Radermacher,et al.  Review of Solar Cooling Technologies , 2008 .

[6]  Ph. Grenier,et al.  Experimental Data on a Solar-Powered Ice Maker Using Activated Carbon and Methanol Adsorption Pair , 1987 .

[7]  H. Henning,et al.  The potential of solar energy use in desiccant cooling cycles , 2001 .

[8]  Nehad Al-Khalidy,et al.  An experimental study of an ejector cycle refrigeration machine operating on R113 , 1998 .

[9]  K. Sumathy,et al.  Technology development in the solar absorption air-conditioning systems , 2000 .

[10]  C. F. Kettleborough,et al.  A Review of Desiccant Cooling Systems , 1993 .

[11]  Guangming Chen,et al.  A new absorption refrigeration cycle using solar energy , 1999 .

[12]  I. Sârbu,et al.  Solar Refrigerating Systems , 2013 .

[13]  Rita Mastrullo,et al.  Working fluids thermodynamic behavior for vapor compression cycles , 1991 .

[14]  Jianlei Niu,et al.  Energy savings potential of chilled-ceiling combined with desiccant cooling in hot and humid climates , 2002 .

[15]  Mu’taz A. Al-muhtaseb,et al.  Optimization of solar adsorption refrigeration system using experimental and statistical techniques , 2010 .

[16]  H. Z. Hassan,et al.  A review on solar-powered closed physisorption cooling systems , 2012 .

[17]  G. Grossman.  Solar-powered systems for cooling, dehumidification and air-conditioning , 2002 .

[18]  William A. Beckman,et al.  Open-cycle desiccant air conditioning as an alternative to vapor compression cooling in residential applications , 1984 .

[19]  A. Raoult-Wack,et al.  Immersion chilling and freezing in aqueous refrigerating media: review and future trends , 1998 .

[20]  Rahman Saidur,et al.  Performance Investigation Of A Solar Powered Thermoelectric Refrigerator , 2008 .

[21]  Graeme Maidment,et al.  A novel experimental investigation of a solar cooling system in Madrid , 2005 .

[22]  Nehad Al-Khalidy,et al.  Experimental investigation of solar concentrating collectors in a refrigerant ejector refrigeration machine , 1997 .

[23]  G. C. Vliet,et al.  Water-lithium bromide double-effect absorption cooling analysis , 1980 .

[24]  Li Yong,et al.  Technology development in the solar adsorption refrigeration systems , 2003 .

[25]  S. S. Murthy,et al.  Solar-assisted vapor compression/absorption cascaded air-conditioning systems , 1993 .

[26]  Sergio Colle,et al.  Modelling and hourly simulation of a solar ejector cooling system , 2006 .

[27]  Michael J Tierney,et al.  Options for solar-assisted refrigeration—Trough collectors and double-effect chillers , 2007 .

[28]  Sofia Elena Colesca,et al.  An overview of the Romanian renewable energy sector , 2013 .

[29]  Andrea Frazzica,et al.  Influence of the management strategy and operating conditions on the performance of an adsorption ch , 2011 .

[30]  M. D. Staicovici,et al.  An autonomous solar ammonia-water refrigeration system , 1986 .

[31]  Teuku Meurah Indra Mahlia,et al.  Curbing global warming with phase change materials for energy storage , 2013 .

[32]  Lei Wang,et al.  Solar air conditioning in Europe--an overview , 2007 .

[33]  M. Venegas,et al.  Crystallization as a limit to develop solar air-cooled LiBr–H2O absorption systems using low-grade heat , 2004 .

[34]  H. G. Shen,et al.  Modeling solar-driven ejector refrigeration system offering air conditioning for office buildings , 2009 .

[35]  S. Renganarayanan,et al.  Experimental studies on HFC based two-stage half effect vapour absorption cooling system , 2006 .

[36]  Ruzhu Wang,et al.  An efficient solar-powered adsorption chiller and its application in low-temperature grain storage , 2007 .

[37]  Andreea Zamfir,et al.  MANAGEMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: EUROPEAN EXPERIENCES AND STEPS FORWARD , 2011 .

[38]  Z. F Li,et al.  Experimental studies on a solar powered air conditioning system with partitioned hot water storage tank , 2001 .

[39]  J. Duffie,et al.  Cooling with solar energy , 1961 .

[40]  Tim Ameel,et al.  Performance predictions of alternative, low cost absorbents for open-cycle absorption solar cooling , 1995 .

[41]  Jaroslav Pátek,et al.  Simple functions for fast calculations of selected thermodynamic properties of the ammonia-water system , 1995 .

[42]  Rubén J. Dorantes,et al.  Mathematical simulation of a solar ejector-compression refrigeration system , 1996 .

[43]  Z. F Li,et al.  Solar absorption cooling with low grade heat source — a strategy of development in South China , 2002 .

[44]  B. Choudhury,et al.  Review paper on solar-powered air-conditioning through adsorption route , 2010 .

[45]  J. J. Guilleminot,et al.  Solar Powered Solid Adsorption Cold Store , 1988 .

[46]  Michał Turski,et al.  Research on an adsorption cooling system supplied by solar energy , 2012 .

[47]  Satha Aphornratana,et al.  A theoretical and experimental study of a small-scale steam jet refrigerator , 1995 .

[48]  Ming Qu,et al.  A review for research and new design options of solar absorption cooling systems , 2011 .

[49]  Arif Hepbasli,et al.  Exergetic modeling and experimental performance assessment of a novel desiccant cooling system , 2011 .

[50]  Abdulmajeed A. Mohamad,et al.  A review on solar cold production through absorption technology , 2012 .

[51]  H. Z. Hassan,et al.  Development of a continuously operating solar-driven adsorption cooling system: Thermodynamic analysis and parametric study , 2012 .

[52]  R. I. Loehrke,et al.  A Passive, Vapor Compression Refrigerator for Solar Cooling , 1990 .

[53]  Nobuo Nakahara,et al.  Experimental study on house cooling and heating with solar energy using flat plate collector , 1977 .

[54]  L. B. Harris,et al.  A solar thermoelectric refrigerator , 1976 .

[55]  Gershon Grossman,et al.  Experimental investigation of a liquid desiccant system for solar cooling and dehumidification , 2007 .

[56]  R. K. Akikur,et al.  A review of solar thermal refrigeration and cooling methods , 2013 .

[57]  N. Khattab,et al.  Modeling the design and performance characteristics of solar steam-jet cooling for comfort air conditioning , 2002 .

[58]  Thiphaine Lucas,et al.  Réfrigération et congélation par immersion dans des milieux réfrigérants aqueux : revue et tendances futures , 1998 .

[59]  Felix Arion,et al.  Renewable energy market in Romania. , 2011 .

[60]  S. Chungpaibulpatana,et al.  A review of absorption refrigeration technologies , 2001 .

[61]  Kim Choon Ng,et al.  Improved thermodynamic property fields of LiBr-H2O solution , 2000 .

[62]  Ruzhu Wang,et al.  An energy efficient hybrid system of solar powered water heater and adsorption ice maker , 2000 .

[63]  Giuseppe Grazzini,et al.  Numerical optimisation of a two-stage ejector refrigeration plant , 2002 .

[64]  R. Velraj,et al.  Review of solar cooling methods and thermal storage options , 2011 .

[65]  Nasrudin Abd Rahim,et al.  A review on global solar energy policy , 2011 .

[66]  M. Sokolov,et al.  Revisiting solar-powered ejector air conditioner––the greener the better , 2004 .