Design of heat exchangers to improve the performance of solar thermal cooling systems
The development of technology capable of operating with clean energy sources has been one of the great challenges of the late twentieth century and the beginning of this twenty-first century and, although it has had great success in the scientific prototype stage, they have been a number reduced number of devices that have passed the barrier of mass distribution or total replacement of the old technology.
Therefore, it is necessary to continue promoting these types of mechanisms (such as absorption solar cooling systems) through research and dissemination so that they can overcome at least the barrier of entry that is the fear of the unknown on the part of potential customers.
In this sense, absorption refrigeration equipment that works with solar thermal energy can be used (see Fig. 1). The technology is based on the ability to absorb heat from certain pairs of substances, such as water and ammonia. Its operation is based on the physico-chemical reactions between a refrigerant and an absorbent, triggered by thermal energy - which in the case of solar energy is hot water. Solar installations of this type require special equipment and installations in which there is more and more experience, but which should have significant support in both the design and the execution, commissioning and operation of the installation.
In the current project, the aim is to improve the efficiency of absorption refrigeration equipment that works with solar thermal energy, and which allows improving the COP (Coefficient of Performance) of these systems by proposing novel heat exchangers with better technology. Typically, the COP of single-acting absorption refrigeration equipment is between 0.4 to 0.6. Improving the COP of absorption refrigeration equipment would reduce the area of solar thermal collectors.
Responsible:
Juan Pablo Vargas Bautista, PhD
E-mail: jpvargas@upb.edu
