Utilization of Solar Energy in Absorption Refrigeration

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2004 in the subject Engineering - Power Engineering, Nile Valley University (Faculty of engineering and technology), course: refrigeration, language: English, abstract: Solar energy can be utilized by, either, thermal conversion, or electrical conversion, of solar radiation. Utilization of solar energy by thermal conversion method, is of low cost, but it requires high density of solar radiation. Electrical conversion method, on the other hand, is expensive, but it does not need high density of solar radiation. One of the most important applications of thermal conversion of solar energy, is absorption refrigeration. As there are many factors affecting the process of solar refrigeration, a lot of research work must be carried out, before deciding an optimum design of solar refrigeration systems, which utilize solar energy at a low cost. The main objective of this research article is to design and construct an apparatus which can be used, as a test rig, by research students, to carry out experiments, regarding the performance of solar absorption refrigeration systems. The apparatus has been designed and constructed so as to be used indoors. One of the many different factors which affect the performance of solar absorption refrigeration systems, has been chosen, to test the apparatus, for functioning. This is the effect of condenser temperature, on the performance of solar absorption refrigeration systems. The apparatus has been tested for three different values of condenser temperature, and yielded very good results. The experimental work proves that, the coefficient of performance of a solar absorption refrigeration system, is high, at a low condenser temperature. At a condenser temperature of about 25ºC, the actual coefficient of performance, obtained is 0.019, compared with a theoretical value of 0.062. And at a condenser temperature of about 15ºC, the actual coefficient of performance is 0.026, compared with a theoretical value of 0.094.