Life Cycle Assessment Performance Comparison of Small Solar Thermal Cooling Systems with Conventional Plants Assisted with Photovoltaics

The Energy Information Administration of the United States Department of Energy projects that more than 80% of the energy consumption of the U.S. by 2035 will come from fossil fuels. This projection should be the fuel to promote projects related to renewable energy in order to reduce energy consumption from fossil fuels to avoid their undesirable consequences such as carbon dioxide emissions. Since solar radiation match pretty well building cooling demands, solar cooling systems will be an important factor in the next decades to meet or exceed the green gases reduction that will be demanded by the society and regulations in order to mitigate environmental consequences such as global warming. Solar energy can be used as source of energy to produce cooling through different technologies. Solar thermal energy applies to technology such as absorption chillers and desiccant cooling, while electricity from solar photovoltaic can be used to drive vapor compression electric chillers. This study focuses on the comparison of a Solar Thermal Cooling System that uses an absorption chiller driven by solar thermal energy, and a Solar Photovoltaic Cooling System that uses a vapor compression system (electric chiller) driven by solar electricity (solar photovoltaic system). Both solar cooling systems are compared against a standard air cooled cooling system that uses electricity from the grid. The models used in the simulations to obtain the results are described in the paper along with the parameters (inputs) used. Results are presented in two figures. Each figure has one curve for the Solar Thermal Cooling System and one for the Solar Photovoltaic Cooling System. One figure allows estimation of savings calculated based the net present value of energy consumption cost. The other figure allows estimating primary energy consumption reduction and emissions reduction. Both figures presents the result per ton of refrigeration and as a function of area of solar collectors or/and area of photovoltaic modules. This approach to present the result of the simulations of the systems makes these figures quite general. This means that the results can be used to compare both solar cooling systems independently of the cooling demand (capacity of the system), as well as allow the analysis for different sizes of the solar system used to harvest the solar energy (collectors or photovoltaic modules).

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RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE APPLICATION: SOLAR THERMAL COOLING SYSTEMS IN INDONESIA

DIMENSI (Journal of Architecture and Built Environment) ◽

10.9744/dimensi.44.1.29-36 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Melania Rahadiyanti

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Energy Resource ◽

Solar Thermal ◽

Renewable Energy Resource ◽

Cooling Systems ◽

Solar Thermal Cooling ◽

Thermal Cooling

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Techno feasibility analysis of a concentrating solar thermal cooling systems at a university complex

DYNA ◽

10.15446/dyna.v88n217.93033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 88 (217) ◽

pp. 282-291

Author(s):

Diego C. Malagueta ◽

Lucas de Oliveira Alves ◽

Elisa Pinto da Rocha

Keyword(s):

Energy Demand ◽

Cooling System ◽

Solar Thermal ◽

System Operation ◽

Cooling Systems ◽

Energy Applications ◽

Energy Demands ◽

Solar Thermal Cooling ◽

Thermal Cooling ◽

Combined Cooling

Concentrating solar thermal (CST) energy applications are growing worldwide, especially in combined cooling, heat, and power processes. Building upon the analysis of a building’s thermal comfort, and software simulations for CST, the current study evaluates a solar conditioning system integrated with absorption systems. The cooling system is equipped with single-, double- and triple-effect configurations cycle, production parameters, and thermal storage. The required fraction of auxiliary energy for the system operation is estimated. The results indicate that the double effect system is the best configuration for the adopted location in Brazil. The system’s annual auxiliary energy demand is, approximately, 20%. Triple-effect systems require less energy at higher temperatures due to local direct radiation, which then leads to an intermittent operation and greater auxiliary energy demands. The methodology applied in this work could be adopted in different locations, with an emphasis on the possibility of testing smaller scale systems in small buildings.

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Development and Implementation of Solar Assisted Desiccant Cooling Technology in Developing Countries: A Case of Saudi Arabia

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13030524 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 524

Author(s):

Shafiqur Rehman ◽

Muhammad M. Rafique ◽

Luai M. Alhems ◽

Md. Mahbub Alam

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Cooling System ◽

High Energy ◽

Solar Thermal ◽

Climatic Data ◽

Cooling Systems ◽

Cooling Technology ◽

Solar Thermal Cooling ◽

Thermal Cooling

This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the potential and feasibility of using solar thermal cooling systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The performance of a desiccant cooling system has been determined based on climatic data of 32 cities spread all over the territory of the country. The investigation has been carried out keeping in view the high energy consumption for cooling applications in the country. The analysis has been done using the overall performance of the system, sensible energy ratio, and cooling and regeneration loads. The main objective of this study is to encourage the implementation of solar thermal cooling systems in the country for the development of sustainable buildings. The economic analysis shows that thermal cooling technology can reduce the cost of cooling units, remarkably. Furthermore, the utilization of the proposed system will decrease the dependence on primary energy resources. The saving factor of the proposed system with 1 ton capacity in comparison to the conventional vapor compression unit is found to be 34.6%. The present study also recommends that the government subsidies and incentives can further improve the development and utilization of solar air conditioning technology in developing countries.

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Comparative Analysis of Solar Thermal Cooling and Solar Photovoltaic Cooling Systems

Journal of Solar Energy Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.4007935 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 135 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

N. Fumo ◽

V. Bortone ◽

J. C. Zambrano

Keyword(s):

Energy Consumption ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Cooling System ◽

Solar Thermal ◽

Solar Photovoltaic ◽

Solar Thermal Energy ◽

Cooling Systems ◽

Solar Cooling ◽

Solar Thermal Cooling ◽

Thermal Cooling

The Energy Information Administration of the United States Department of Energy projects that more than 80% of the energy consumption of the U.S. by 2035 will come from fossil fuels. This projection should be the fuel to promote projects related to renewable energy in order to reduce energy consumption from fossil fuels to avoid their undesirable consequences such as carbon dioxide emissions. Since solar radiation match pretty well building cooling demands, solar cooling systems will be an important factor in the next decades to meet or exceed the green gases reduction that will be demanded by the society and regulations in order to mitigate environmental consequences such as global warming. Solar energy can be used as source of energy to produce cooling through different technologies. Solar thermal energy applies to technology such as absorption chillers and desiccant cooling, while electricity from solar photovoltaic can be used to drive vapor compression electric chillers. This study focuses on the comparison of a solar thermal cooling system that uses an absorption chiller driven by solar thermal energy, and a solar photovoltaic cooling system that uses a vapor compression system (electric chiller) driven by solar electricity (solar photovoltaic system). Both solar cooling systems are compared against a standard air cooled cooling system that uses electricity from the grid. The models used in the simulations to obtain the results are described in the paper along with the parameters (inputs) used. Results are presented in two figures. Each figure has one curve for the solar thermal cooling system and one for the solar photovoltaic cooling system. One figure allows estimation of savings calculated based the present value of discounted energy consumption cost. The other figure allows estimating primary energy consumption reduction and emissions reduction. Both figures presents the result per ton of refrigeration and as a function of area of solar collectors or/and area of photovoltaic modules. This approach to present the result of the simulations of the systems makes these figures quite general. This means that the results can be used to compare both solar cooling systems independently of the cooling demand (capacity of the system), as well as allow the analysis for different sizes of the solar system used to harvest the solar energy (collectors or photovoltaic modules).

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