Performance Study of Small Capacity Solar Autonomous Absorption Air-Conditioning System Coupled with a Low-Energy Residential Building Under Batna (Algeria) Climate

Abstract

Solar absorption cooling technology has enormous potential for air-conditioning applications as the need for cooling coincides mostly with the availability of solar radiation. Due to the geographical nature and vast territory of Algeria and the presence of many isolated rural areas, there is a great need for autonomous systems that use only solar energy without auxiliary boiler to meet the cooling demand in summer. In this study, we propose a dynamic simulation model for solar autonomous absorption air-conditioning systems developed using the TRNSYS-EES software. The model used to study the feasibility and evaluate the functioning of the system under Batna, Algeria weather conditions. The proposed system uses solar thermal flat plate collectors to drive a small capacity single-effect LiBr/water absorption chiller to meet the cooling demand of a typical low-energy residential building covering a total floor area of 120[Formula: see text]m2. A model of 4.5[Formula: see text]kW commercial absorption chiller has been modeled with EES software. The validation results showed excellent agreement between the prediction and the experimental data ([Formula: see text]) and proved the model ability to predict the performance of the chiller. The analysis of dynamic results indicates that the proposed system and selected size enable the chiller to work for a duration of up to 10[Formula: see text]h a day. This allowed ensuring a sufficient and continuous cold water supply (between 8[Formula: see text]C and 18[Formula: see text]C) and maintaining the comfort temperature between 26[Formula: see text]C and 28[Formula: see text]C.