Selection of an Appropriate Solar Thermal Technology for Solar Vapor Absorption Cooling—An MADM Approach

Abstract

Different solar thermal collectors have been used recently to meet the thermal requirements of single effect and double effect vapor absorption cooling systems, making selection of the correct method a challenge. Different attributes of each vapor absorption cooling and solar collector combination are taken into account, and a Multi-Attribute Decision-Making model is used to select the best option. The model requires variables indicating the performance of the system, which are called attributes that are organized into a hierarchical structure called a tree of attributes. The dependent attributes finally end up in the basic attributes representing the input to the model. The technology options considered are flat plate water heating collectors with forced circulation, flat plate air heating collectors with forced circulation, evacuated tube collectors, parabolic trough collectors, and collectors with compound parabolic concentrator. Two types of cooling, namely single effect and double effect, are compared. Three climatic zones with three different cooling loads, ambient temperatures and solar radiation intensity have been considered. Comparison of the solar vapor absorption technologies with vapor compression technology is made considering the major performance factors. The major attributes, namely cost and emissions produced, are compared with conventional vapor compression methods.

Economic and Energetic Assessment and Comparison of Solar Heating and Cooling Systems

“…Arsalis and Alexandrou [16] concluded that the SHC system has favorable running costs in comparison with an air-to-water vapor compression heat pump, but their estimations did not include auxiliary equipment electricity consumption, maintenance costs, or consumption and cost for water supplied to cooling towers due to evaporation. Kaneesamkandi et al [22] compared the absorption SHC system and vapor compression cooling system in the climatic zones of Niger, Riyadh and Beijing. They concluded that the absorption SHC shows an advantage in electricity consumption and emissions, but for better overall performance, additional cost reduction of equipment is required.…”

First Law Optimization and Review of Double and Triple-Effect Parallel Flow Vapor Absorption Refrigeration Systems

“…Renewable sources and waste heat become the best option when these sources are available; otherwise, directfired sources (such as the burning of fuel in the generator) will meet the requirement of multi-effect VACS when operated at night hours. Zakariya Kaneesamkandi et al [37] demonstrated an appropriate solar collector for the operation of single and double-effect VACS. A multi-attribute decision-making model was adopted to determine the best option.…”