Solar Air-conditioning

How It Works

Parabolic Trough Collectors are con­centrating solar radiation to achieve 230° C steam temperat­ure.  A heat accumulator is charged and pro­vides the Absorption Chiller with steam 24 hours per day for a con­tinuous air-conditioning.

References

A solar-assisted air-conditioning sys­tem was installed in year 2000 in Dubai and operated successfully for three years. The solar field is still operating and is providing the hot water for the apartment hotel.

Parabolic Trough Collectors are tracking the sun to achieve a highly concentrated solar radiation.  The Absorber Tube in the focus converts the radiation into heat.

The Heat Accumulator is a vessel, which is filled with pressurised water at the boiling point.  Steam is gen­er­ated when the system pressure is reduced.

Absorption Chillers convert heat into chilled water, reducing the electricity consumption by 95%.  An auxiliary burner backs the Absorption Chiller when solar heat is insufficient, e.g. during cloudy weather or sandstorm.

The system can be installed on the roof in order to provide chilled wa­ter to the building and can be com­bined with compression chillers in case the roof space is insufficient.

The operating and maintenance costs are very low as the sun provides energy free of charge.  The system will operate for many years due to the extended life expectancy of the components.

The installation amortises faster in case a steam turbine is installed, which utilises surplus energy during the Winter season.

Parabolic Trough Collector

Ruths storage heat accumulator

Absorption Chiller steam and direct fired

Steam turbine

starting from 40 TR

gas or fuel oil

up to 4 tons per
TR and year