SOLAR COOLING TECHNOLOGIES

S SRINIVASA MURTHY S.
Professor of Refrigeration & Clean Energy Technologies ssmurthy@iitm.ac.in

India - Spain Workshop on Renewable Energies Sevilla (Spain)

M h 1-4, March, 1 4 2011

Department p of Science & Technology gy

Direccin General de Cooperacin p Internacional

DepartmentofMechanicalEngineering gyMadras IndianInstituteofTechnology Chennai India

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Overview on physical ways to convert solar radiation into cooling or air-conditioning. Processes marked in dark grey: market available technologies which are used for solar assisted air-conditioning. Processes marked in light grey: technologies in status of pilot projects or system testing.

CLOSED-CYCLE SYSTEMS
Absorption (WET) ( ) and adsorption (DRY) ( ) cycles are examples. They produce chilled water that can be used in combination with any airconditioning equipment such as an air-handling unit, fan-coil systems, chilled ceilings, etc. Common Wet Systems: y Water (H2O) Lithium Bromide (LiBr) Systems Ammonia (NH3) Water (H2O) Systems Common Dry Systems: Water-Zeolite, Water Silica Gel, Methanol-Activated Carbon, Ammonia Activated Carbon, Ammonia-Activated Carbon etc. etc

OPEN-CYCLE SYSTEMS
Desiccant Systems (Wet and Dry) are the main types. The term open cycle is used to indicate that the refrigerant is discarded from y after p providing g the cooling g effect, , and new refrigerant g is the system supplied in its place in an open-ended loop.

WET ABSORPTION SYSTEMS Typical coefficient of performance (COP) for large single-effect machines are 0.7 to 0.8. Double-effect absorption systems, with typical operating COPs of 1.0 to 1.2 are also available Current R&D efforts are focusing on threeavailable. three and four-effect four effect systems, systems with a COP of 1.7 to 2.2. For solar-assisted solar assisted systems, systems it is important to select the appropriate solar collector type to meet the temperature needs of the cooling machine. Systems with high COPs need higher operating temperatures. Most commercially available absorption chillers range in capacity from medium (40 to 100 kW) to high (300 kW and above). However, given the increasing cooling demand in residential and small size building applications, a growing market exists for low cooling capacity equipment (i.e. less than 10 kW to 40 kW). Some firms are offering g systems y in the small ranges, g , especially p y suitable for solar energy gy applications: examples - Broad (China), Rotartica (Spain), Yazaki (Japan). In India, Thermax offers Half-Effect systems for low hot water input temperatures of about 60 C. There are other companies also which supply absorption cooling systems.

DRY ABSORPTION SYSTEMS Today, adsorption or solid-sorption chillers have a higher efficiency than absorption chillers at low driving g temperatures p (defined as the average ( g temperature p of the heating fluid between inlet and outlet of the heating system). The advantage g is that their internal cycle y does not have any y moving g parts ( (no pumps, no electrically driven valves). Also, crystallization cannot occur, as in the case of LiBr/H2O absorption chillers. However, due to their intermittent operation (periodic cycle), they require more effort in system design and operation control. In addition, I dditi compared d to t absorption b ti machines, hi th are larger, they l h i and heavier, d more expensive per kW cooling capacity. Only O l a few f manufacturers f t make k the th systems, t li iti equipment limiting i t choices. h i Th COP of The f commercially available systems is 0.55 to 0.65, depending on operating conditions. More suitable for smaller capacity domestic, domestic mobile and portable applications. applications

COP-curves of sorption p chillers and ideal thermodynamic y limit (Carnot) ( )

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS OF SOLAR THERMAL AND SORPTION REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGIES

Distribution of the specific collector area (collector area in m2 of installed cooling capacity in kW) for different technologies.

COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES

Some of the work done by the author at R & AC Lab of IIT Madras
WET SYSTEMS Multi-Effect M lti Eff t Systems S t for f performance f improvement i t (Water-LiBr) (W t LiB ) Multi-Stage Systems for performance improvement (Water-LiBr) Multiple Heat Sources at Different Temperature Levels (Water-LiBr) Heat Pump Chillers for both Heating and Cooling (Water-LiBr) (Water LiBr) New Working Fluids (R22 or R134a with Organic Solvents) Pumpless / Transfer Tank to eliminate the Mechanical Pump Heat and Mass Transfer in Falling Film Absorbers DRY SYSTEMS Water-Silica Gel Systems: Performance improvements by Multi-Bed, Multi-Effect, Multi Effect, Heat and Mass Recovery Systems Metal Hydride based Systems for Portable Cooling and Automotive Airconditioning Heat and Mass Transfer in Solid Sorption p Beds / Optimization p and Design g DESICCANT BASED SYSTEMS Rotary wheel based silica gel systems LiBr-Water based liquid desiccant systems y Solid and liquid desiccant + vapour compression hybrids

Simulation of Solid Sorption Cooling Systems

Refrigerant Vapour

Adsorber Configuration

Adsorbent Bed Fins / Separators

Heat Transfer Fluid

Performance of Sorption Bed; Carbon (FX400)-Methanol

Spatialtemperaturedistribution

Concentrationvs time(Adsorption)

1.ChillingTemperature:0oC 2.CoolingFluidTemperature:30oC 3 AdsorptionBedPressure:4000Pa 3. 4.DesorptionBedPressure:21000Pa 5.DesorptionTemperature:85oC

Longitudinalconcentrationvariation 13

Performance of Sorption Bed; Carbon (FX400)-Methanol (contd..)

Concentrationvs time(Desorption)

Specificheatvariationinthebed

ReactionrateandConcentrationvariations(RefrigerationCycle)

14

COP vs Cooling g Fluid Temperature p

COP

Performance of Carbon (FX400)-Methanol Cooling Cycle

2 1,8 1,6 1,4 1,2 1 0,8 0,6 04 0,4 0,2 0 0 10 20 30 40

0C

Th=85 0C, Tchill=0 oC Th=85 0C, Tchill= -5 oC Th=85 0C, Tchill= 5 oC

Cooling Fluid Temperature

SCE vs Cooling Fluid Temperature

180 160 140 Th=85 0C, Tchill=0 oC Th=85 0C, Tchill= -5 oC Th=85 0C, Tchill= 5 oC

Kj /Kg

120 100 80 60 40

TheCarbonmethanolcycle

20 5 15 25 35

Cooling Fluid Temperature 0C

15

Optimal Performance of Carbon (FX400)-Methanol Cooling Cycle

24 0 24,0 21,0 18,0 15,0 , 12,0 9,0 6,0 3,0 0,0 0 0,25 0,5 0,75 1 1,25 1,5

Coo oling Powe er (W/Kg)

Th=85 0C, Tchill= -5 oC Th=85 0C, Tchill=0 oC

COP

Parameters studied 1 COP 1. 2. Cooling Power 3. Chilling Temp. 4. Pressure Time (Sec) 6500 5800 5300 4500 Power(W/Kg) 21.1 20.0 17.9 15.7
16

Temperature0C 15 20 25 30

COP 1.41 1.21 0 99 0.99 0.75

Cooling (KJ/Kg) 137.3 117.2 94 9 94.9 70.6

Performance of Silica Gel-Water Adsorption p Cooling g System y

Heat and mass recovery processes greatly improve the performance of the system as apparent in COP of the system. system Heat recovery results in a 10-21% increase in the COP of the system, but the SCP remains the about the same and also reduces in some cases. Mass recovery results in an 11-19% increase in COP, and the SCP increases by 9 9-20%. 20%. Heat and mass recovery processes together result in improvements in COP of 16-40% and SCP of 14-34%.

FourFour -bed Metal Hydride system with combined recovery

Qh at Th A1 B1 Qm1 at Tm

Qm2 at Tm

A2

B2 Qc at Tc

(a)
Qm1 at Tm A1 B1 Qc at Tc

A2 Qh at Th

B2

Qm2 at Tm
Hydrogen flow lines Mass recovery line with valve Heat recovery line with valve Heat flow

( ) (b)
HT Alloy A: Zr0.9 Ti0.1CrFe (1000 g/reactor) LT Alloy B: Zr0.7 Ti0.3 CrFe (900 g/reactor)

0.9 0 9 0.8 07 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 75 80 85 90

COP P

Tm=30C Tc=0C Combined recovery Heat recovery cycle Mass recovery cycle Basic cycle

95

100

105

110

Heat source temperature, Th: C

Variation of COP with Th for different cases

09 0.9 0.8 07 0.7 0.6 COP P 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 25
Th=90C Combined recovery cycle Tc=10 C Combined recovery Mass recovery cycle cycle Basic cycle Heat recovery cycle Mass recovery cycle Basic cycle
Heat recovery cycle Th=90C 90 C Tc=10C

30 35 Intermediate temperature,T m: C

40

V i ti of Variation f COP with ith Tm for f different diff t cases

Design, g Analysis y and Optimization p of Sorption p Beds

Liquid Cooled Hydrogen Storage Device with Embedded Heat Exchanger Tubes

Hydrogen Storage Device with Plate Fins

Hydrogen Storage Device with Radial Fins 21

Computational Models used in COMSOL Multiphysics

TM

Liquid Cooled Storage Device

Air Cooled Storage Device with Radial Fins

Air Cooled Storage Device with Plate Fins 22

Minimization of Total Weight Example

Data Charging capacity Charge level Charge g time Supply pressure Coolant Temperature L/D ratio Hydriding y g alloy y = 2 kg = 80 % = 300 s = 15 bar = 300 K =24 = LaNi5

Results Radius of container (r1) = 154 mm Radius of HX tube ( (r2) = 5.5 mm Radius of filter (r3) = 1.5 mm Pitch distance (s) = 22 mm Total no. of HX tubes = 163 Total no. of filters = 282 Length of device (L) = 986 mm L/D of device = 3.2 Asc/Vc of device =1.182 cm2/cm3 Total system y weight g ( (Wt) = 370 kg g

Results on Air Cooled Devices with Radial Fins

Ai r

Effect of external fins on rate of hyd

Formation of hydride inside tubular storage device with fins kept within the air stream during absorption at different time intervals (b=5 mm, p=15 bar, Tf=300 K)

Effect of air temperature on hydride

24

Results on Air Cooled Devices with Tube Bundle

Air

a) 60 s

b) 120 s

c) 180 s

d) 240 s

e) 300 s 18981 300 19250 mol/m3 360 K

Temperature profile of air and concentration profile of hydride bed for the finned-tube metal hydride storage device at different time intervals (p=15 bar, Tf=300 K, s/d=2, b=5.5 mm, u= 1 m/s)

Variation of hydride density at leading and trailing cross sections at different bed thicknesses

CFD Based Study of Solid Sorption Beds

H2
z

z=H

Tf

Tf

Metal hydride bed

z=0 r=0 r=R

Tf

Physical model of the problem

(a) t= 1500 s

(b) t= 2000 s

Velocity vector and Concentration distribution at different times

(c) t= 2500 s

(d) t= 3000 s

Velocity vector and Concentration distribution at different times

Pictorial i i view i of f the experimental i set up for f coupled reactor studies i (1) HT hydride reactor (2) LT hydride reactor (3) Hydrogen reservoir /receiver (4) High pressure cylinder (5) HT thermostatic bath (6) LT thermostatic bath, (F1, F2) Gas flow meters, (BP) Bypass, (P1, P2) Pressure gauges

Specifications of the Sorption Cooling System

Hydride pair (HT/LT) : ZrMnFe ZrMnFe/MmNi /MmNi4.5Al0.5 Mass of ZrMnFe : 700 g Mass of MmNi4.5Al0.5 : 800 g Cycle time : 3 to 12 minutes Heat source temperature : 110 to 130oC Heat sink temperature : 25 to 30oC Cold temperature : 5 to 15oC Cooling COP :0 0.2 2 to 0.35 0 35

LiBr ABSORPTION COOLING SYSTEM

Solar thermal air conditioning system in India in Ahmedabad operating since February, 2006.

5000L Hot water storage g tank & 500L buffer tank

LiBr Vapor Absorption Machine

ETHP Solar Collector Arrays

The 25 TR (88 kW cooling) Vapor Absorption Machine is powered by hot water generated d through h h 98.4 98 4 kW of high efficiency heat pipe evacuated tube solar collectors. ll t Th total The t t l carpet t area air-conditioned is 227 m2. Annual Mean COP: 0.856 0 856
Annual System Performance

DESICCANT COOLING SYSTEMS

These are useful when latent heat load is larger g than the sensible heat load. Thermal energy input is needed to regenerate the desiccant. Advantages g of desiccant cooing g systems: y Environment friendliness Significant potential for energy savings Electrical energy requirements are about 25% of the conventional V-C refrigeration system. Source of input thermal energy are diverse viz solar, waste heat and natural gas. IAQ is i improved i d due d t higher to hi h ventilation til ti rates t and d the th capability bilit of f desiccants to remove air pollutants. Operation at near atmospheric pressures ensures their construction and d maintenance i t t be to b simple. i l Desiccant systems can be used for summer/ monsoon air conditioner as well as winter heating when regeneration energy can be used for heating. heating

Solar Liquid Desiccant System at IIT Madras

REGENRATOR SOLN SOLN HX HUMID AIR

FROM SOLAR TANK

TO COOLING TOWER PRE COOLER PRE HEATER

ABSORBER TO SOLAR TANK DRY AIR

AIR SOLUTION FROM COOLING TOWER HOT WATER COLD WATER

Test Setup

MAJOR PARTS. ABSORBER REGENERATOR SOLUTION HX PRECOOLER PREHEATER AUXILARYFITTINGS

The Regenerator

The Solar Panels

FLAT PLATE E COLLECTOR E FIELD E 15 C0LLECTORS PARALLEL IN 2 ROWS

RANGES OF OPERATING PARAMETERS

Sl. No No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. PARAMETER HOT WATER TEMPERATURE, oC HOT WATER FLOW RATE, , m3/h RETURN AIR FLOW RATE, m3/s REGENERATION AIR FLOW RATE, m3/s SOLUTION FLOW RATE, l/h COOLING WATER FLOW RATE, m3/h COOLING WATER TEMPERATURE, oC RANGE 60 - 80 0.4 - 0.6 0.12 - 0.2 0.18 - 0.34 125 - 225 0.4 - 0.6 28 - 32 MEAN VALUE 80 0.6 0.6 0.34 225 0.6 28

Note:Each parameter is varied in 5 equal steps over the given range and the results are shown in the figures which follow. While one parameter is varied, the other parameters are kept constant at the mean value.

 Cooling g capacity p y increases with all input parameters except the cooling water temperature. Effect of solution flow rate is not significant on cooling capacity. Effect of return air flow rate is the most significant on cooling capacity. capacity
1.5

Hot water temperature Hot water flow flowrate rate Return air flow rate Regeneration air flow rate Cooling g water flow rate Solution flow rate Cooling water temperature

(60-80oC) (0 4-0 6m 3/hr) (0.4-0.6m (0.12-0.20m 3/s) (0.18-0.34m 3/s) (0.4-0.6m (0. 0.6 3//hr) ) (125-225l/hr) (28-32oC)

1 05 0.5

0
0 1 2 3 Input parameter step 4 5 6

Effect of Parameters on (virtual) Cooling Capacity (kW)

 Quantity of water vapour absorbed increases with parameters t except t cooling li water temperature.
3

Hot water temperature Hot water flow rate R t air Return i flow fl rate t Regeneration air flow rate Cooling water flow rate Solution flowrate flow rate Cooling water temperature

(60-80oC) (0.4-0.6m 3/hr) (0 12 0 20m 3/s) (0.12-0.20m (0.18-0.34m 3/s) (0.4-0.6m 3/hr) (125 225l/hr) (125-225l/hr) (28-32oC)

Effect of regeneration air flow rate and cooling water flow rate is not significant on water vapour absorbed. Effect of return air flow rate is the most significant on water vapour absorbed.

0 0 1 2 3 Input parameter step 4 5 6

Effect of Parameters on Water Vapour Absorbed (kg/hr)

 Increase in hot water t temperature t th COP the remains same. Increase in hot water flow rate increases heat input so COP decreases. Increase in return air, , regeneration ti air i and d cooling water flow rate the COP increases since cooling capacity increase with same heat input. Increase in solution flow rate the COP initially increase and then reduce. Effect of return air flow rate is most significant on COP.

Hot water temperature Hot water flow flowrate rate Return air flow rate Regeneration air flow rate Cooling g water flow rate Solution flow rate Cooling water temperature
0.6

(60-80oC ) (0.4-0.6m (0.4 0.6m 3/hr) (0.12-0.2m 3/s) (0.18-0.34m 3/s) ( 0.4-0.6m 3/hr ) (125-225l/hr) (28-32oC)

0.4

02 0.2

0 0 1 2 3 Input p parameter p step p 4 5 6

Effect of Parameters on (virtual) COP of the System

Integration, prototype development, and performance Integration, evaluation of solar collection devices with heat based cooling technologies in the capacity range < 10TR
Project Sponsored by MNRE Investigators : Sanjeev Jain & Subhash Mullick; IIT Delhi
Contact: sanjeevj@mech.iitd.ac.in

MAIN OBJECTIVES: To develop prototype of a membrane based solar desiccant cooling systems for air-conditioning applications To develop prototype of a solar collector cum regenerator g To carry out detailed experimental investigations and long term performance studies on the prototypes

Desiccant Dehumidifier Core

Cross flow of air and desiccant No direct contact between the desiccant and the air stream Series S i of f double d bl channeled sheets to prevent carryover of liquid in air stream (Sealing ? ) Liquid to wet the sheet completely to ensure maximum area for air/liquid i /li id interaction i t ti

An inside view of the contactor

Experimental dehumidification system

Typical Performance

CONCLUDING REMARKS
Significant Research and Developmental works are being done by the author on various aspects of Solar cooling technologies. technologies All the three technologies, i.e. Wet Absorption, Dry Solid Sorption and also Liquid Liquid- and Solid Desiccant Dehumidification, are being studied. Main emphasis is on the Thermodynamics, and Heat & Mass Transfer studies. Integration g with Solar Energy gy Collection and Thermal Energy gy Storage Sub-Systems are also being done. All these studies are yielding data for Optimal Thermal Design of Solar Cooling Systems for a variety of applications. The author is the Chairman of the Solar Thermal Projects Advisory Committee and also the Chairman of the Solar Cooling Expert Committee of the MNRE; and may be contacted for collaboration in specific areas (ssmurthy@iitm.ac.in).

THANK YOU VERY MUCH