What is it about?
The energy we use to keep buildings cool is skyrocketing—it’s more than tripled since 1990! That’s why finding ways to make air conditioning more efficient is a big deal. This paper dives into a cool simulation using TRNSYS software to check out an absorption cooling system powered by a parabolic trough collector. They tested three setups for the storage tank: one that stores sensible heat, another using latent heat, and a third with latent heat plus a tempering valve. The latent heat tank uses a material called MgCl2·6H2O (fancy, right?) as the phase change material, and they looked at water and a synthetic fluid as heating options. They played around with the solar collector size (20 to 40 m²) and tank volume (0.25 to 0.75 m³).
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Why is it important?
This research is crucial because it addresses the rapidly growing energy demand for space cooling, which has more than tripled from 1990 to 2016, making it a significant contributor to global energy consumption. Improving energy efficiency in air conditioning systems is vital for reducing electricity use and mitigating environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions. The study explores an absorption cooling system powered by solar energy, a renewable source, which could reduce reliance on fossil fuels. By comparing different storage tank configurations (sensible heat, latent heat, and latent heat with a tempering valve), the research identifies which setups most effectively meet cooling demands under varying conditions. This provides valuable insights for designing sustainable cooling systems, particularly in regions with high solar potential, helping to lower energy costs and environmental footprints.
Perspectives
The research on solar-powered absorption cooling systems is pivotal for addressing the rapidly rising energy demand for space cooling, which has tripled since 1990, by offering sustainable, efficient alternatives to traditional air conditioning. By simulating different storage tank configurations—sensible heat, latent heat, and latent heat with a tempering valve—using TRNSYS software, the study identifies optimal setups, with configuration 3 (latent heat with a tempering valve) meeting cooling demands efficiently using a smaller solar collector (20 m²) and a tank volume above 0.50 m³. Future research could focus on advanced phase change materials, system scalability, and smart controls to enhance performance across diverse climates, while practical applications include residential, commercial, and industrial cooling, off-grid solutions, and retrofits, reducing electricity costs and carbon emissions in alignment with global sustainability goals.
Professor Rosenberg J Romero
Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Analysis and Simulation of an Absorption Cooling System Using a Latent Heat Storage Tank and a Tempering Valve, Energies, March 2021, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/en14051376.
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