Energy Reports (Nov 2022)

Simulation of an improved solar absorption refrigeration system with phase change materials

  • Hongzhi Zhu,
  • Bin Guo,
  • Wenzhe Geng,
  • Jinji Chi,
  • Shizheng Guo

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8
pp. 3671 – 3679

Abstract

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Aiming at the problems of low solar energy utilization rate, poor intermittent, low stability and poor energy saving effect in traditional solar absorption refrigeration system, a lithium bromide-water absorption refrigeration system driven by solar in Tai’an was taken as the research object. An improved solar absorption refrigeration system with phase change was presented. In typical day and whole refrigeration period, the traditional solar absorption refrigeration system with and without phase change were simulated by TRNSYS transient simulation software. Their collector efficiency, unit cooling capacity and COP were comparatively analyzed. The results showed that the collector efficiency of the improved solar absorption refrigeration system with phase change was 4.2% higher than that of the traditional solar absorption refrigeration system without phase change. The unit cooling capacity was 2.8% lower than that of the traditional system, which store the excess cooling capacity with the help of PCMs. The average COP of traditional absorption system and improved solar absorption refrigeration system were 0.737 and 0.679, respectively. This manuscript provides a theoretical basis for the development of solar phase change heat storage absorption refrigeration system.

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