Application of Absorption Systems Powered by Solar Ponds in Warm Climates for the Air Conditioning in Residential Buildings

Abstract

The increasing importance of a significant reduction of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere asks the scientific community to find other solutions than fossil fuels with respect to the air conditioning of indoor environments. Nowadays, a priority is represented by the energy expenses reduction, in which residential buildings report one of the highest energy consumption levels among developed countries. The application of alternative energies in residential buildings is an issue debated in the European Commission for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with the objective to obtain 20% of the demand from renewable sources. This paper suggests the application of the solar energy stored in solar ponds to air-condition small residential buildings, through the use of absorption machines. A feasibility analysis was carried out in some places characterized by climates that are suitable to make the solution here suggested sustainable from an energetic point of view. Buildings characterized by different boundary surface/volume ratios were examined and the energy saving, the amount of CO2 that was not emitted in the environment and the return of investments with respect to a more traditional solution were evaluated.

Keywords

• absorption heat pumps
• absorption chillers
• solar pond
• air conditioning
• hot climate zone
• nearly zero energy building
• reducing emissions