Optimizer tool designs, evaluates, maximizes solar-powered cooling
systems
Computer program determines parameters maximizing system performance


Date:
March 15, 2022
Source:
American Institute of Physics
Summary:
Researchers have developed an optimizer tool to design, evaluate,
and maximize the performance of different types of solar-powered
adsorption under various operating scenarios. The tool was created
using Visual Basic programming language that is easy to learn and
enables rapid application development and predicted the proper
material mass concentration ratios. The method calculated the
cooling load, predicted maximal performance, and conducted the
overall performance analysis of the cooling system.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Solar-powered adsorption cooling systems (SACS) have gained traction
as a renewable energy technology that could provide clean power for air conditioning and refrigeration while significantly reducing the load on
the electric grid.

But these systems lack energy efficiency.


==========================================================================
In the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, by AIP Publishing, researchers from Anna University in India developed an optimizer tool
to design, evaluate, and maximize the performance of different types
of SACS under various operating scenarios. The tool was created using
Visual Basic programming language that is easy to learn and enables
rapid application development.

"Our user-friendly optimizer is a multifunctional tool capable of
designing and analyzing a complete solar powered adsorption refrigeration system," co-author Edwin Mohan said. "Our tool is capable of assessing different combinations of operational parameters to determine the settings
that maximize system performance." SACS, which work by turning solar
energy into heat, consists of a sorption bed, condenser, liquid storage
tank, expansion valve, and evaporator. At night, water or another
refrigerant is vaporized through the evaporator.

During daylight hours, heat obtained from the sun causes the vapor
to travel through the condenser, where it is reliquefied to release
latent heat. The liquid eventually returns to the evaporator to repeat
the process.

One of the most important elements of SACS is the pairing of materials
used in the adsorption process in which atoms or molecules of a
substance (the adsorbate) adhere to the surface of a porous material
(the adsorbent), like activated carbon and zeolite, to maximize the surface-to-volume ratio.

In their study, the researchers used their computational tool to test
two adsorbent/adsorbate pairs: activated-carbon and methanol, and
zeolite and water. The experiments were carried out over four days in
a prototype SACS with a cooling capacity of 0.25 kilowatts. They found
the activated-carbon-methanol combination achieved a higher coefficient
of performance, but the zeolite-water adsorption system could operate
at higher temperatures.

The optimizer tool predicted the proper material mass concentration
ratios. The method calculated the cooling load, predicted maximal
performance, and conducted the overall performance analysis of the
cooling system.

Although the study focused on residential home cooling systems, the
researchers said their optimizer tool could be extended to higher
capacity systems.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Institute_of_Physics. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. N. Saravanan, M. Edwin. Optimization and experimental analysis of
a solar
powered adsorption refrigeration system using selective adsorbent/
adsorbate pairs. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy,
2022; 14 (2): 023702 DOI: 10.1063/5.0076645 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220315112954.htm

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