Design and Construction of an Absorption Cooling System Driven by Solar Energy

Abstract

The objective of this work is to design and construct a lithium bromide–water (LiBr-H2O) absorption
cooling system with a nominal capacity of approximately 1 TOR driven by solar energy which uses Lithium
Bromide as absorbent and Water as refrigerant. The proposed absorption cooling system comprises a roof-mounted
vacuum tubes solar collector, a single-effect LiBr–H2O absorption chiller (generator, a solution heat exchanger, an
evaporator, a condenser, and an absorber),fan coil unit, a cooling tower, pumps, flow throttling and controlling
valves. A thermodynamic analysis of the absorption cooling cycle has been performed to study the effect of various
operating conditions on the thermal performance. Results from experimental work carried out in Khartoum City
during October 2015show that the COP of the absorption cooling system ranged from 0.57 to 0.64 while the Chilled
water temperatures mostly ranged between 17°C to 19.5°C. Condensation and absorption temperatures were under
45°C while the maximum temperature of the driving water is 83°C. The results also show that the generator
temperature had a great effect on the performance of absorption and solar collector systems.