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    Solar Thermal Article #2

    Uploaded by

    Jeffery Osvold
    The document discusses how solar thermal technology can be used for cooling applications by using high temperature water from solar panels to increase the efficiency of refrigeration systems. An example case study showed a 76% reduction in energy consumption for an AC unit retrofitted with solar thermal. Absorption chillers can also use solar heated fluid instead of fossil fuels to reduce costs and emissions.

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    Solar Thermal Article #2

    Uploaded by

    Jeffery Osvold
    7 views2 pages
    The document discusses how solar thermal technology can be used for cooling applications by using high temperature water from solar panels to increase the efficiency of refrigeration systems. An example case study showed a 76% reduction in energy consumption for an AC unit retrofitted with solar thermal. Absorption chillers can also use solar heated fluid instead of fossil fuels to reduce costs and emissions.

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    The document discusses how solar thermal technology can be used for cooling applications by using high temperature water from solar panels to increase the efficiency of refrigeration systems. An example case study showed a 76% reduction in energy consumption for an AC unit retrofitted with solar thermal. Absorption chillers can also use solar heated fluid instead of fossil fuels to reduce costs and emissions.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    7 views2 pages

    Solar Thermal Article #2

    Uploaded by

    Jeffery Osvold
    The document discusses how solar thermal technology can be used for cooling applications by using high temperature water from solar panels to increase the efficiency of refrigeration systems. An example case study showed a 76% reduction in energy consumption for an AC unit retrofitted with solar thermal. Absorption chillers can also use solar heated fluid instead of fossil fuels to reduce costs and emissions.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Jeff Osvold

    Solar Thermal

    5/1/18

    Solar Thermal Article #2

    So far this semester we’ve learned a lot about how we can use solar energy to heat

    water that can be used for heating applications, such as perimeter heat, radiant floor heat, and

    to heat domestic hot water. This method of heating water has proven to be an effective way to

    cut energy costs for homeowners and business owners alike. However, solar thermal

    technology’s doesn’t stop at heating- it can be used for cooling as well.

    The idea behind solar thermal cooling is to use the high temperature water created by a

    traditional solar thermal system in conjecture with a normal refrigeration system’s compressor

    and condenser. Essentially, the compressor discharges hot refrigerant vapor, which runs

    through a set of coils that are full of hot water created by solar panels collecting the sun’s

    energy. Now, the refrigerant vapor is even hotter (typically 185 oF to 221 oF) and a higher delta T

    can be achieved before the vapor reaches the condenser to give up its heat to the outside air.

    By increasing the delta T, the heat transfer is much faster and accomplishes more than a

    traditional refrigeration system would. It also means that the refrigerant vapor reaches a point

    of equilibrium, or the point in which change of state occurs. The sooner this happens in the

    condenser, the more effective the heat transfer can be.


    An example of a successful solar thermal cooling installation is a retrofit for an HVAC

    system that served a computer server room at East London Vinegar facility in South Africa that

    had 2 identical 12,000 BTU AC units with variable frequency drives. During this case study, one

    of the units was outfitted with a solar thermal kit and both units were watched and their

    performances studied. In this case, the solar thermal unit showed a 76% drop in energy

    consumption, which can equal thousands of dollars saved per year. What’s more is that even at

    night, without the advantage of sunlight, the retrofitted unit still showed a 25% reduction in

    energy use. Numerous other studies have been done, and while not all of them had results that

    were quite as dramatic as the one described above, they all showed an improvement over the

    traditional cooling system.

    Another instance of solar thermal usage for cooling is in absorption chillers. Typically

    absorption chillers will use a fossil fuel or electrically driven burner to drive the refrigeration

    process. However, fluid heated by solar thermal technology, such as collector plates or mirrors,

    can also be used as a source of heat. Doing so cuts back on both energy use, as well as gas

    consumption, further reducing both costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

    While solar thermal systems can pose a daunting price to consumers, the benefits far

    outweigh the costs. Furthermore, these systems have a variety of uses that can be customized

    to suit many different needs and functions.

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