Title: Energetic and exergetic investigations on a new PTSC supported triple-staged greener cooling system

Authors: Tawfiq Abdul-Aziz Al-Mughanam; Abdul Khaliq

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 380, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia ' Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering at Yanbu, Taibah University, Yanbu Al-Bahr 41911, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: This study explores the use of solar energy to drive a triple-staged cooling system consists of a parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC), Kalina cycle, ejector refrigeration cycle (ERC), cascaded refrigeration cycle (CRC), and a double-effect absorption refrigeration cycle (DEARC). The system is analysed through energy-exergy model. Solar collector and ejector are primary sources of exergy destruction, contributing (30.26%) and (12.5%), respectively. Variation in DNI from 850 W/m² to 1200 W/m² increases cooling exergy efficiency from 6.72% to 9.52% when CRC employs NH₃-propylene at fixed evaporator temperature -45°. However, cooling exergy is found negatively correlated with concentration of ammonia-water basic solution.

Keywords: exergetic; triple-staged cooling; parabolic trough solar collector; PTSC; cascaded refrigeration cycle; CRC.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2026.152053

International Journal of Exergy, 2026 Vol.49 No.3, pp.163 - 182

Received: 05 Jun 2025
Accepted: 09 Oct 2025
Published online: 04 Mar 2026 *

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