Title: Solar-powered chilling for Tunisian climate: technical and economical analysis of individual air-conditioning units driven by different collectors

Authors: Sana El May; Mariam Mahmoudi; Ahmed Bellagi

Addresses: U.R. Thermique et Thermodynamique des Procédés Industriels, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Monastir (ENIM), University of Monastir, Monastir – Tunisia ' U.R. Thermique et Thermodynamique des Procédés Industriels, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Monastir (ENIM), University of Monastir, Monastir – Tunisia ' U.R. Thermique et Thermodynamique des Procédés Industriels, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Monastir (ENIM), University of Monastir, Monastir – Tunisia

Abstract: This paper aims to analyse the technical and economical feasibility of solar driven air-cooled single effect LiBr-H₂O absorption domestic chillers adapted to Mediterranean climatic conditions and in particular to Tunisia. The solar cooling system is dynamically simulated with TRNSYS. The analysis is performed for two types of solar collectors: flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors. A parametric analysis is carried out in order to evaluate the sensitivity of the optimum collector area to relevant economical parameters. The technical and economical investigation show that the solar system coupled to the flat collectors is more economical than the system coupled to the evacuated tube collectors despite better efficiency of the latter. In fact, the optimum evacuated tube collector area is 32 m² with a solar fraction of 72.6% and total annual cost, 1,935.6 €. The optimal flat collector area is 50 m², the corresponding solar fraction, 62.7% and the amount of annual total cost is 1,862 €. The results depend on fluctuant economical parameters. The sensitivity study shows that the optimum solar collector area is more sensitive to the unit price of the collectors.

Keywords: solar cooling; dynamic simulation; technical feasibility; economic feasibility; sensitivity analysis; domestic chillers; Tunisia; air conditioning units; solar collectors; flat plate collectors; evacuated tube collectors; solar energy; solar power.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2016.077737

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2016 Vol.7 No.3, pp.209 - 224

Received: 18 Mar 2015
Accepted: 21 Jun 2015
Published online: 14 Jul 2016 *

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