Optimizing solar cooling systems

This papers discusses solar powered absorption cycle performance by simulating different component temperatures. The main components that were investigated included a generator, condenser, absorber and evaporator. The COP was optimized against the generator temperature while varying the other temperatures one at a time. The considered range for the generator temperature was 55-85 degrees C (131-185 F). The optimum value for the evaporator temperature was 10 degrees C (50 F), while that for the condenser and absorber was 30 degrees C (86 F). The optimized COP was around 0.776 with the above selected components' temperatures and for generator temperatures higher than 70 degrees C (158 F). A simulation for the proposed optimized system was run for a 250 m(2) (2691 ft(2)) house located in Indiana, USA and it was found that 13 solar collectors, having a 2 m(2) (21.5 ft(2)) surface area each, were needed to run the generator along with a storage tank ranging in size from 1300 to 1700 L (343-450 gallons). The initial cost for such systems is much higher than that for conventional cooling systems, but the savings from the sustainable running cost offsets such higher initial costs over the long time. With the significant drop in collector prices and available incentives from the government and state agencies to use such sustainable systems, the payback period could be significantly improved.