Performance Analyses of Ammonia–Water Absorption Cooling Cycle Combined with Enhanced Passive PVT System

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the thermodynamic performance of an enhanced integrated collector-storage solar (ICSS) or passive photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) system with two reflectors for cooling applications. The solar cooling system includes the single-effect absorption cycle. First, the modeling of the ICSS-PV and the overall cooling cycle is validated. Then, an hourly simulation of a 10-kW absorption cooling cycle is carried out. In addition to supplying a fraction of the cooling load of the proposed system, it can also generate electrical energy. Results indicate that the coefficient of performance (COP) of the system is 0.62. Influence of tank water mass, generator temperature, and evaporator temperature on the hourly performance of cycle were investigated. Accordingly, with increasing tank water mass, the electricity generated by ICSS-PV and the solar coefficient of performance increase whereas the hourly solar fraction and solar exergetic efficiency decrease. With increasing generator temperature, the solar coefficient of performance and solar exergetic efficiency decrease but the solar fraction increases; with increasing evaporator temperature, the COP is increased. Also, Influence of the condenser and absorber temperature on the COP and exergetic efficiency was investigated.