SOLAR DIRECT AIR

CONDITIONINGROUND-THE-
CLOCK

By: Varda Naveed

Pakturk International Schools and Colleges
 CONTENTS
 Abstract
1. Purpose of project and its advantages
2. Procedure
3. Materials used
4. Cost effectiveness and sustainability of the mechanism
5. Description of the working model
6. Future considerations
Abstract
Project title:

SOLAR DIRECT AIR CONDITIONING ROUND-THE-CLOCK

The purpose of this project is to develop an effective air conditioning system using solar
energy that can run during the dark hours of night as well without the usage of batteries.
Batteries are expensive and have a limited time span, hence they are not suitable both
environmentally and economically.
In order to run this system, two water tanks will be needed: one placed above the room
(preferably on rooftop) and the other below it (preferably underground). The water in
well insulated upper water tank will cool using a closed circuit cooling technique used in
solar refrigerator and electricity will be generated by photovoltaic plates. The water will
be transferred by a PVC pipe into the water capillaries running inside the closed panel. A
straight panel of a wall inserted with capillaries insulated from the outside can be placed
in the room glued with the walls. Cold water stored in capillaries will be used to cool the
surroundings. This water will be brought to the lower water tank via the PVC pipe and
that water will be pumped back to the upper water tank during daytime through a water
pump using solar energy.
Proper calculations will be done to know the amount of water that can be stored in the
tanks which is sufficient to cool the room the entire night. The dimensions of tanks, pipes
and capillaries should be suitable to run the whole system effectively.
This type of system is sustainable and easy to maintain. Once installed, the system can
run throughout lifetime. Since its running on green energy, it can cut down the cost of
electricity and environmental hazards in long term.

Name: Varda Naveed

School: Pakturk Asifa Irfan Girls Campus (Lahore)
Section 1: PURPOSE OF THE MECHANISM AND
ITS ADVANTAGES
Pakistan has been facing an energy crisis for a long time and therefore it is time
for us to work towards bringing an end to it. The project is designed to eliminate
this problem by finding a solution for its root cause and that is lack of sustainable
energy supply. The project is designed to replace batteries as they use up a lot of
raw materials and precious resources only to expire after maximum 2-3 years of
use. The purpose of this idea is to save both resources and capital by conserving
energy without the use of batteries. By accomplishing this, not only will expenses
lessen, but more income will be generated by exporting the materials that are
saved by decreased usage of batteries. Also, less capital will be spent on
importing raw materials that are used in the manufacture of those batteries.
Furthermore, due to the fact that this is replacing batteries as a whole, it will save
money from buying batteries every few years. This not only saves an individual’s
money but also the country’s as it does not have to import materials. Later in this
booklet, you will come across the estimation the total initial cost for the
installation of the whole mechanism in the house. Apart from this initial budget,
no monthly bills will have to be paid since the whole system runs on solar energy.
Therefore, excluding the installation and purchases, the project caters for free
and sustainable electricity that only requires a few litres of water and solar
panels, that gives efficient and free working model for almost 25 years.
The project is based on the application of the physical laws for storage of energy
and its transfer. Sunlight is not available during the dark hours of night and hence
solar energy cannot be used to run air conditioning systems without the usage of
batteries. Therefore, I designed a mechanism to store solar energy during daytime
in such a way that it can be easily used at night to provide a comfortable cool
temperature in a specific area/room when the climate is hot. I had been working
since months to come up with an effective air conditioning system considering
the following factors in mind:
  Making it cost effective so that average income people can afford the
implementation in the houses
 Save resources and capital both by conserving energy without the use of
batteries, hence resulting in an overall national and international benefit.
 Making in environmental friendly.
 Reducing the need of electricity from grid station
 Usage of solar energy at night
 Installation of this mechanism on larger buildings, pharmacies, dairy and
meat shops, ships etc.
 Making it sustainable and assuring its long term usage

WHY SOLAR ENERGY IN THE MODERN WORLD?

The lifespan of solar panels is around 25 years whereas the lifespan of dry
batteries is around 5-7 years and that of liquid batteries is around 2 years. Solar
panels can even work below 45 degrees centigrade and can also work in hilly
areas. Hence it is a valuable energy source we can rely on.
Environmental benefits
Research has shown some of the deadly results of global warming emissions from
sources such as human activities and electrical production, which steadily drive up
the planet’s temperature. The rise of this blistering temperature creates
significant and harmful impacts on the environment, health and climate. With a
focus on coal mining and natural gas drilling, they can pollute sources of drinking
water contrary to fossil fuels.

However, in contrast to the above collisions, renewable energy sources are safer
because they produce little to no global warming emissions. This means reduction
of air and water pollution, and abundant renewable energy source directly from
the sun. Therefore, increasing the supply of renewable energy will reduce global
warming emissions to a significant level.

In addition, due to the health hazards (breathing problems, heart attacks, cancer,
etc) linked with air and water pollution, generating electricity from renewable
energy will offer significant health benefits. The use of wind, solar, and
hydroelectric systems positively impact electricity and water resources which
affect daily human lives.

Prevents Destruction of Habitats

Pristine forests are destroyed for mining raw materials like fossil or nuclear fuels.
Trees constantly remove and use carbon dioxide from the air to make their food,
and this carbon is then stored in them. When forests are cut for mining raw
materials for conventional energy, this major carbon sink disappears and also
increases climate change. "Nine out of ten animals on land" live in forests,
according to WWF, and a loss of habitats diminishes their populations. Switching
to solar power is important to keep these habitats intact for the animals who live
there as well as continue to keep the air clean.

Combats Climate Change

The "electric power sector accounted for 32% of U.S. total greenhouse gas
emissions in 2012," according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The
emissions lead to a rise in global temperatures, and changes in weather patterns
leading to a cascade of effects. Heat waves, and increase in disease-spreading
insects cause health problems especially for children and the elderly.

Climate change has lead to increase in flooding and hurricanes due to disturbed
weather patterns. Higher carbon dioxide concentration is making oceans acidic
and killing marine life, like corals. Climate change causes extinct of species from
Sub-Arctic Boreal forests to tropical Amazon forests. Higher temperatures result
melting of polar ice caps, reducing habitats for wildlife and also increase sea level.
This results in submersion and loss of land along the coast, displacing people.
Irregular rainfall or increasing droughts affects agriculture and livelihoods of the
weaker sections of society globally.

Solar power can restrict climate change as it produces no carbon emissions. The
carbon footprint of solar panels can be offset in as quickly as four years time
according to Greenpeace.

Small and Decentralized Electricity Source

Solar energy's greatest attraction is that it can be produced on a small scale
directly by the end consumers in contrast to large centralized conventional energy
sources controlled by large corporations
Cheap and Reliable Energy Source

Technological developments and policy and subsides by the government have

reduced the high costs of solar systems. The price of solar PV panels have
decreased by 60% and the cost of the solar electricity system by 50% according to
the Energy.gov report. So solar energy is now competitive with conventional
energy sources.

The running costs are less and the initial investment is regained leading to
subsequent savings in energy costs according to Greenpeace. This happens
because the input for solar energy is free and clean sunlight while fossil fuels are
mined and transported over long distance according to another Greenplace
report. The Greenpeace report estimates that in the U.S., the costs to deal with
environmental problems from use of "dirty power sources" double or even triple
the cost of electricity from conventional sources like coal. Solar energy is
important to help offset and potentially eliminate, these additional costs.

Generation of Jobs

The U.S. was the fifth largest producer of solar panels in the world in 2016 and
has created thousands of jobs in the country, according to Guardian. A 2016
Energy.gov report states that employment in the solar sector increased by 123%
in five years since 2010. By 2015 there were 209,000 people employed in solar
jobs. Most were small businesses engaged in installations, followed by solar
designers, sales person and service professionals. The industry grew 12% faster
than the average American job market, keeping the economy moving.

In 2015 coal and solar power provided 33% and less than 1% of energy,
respectively. Yet, the solar industry employed three times more people than the
coal industry in the same year, according to a Solar Foundation report. The
number of people working in solar is higher than the number working for oil and
gas plants. In fact 1.2% of all jobs in the U.S. were from the solar industry.

In 2015, 1 million people were employed in solar PV sector. Greenpeace Energy

[R]Evolution considers that by 2030 this could increase to 9.7 million. In addition
2.5 million jobs in solar thermal and 5.33 million in solar heat could also be
generated.
A Sunny Future

Production of energy from solar has been doubling every twenty months since
2010 according to Bloomberg. By 2050, Greenpeace Energy [R]Evolution visualizes
energy being produced 100% by renewables, wherein solar power's contribution
will be 32%. The importance of solar energy is sure to play a big role in saving the
environment, helping people socially and economically, and creating jobs and
research.

Protecting the Environment for Future Generations

Why is conserving energy important? As you can see there are many reasons that
conservation is important, ranging from the environment to the economy. The
world's dependence on fossil fuels is creating a problem that will affect
generations to come. It is important that energy not only be conserved, but also
that research continues to find cleaner and better solutions for future
generations.

Why Is It Important to Conserve Electricity?

One of the biggest motivators people have for conserving electricity in their
homes is the accumulated savings in their energy bills at the end of the year.
There are other reasons why conserving electricity is important beyond the
impact on your wallet.

Less Use of Fossil Fuels

Electricity can be obtained from solar or wind power, but most electricity used in
homes comes from the burning of fossil fuels such as oil or coal. These fuels are
needed to power the turbines that produce electricity. These resources are not
unlimited or renewable; the faster they are used and the more electricity that is
consumed, the quicker they will be depleted.

Less Pollution and Fewer Greenhouse Gases

Burning fossil fuels for producing electricity releases enormous amounts of
pollution into the atmosphere. Acid rain, soot, carbon dioxide, and toxic gases are
just a few of the ways electricity production poisons the environment. Even the
act of mining coal to be burned is detrimental to the ecosystem. Another damage
to the ecosystem is seen in oceans and soil whenever there's an oil spill. These
ecological threats are just a few of the reasons why it is so important to conserve
electricity.

Less Chance of Radioactive Pollution

As an alternative burning fossil fuels, much thought and effort have been put into
building nuclear reactors. Nuclear energy is produced by splitting unstable
uranium atoms in a process known as fission. This process produces both
enormous amounts of heat, which in turn produce electricity, as well as a
tremendous amount of radioactive waste products. This waste is frequently
disposed of improperly, leading to a potentially deadly pollution problem.
Conserving electricity and not putting as great a demand on power plants lessens
the need for more nuclear power plants.

PAKISTAN’S ENERGY CRISIS

In a developing country like Pakistan, a reliable, uninterrupted, and affordable
energy supply is a fundamental precondition for reducing poverty, encouraging
investment, and boosting economic growth. Among other challenges, the newly
elected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government under the leadership of Imran
Khan inherits a very stagnant energy sector. Despite broad access to electricity
(99 percent of the population had access to electricity in 2016, compared to 59
percent of the population in 1990), the country experiences massive blackouts
(load shedding of 6-8 hours a day for households and 1-2 hours a day for the
industry). Because of poor energy management, Pakistan’s energy resources have
been used inefficiently for decades. As a result, the nation faces a serious energy
crisis that has often stymied manufacturing and the service sector and disrupted
power supplies in communities and households across the nation. According to a
survey by the World Bank, 66.7 percent of the businesses in Pakistan cite
electricity shortages as a more significant obstacle to business than corruption
(11.7 percent) and crime/terrorism (5.5 percent). In light of these factors, there is
an urgent need to innovate in the energy sector of the country.

Fortunately, Pakistan has a high renewable energy potential, which has been
elaborated in many studies on Pakistan. A recent report published by USAID
attests to Pakistan’s energy potential, stating that it can potentially produce
100,000 MW from solar energy alone. Despite the potential, Pakistan remains
“powerless” when it comes to adequately powering lights for its homes,
machinery for its factories, and stoves for its kitchens. Data from many sources,
including the Ministry of Water & Power and Pakistan Economic Surveys, over the
past five years show that Pakistan has been facing an average shortfall of
between 4,000-5,000 MW.

This acute energy crisis is a result of flawed energy policies pursued for decades,
the high cost of generation, and aging and inadequate transmission, among other
causes. In addition to transmission losses and distribution thefts, an entrenched
bureaucratic culture marked by poor organization, planning, and project
implementation among Pakistan’s power operating companies only compounds
the problem.

Power shortages are also rooted in Pakistan’s irrational and increasingly

unaffordable energy mix: 64 percent thermal, 30 hydropower, and 6 percent
nuclear. A high reliance on thermal power plants (which in turn are run by natural
gas, oil, or coal) and hydropower seldom assure a continuous flow of power.
Heavy dependence on oil-based energy makes power high-priced. The prevailing
energy crisis is costly to the economy in the form of huge subsidies and high
circular debts. Politicians and policymakers in Pakistan have made little real
attempt to diversify the nation’s energy supplies and to shift dependence form
expensive and imported oil toward potentially cheaper and cleaner resources
available in the country (Pakistan’s dependence on oil imports is 24 percent,
compared to India’s 18 percent and Bangladesh’s 21 percent). Pakistan’s stubborn
reliance on fossil fuels continued even after the oil shocks of 1973 and 1979.

The misguided energy mix also exacerbates the nation’s already serious
environmental problems, which manifests itself in poor air quality and unsafe
drinking water. Pakistan ranked a dismal 148th out of 175 countries, according to
Yale and Columbia University’s Environmental Performance Index.

One solution to Pakistan’s energy crisis (and interrelated environmental

deterioration) is to provide incentives for the development of distributed energy
resources, i.e., encourage a shift toward renewable energy resources such as
solar, wind, and biogas. Fortunately, Pakistan is endowed with renewable energy
resources. It not only has potentially bountiful supplies of solar energy but also
could tap possible sources of wind power, especially along the coastal areas of the
Arabian Sea. The prospects for renewable energy in Pakistan are heartening.
Energy experts estimate that Pakistan has a total renewable energy potential of
about 167.7 GW, more than enough to meet the nation’s total demand for
electricity.
Better late than never, Pakistan has started to acknowledge its renewable energy
potential as evidenced by the construction of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, with a
nameplate capacity of 1,000 MW. There is a need for more additional steps
beyond the Solar Park. In fact, all these steps should be part of a multipronged
“energy productivity” policy. By encouraging energy conservation (efficiency), on
the one hand, and facilitating a move toward clean renewables, on the other, the
productivity policy will not only enhance energy security but also improve the
environment.

THE DRAWBACKS OF USING BATTERIES

Disadvantages of batteries are limited life and the need to either replace,
recharge or both which has ongoing costs associated. There is also the possibility
that you may not have the use of the powered item while recharging or
replacement is in progress. A battery will also add weight to an item which may or
may not be a disadvantage.

To store solar energy in air conditioning mechanisms, rechargeable batteries are

used. Rechargeable batteries suddenly die and from that moment on will not
work anymore unless they are recharged. With alkaline batteries the power flows
out of the battery more gradually. In this case you see when the batteries need to
be replaced in advanced. Rechargeable batteries are also more expensive
compared to alkaline batteries (also because you need to buy a charger).
Rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries contain for 15% of the heavy metal
cadmium. Nickel-cadmium batteries have the drawback that you need to fully
discharge them before they can be recharged again. If you don’t do this a memory
block will arise and the battery can no longer be recharged to its maximum.
Rechargeable batteries usually have lower capacity (ampere-hours per discharge
cycle) than their “primary” cousins. Rechargeables tend to have lower energy
density (ampere-hours per unit weight or volume) than primaries.

Higher energy density technologies like lithium-ion have problems with thermal
runaway that can lead to fires or explosions (they are generally barred from
transportation in airplanes for this reason).
Charging strategies are important in conserving battery life of rechargeables -
lead-acid batteries like to have a constant voltage and nickle-cadmiums prefer a
constant current, while lithium-ion requires a multi-stage charging profile that
moves from constant current to variable current and finally to cutoff when fully
charged - the battery will be damaged if this profile is not followed.

One can get into a lot of trouble when cells of different rechargeable chemistry
are intermixed - this can be hard to control in a consumer product with
replaceable batteries.

Rechargeables generally require some strategy to keep them from losing capacity
when they remain idle for long periods - this can make the charging circuitry more
elaborate and expensive than anticipated. One does not want to be responsible
for a life-critical device like a defibrillator losing its capacity (true no matter what
battery is used) without somehow giving notice - this is a problem with no easy
solutions.
 SECTION 2: PROCEDURE
Construction idea:
1. Installation of solar panels on the rooftop.
2. Construction of a water tank at the top of the house and the insertion of a
compressor in it.
3. PVC pipe emerging from the tank to deliver water to the room to a room on
the lower floor.
4. Capillaries glued on the walls insulated from the outside.
5. Another PVC pipe to deliver used water to the lower water tank
6. Construction of another tank underground.
7. Water pump (that works on solar energy

The following diagram is an undetailed diagrammatic representation to highlight

the basic idea of the project:
Upper water tank

PVC pipe

Room (to cool)

Copper capillaries

Lower Water Tank

A water tank will be placed over the room that has to be cooled. Preferred
position for this tank is the rooftop of the house/building. A compressor will be
placed outside the tank to compress the refrigerant and to maintain its flow
throughout the vapor compression cycle. Inside the tank the parts similar to those
used in a refrigerator will be inserted i.e condenser, drier, expansion device and
evaporator. What makes this technique brilliant by overcoming the high costs and
making it sustainable is that the compressor runs on solar energy. A solar panel
will be inserted on the rooftop to run the compressor as well as the water pump
(which will be later discussed as a part of this project). The benefit of using solar
energy as the only source of energy in this project has been clearly mentioned in
detail earlier. Energy is produced in the form of electricity by photovoltaic cells.
The working involves simple chemistry and let us describe it briefly. Solar panels
work by allowing photons to knock electrons out of their atoms, generating a flow
of electricity. Solar panels consist of many photovoltaic cells that are made out of
two silicon slices that act as a conductor. But, to work, photovoltaic cells need to
develop an electric field. To accomplish this, phosphorus is seeded onto an upper
layer of the silicon adding extra electrons, or a negative charge on the layer. The
bottom layer is coated with boron, resulting in lesser electrons on that side,
causing it to become positively charged. Then, when a photon or light particle
knocks an electron free, the electric field will push that electron out of the silicon
junction. See figure 1:

Figure 1
The electricity produced by solar panels is run directly to the compressor. The
piston of the compressor moves back and forth, compressing and expanding the
refrigerant at high speed. It increases the pressure of refrigerant gas from 0.6 bar
to 8 bar. Being directly proportional, it also increases the refrigerant’s
temperature upto 100 degrees centigrade. It is then sent up the discharge line
and into the compressor. Due to the room temperature, the condenser allows the
refrigerator to dissipate the heat. The temperature here is about 55 degrees
centigrade and the refrigerant condenses to liquid form . The refrigerant then
passes into the drier to prevent any residual humidity/moisture of compression
from blocking the capillary tube. When refrigerant passes through the narrow
space of expansion device, it expands and the pressure again is reduced from 8 to
0.6 bar. The boiling point of the refrigerant is lowered too. The temperature is
now -23 degrees centigrade. It continues through the coil cooling the water. The
evaporator absorbs the latent heat of the refrigerant which results in its boiling.
These warm and low pressure vapors are sent to the compressor again and the
cycle repeats. Figure 2 shows the working of the closed circuit technique used in a
refrigerator:

Figure 2
In the prototype project, water will be stored in a galvanized steel tank.
Throughout the limited hours of the day, the refrigeration system will
continuously work the temperature of water to 10 degrees centigrade. The water
storage tank will be wrapped with 2 inch thick layer of mineral wool having
minimum density of 130 kg/m3. The insulation is used to prevent the heat loss
and will save the stored temperature of water. The water stored at elevation
position is transferred from a polyvinylchloride pipe to the coiled capillaries glued
with the walls and thus, the water capillaries running inside the enclosed panel
can cool the room. These capillaries will be made of aluminium and they will be
designed in such a way that the surface are to volume ratio will be more so that
the room is cooled more efficiently. The room is also insulated with same material
to reduce the heat loss to the atmosphere. The water will also absorb the heat of
the room and hence its temperature in the first attempt will be increased more. A
heat sensor will be placed in the end of capillaries to note the temperature rise.
As soon as the temperature rises above a given temperature, the water will be
drained from the capillaries into the lower water tank via PVC pipe and freshly
cooled water will refill the capillaries. It can be said that these coiled capillaries
act as a heat exchanger.
Apart from an upper water tank, another tank is placed below the room,
preferably in the basement. Since this lower water tank just temporarily stores
water, there is no need to insulate it or insert other complicated units inside it.
Hence its construction is quite easy and cheap. The underground storage tank has
the same capacity as that of overhead water tank. This tank stores used water
overnight and as soon as the sun shines again, the water is sent back to the upper
water tank through an electrically operated pump placed inside the tank. This will
use electricity produced by solar panels.
The centrifugal pump is powered by an impellor which moves very fast. The
curved blades channel water into the eye, or center of the impellor, but that
water flows along to the outside of the blades. Because the impeller moves fast,
the centrifugal force compresses the water against the outside of the blade. This
pressure causes the water to rocket forward in a high-speed jet out of the
impeller. This speed creates pressure on the outlet side of the pump, pushing the
water through the pipe. The DC motor is contained in a sealed case attached to
the impeller and powers it through a simple gear drive. In the center of the motor
is rotor which coils around it. Around these coils are magnets which create a
permanent magnetic field that flows through the rotor. When the motor turns on,
electricity runs through the coils, producing a magnetic field that repels the
magnets around the rotor, causing the rotor to spin around 180 degrees. When
the rotor spins, the direction of the electricity in the coil flips, pushing the rotor
again and causing it to spin rest of the way around. Through a series of pushes,
the rotor continues to spin, driving the impeller and powering the pump. Figure 3
is a diagrammatic representation of a centrifugal pump.

Figure 3

This is how the whole mechanism works. The cycle keeps repeating and the same
water is used over and over again which makes its maintenance much easier. In
case that the proposed cooling area is fairly above the ground level, the
condensation water that is to accumulate during the cooling process can be
channeled out of the room through a designed water channel at the bottom of
the wall. This may save the efforts of pumping the water used after cooling, by
using it for domestic purposes.
To improve the efficiency of the project, we can consider the following points:
 Add a chemical to the water that would decrease the amount of time it
requires to cool
 Use less amount of water and keep recycling it
 Use a more efficient compressor
 Apply this machine to a smaller area to cool
Same principle can be used to heat the water in the overhead water tank during
the winter by addition of solar water heater instead of refrigeration system. In
this way it can be used for keeping a room warm during summers as well.
 SECTION 3: MATERIALS USED

The materials have each been selected due to their own features and their
individual contribution to the project. Here, we mentioning just a few
materials that contribute to the uniqueness of this project. The materials used
for water tanks, compressor, centrifugal pump etc will not be mentioned since
their selection won’t make much difference and the materials used in them
are those that are generally used in other daily household systems.
PVC pipes and tank
Polyvinyl chloride, PVC, is one of the most popular plastics used in building and
construction. It is used in drinking water and waste water pipes, window
frames, flooring and roofing foils, wall coverings, cables and many other
applications as it provides a modern alternative to traditional materials such as
wood, metal, rubber and glass. These products are often lighter , less
expensive and offer many performance advantages.
PVC's abrasion resistance, light weight, good mechanical strength and
toughness are key technical advantages for its use in building and construction
applications. It can be cut, shaped, welded and joined easily in a variety of
styles. Its light weight reduces manual handling difficulties. It is resistant to
weathering, chemical rotting, corrosion, shock and abrasion. It is therefore the
preferred choice for many different long-life and outdoor products. For
example, it is estimated that more than 75 per cent of PVC pipes will have a
lifetime in excess of 40 years with potential in-service lives of up to 100 years.
PVC has been a popular material for construction applications for decades due
to its physical and technical properties which provide excellent cost-
performance advantages. As a material it is very competitive in terms of price,
this value is also enhanced by the properties such as its durability, lifespan and
low maintenance.
PVC is non-toxic. It is a safe material and a socially valuable resource that has
been used for more than half a century. It is also the world's most researched
and thoroughly tested plastic. It meets all international standards for safety
and health for both the products and applications for which it is used.
The study 'A discussion of some of the scientific issues concerning the use of
PVC' (1) by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO) in Australia concluded in 2000 that PVC in its building and construction
applications has no more effect on the environment that its alternatives.
Substitution of PVC by other materials on environmental grounds with no
additional research or proven technical benefits will also result in higher costs.
For example, as part of a housing renovation project at Bielefeld in Germany ,
it has been estimated that the replacement of PVC by other materials would
lead to a cost increase of approximately 2,250 euro for an average sized
apartment.

Restrictions on PVC use in construction applications would not only have

negative economic consequences but also have wider social impacts, such as
in the availability of affordable housing. Like all other organic materials used in
buildings, including other plastics, wood, textiles etc., PVC products will burn
when exposed to a fire. PVC products however are self-extinguishing, i.e. if the
ignition source is withdrawn they will stop burning. Because of its high chlorine
content PVC products have fire safety characteristics, which are quite
favourable as. they are difficult to ignite, heat production is comparatively low
and they tend to char rather than generate flaming droplets. But if there is a
bigger fire in a building, PVC products will burn and will emit toxic substances
like all other organic products.

PVC as well as some other materials also emits acids. These emissions can be
smelled and are irritating, making people try to run away from the fire. A
specific acid, hydrochloric acid (HCL), is connected with burning PVC . To the
best of our knowledge, no fire victim has ever been proven scientifically to
have suffered HCl poisoning.

PVC does not conduct electricity and is therefore an excellent material to use
for electrical applications such as insulation sheathing for cables.
The physical properties of PVC allow designers a high degree of freedom when
designing new products and developing solutions where PVC acts as a
replacement or refurbishment material.
So there are very good reasons to use PVC products in buildings, since they
perform well technically, have good environmental and very good economic
properties, and compare well with other materials in terms of fire safety.
Aluminium capillaries
Out of the more common metals, copper and aluminium have the
highest thermal conductivity. Since aluminium is cheaper so we will be using
this as a material for capillaries since the purpose of this project is making the
whole system cost effective. Using aluminium is economical, safe and
environmentally sound.
The density of aluminium is approx. 2.6 to 2.8 g per cm³. This is approx. one
third of the density of steel, which is why aluminium is also called a "light
metal". Despite its low weight, aluminium has a very high strength.
All standard processing methods – welding, moulding, etc. – can be applied to
aluminium and are much more efficient to carry out on aluminium than other
metals.
Aluminium is impact-resistant and extremely strong Even though the surface of
an aluminium sheet may become dented by the force of an impact, the impact
energy is absorbed by the deformation.
It is corrosion-resistant and protects itself. When aluminium comes into contact
with oxygen in the air, a dense oxide layer forms on the aluminium surface.
This layer will immediately reform when it gets damaged and also protects the
metal underneath against corrosion. For particularly high-stress conditions, the
surface protection can be improved even further by means of anodisation.
Aluminium is fully recyclable. Products made of aluminium are very sturdy and
long-lasting.

Extracting aluminium is an energy-intensive process. However, used

aluminium can be easily melted down and fully recycled. This recycling process
consumes only 5% of the energy used in aluminium extraction! The aluminium
melted down/recycled is in no way inferior to primary aluminium.
Aluminum is electrically conductive. Its material properties remain unchanged
in the temperature range from -80 to +150°C. Aluminium can even withstand
extreme temperatures without detrimental effects to its properties.
Aluminium is vapour-impermeable. Moisture cannot diffuse through the metal
even when an aluminium case is stored for a long time. When welded, an
aluminium container can be made impermeable to water vapour in order to
protect the goods packaged inside against humidity or water spray.
Long periods of storage and use under exposure to UV radiation have no effect
on this material.
It is hygienic. The smooth surface of aluminium is easy to clean and odourless.
Aluminium is therefore suitable for use in sterile and pathogen-free
environments.
It is also magnetically neutral. It is not ferromagnetic. For certain places of
application, e.g. in laboratories, this material property can be of significant
importance.
High density mineral wool for insulation

It is easily installed. Because of its greater rigidity, mineral wool can be easilly
and simply slid into the space between studs. Mineral wool batts are so dense
that you can carve them to accurately fit around outlets and other obstacles. it
is very easy to measure. It’s rigid form just sits there, unmoving, so you can
quickly whip out your tape and get an accurate measurement. Mineral wool
withstands extreme heat better than other types of insulation. In a fire, the
batts retain their shape and offer better protection against flame spread. And
you builders may be interested to learn that when they’re combined with
special fire-rated sheathing, mineral wool batts can be used to create a one-
hour-fire-rated assembly without any extra labor.

Another cool property of mineral wool batts is that they don’t absorb water,
staying intact even when wet. This means that if your wall or roof leaks, the
batts will be as good as new after they dry out. Mineral wool batts are denser
than other types of insulation, making them better at soundproofing interior
walls, floors and ceilings. Install batts between rooms or in the joist spaces
between floors to reduce sound transmission.

Laminated high density wooden chipboards

Considering the abilities of this material, the mini room we made to examine
our project is made of the laminated chipboards. It’s made from fine wood
particles pressed and extruded with a resin to bind them together. The
resulting product is smooth and consistent, as well as cheaper than many
other timber products. Because it’s an engineered wood product that can be
made from offcuts and other waste wood products, chipboard flooring is much
cheaper than the alternatives. As an engineered product, the expansion and
shrinkage of chipboard is consistent and easy to take account for. Tongue and
groove on all sides allows for tight joints and close fitting, saving time and
effort in finishing. Chipboard can be fixed using screws, nails or suitable
adhesives. It’s easy to cut and shape to take into account recesses or steps in
walls. If chipboard is glued to the joists any movement can be kep to a
minimum. This makes for it silent that won’t wobble and creak as it gets older.
As an engineered wood product, chipboard flooring is consistent and even.
Unlike natural timber products there are no knots to contend with and you
don't have to look out for voids as you would with plywood. This reduces the
time you need to finish the floor and reduces wastage, making chipboard
flooring an even more cost effective option.
 SECTION 4: Cost effectiveness of the
mechanism
Since the target application of this process is most households, offices, schools,
ships, markets, etc, there is a need to assure its affordability by even the low
income people. Moreover, as we are targeting its long term application, we need
to assure its sustainability and that our future generations will not have to suffer
from energy crisis. This is the initial step towards a big change. Once the idea gets
successfully applied and runs smoothly in places in Pakistan, further
improvements can be made later on to increase its efficiency and this proposed
idea may also become a commonly used air conditioning system throughout the
world in the upcoming years as more people are now aware and are eager to save
the money as well as the environment. It’s time for us to save energy and the
income for an individual’s benefit as well as the benefit of the nation and the
world.
For a more realistic approach, I have made a mathematical comparison of this
system with the common AC. Approximate calculations are done by adding the
average costs of every system involved (tanks, refrigeration cycle, PVC pipe,
capillaries, pump etc) along with the labour cost and any additional costs for
maintenance. The cost of air conditioners run on electricity from grid stations that
are commonly used in households, buildings, offices etc is also estimated. Hence
an overall comparison is made which clearly depicts the advantages of the newly
proposed mechanism over the commonly used air conditioners.
1. Our solar direct air conditioning system
As solar panels have a lifespan of 25 years, we will estimate the total cost of this
whole mechanism for 25 years and later divide the result by 25 in order to get the
idea of the cost per year. Remember that the costs mentioned here are in
Pakistani rupees and it is only a rough estimation. The accurate cost varies from
person to person depending upon the type of solar panels and materials they use.
  Solar panels = 40,000 PKR
 Upper water tank (PVC material for 1000 gallons)= 25,000 PKR
 Lower water tank(PVC material for 1000 gallons = 25,000 PKR
 Refrigerating cycle with compressing units = 50,000 PKR
This system runs out after 8 to 10 years. Considering the lifespan of 25
years, we multiply this cost by three for a realistic approach since there
may be a need to replace this system thrice in 25 years.
50,000*3 = 150,000 PKR
 PVC pipe = 10,000 PKR
 Aluminium capillaries = 50,000 PKR
 Centrifugal pump = 2000 PKR
 Labour cost = 50,000 PKR
Overall cost = 352,000 PKR
Per year cost= 14,080 PKR
2. Common air conditioners run on electricity
An AC runs out after approximately 10 years. Hence in this case we consider a
total lifespan of 10 years and the cost per year will be calculated in the end.
 AC cost = 60,000 PKR
 Electric bill cost at 10,000 per month = 10,000*12*10 = 1,200,000 PKR
 Operating cost per year= 5000 PKR
For 10 years = 50,000 PKR
Total cost for 10 years= 1,310,000 PKR
Per year cost= 131,000 PKR
Conclusion
131000/14080 = 9.30
Hence the cost of AC system is approximately 9 times more expensive than the
newly proposed solar direct air conditioning system.
 SECTION 5: DESCRIPTION OF THE WORKING MODEL

7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am 1 am 2 am
TIME

ROOM 32 30 27 26 25 25 24 24
TEMPERATURE degrees degrees degrees degrees degrees degrees degrees degrees

From this table we can conclude that it takes about 7 hours to reduce the
temperature of the room by 8 degrees.

Dimensions of the box

Height= 65 cm
Length= 54.5 cm
Width= 62 cm
Total volume= 65*54.5*62= 219,635 cc
Upper Water Tank
Circumference= 82.4 cm
Radius= 13.11 cm
Height= 35 cm
Volume= base area*height= 539.95*35 = 18898.32 cc

Since the tank will be filled to 75% of its capacity;

75% of volume= 75/100 * 18898.32= 14173.74 cc
Pipe connecting the tank and capillaries
Diameter= 12.25 mm
Copper capillaries
Diameter= 12.1 cm

SECTION 6: FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS

Once the idea succeeds and proper implementation is done, there are several
beneficial uses of it.
1. In pharmacies
Like that in our working model, a mini room can be used as a refrigerator.
In pharmacies it has the benefit that medicines remain in a desired
temperature and unlike in that of common refrigerators, they do not freeze
when they come into contact with chiller plate or coil at the end of the
fridge. Medications are chemical structures which can be sensitive to heat
and/or cold, or to changes in light or humidity. Therefore, storage
conditions are important and in this case an excellent solution for
regulating low temperature is mentioned. Sometimes, the coating of the
drug can be sensitive to temperature. For example, if ritonavir capsules are
left at room temperature, they will melt. Therefore, it is important to
always keep ritonavir capsules in the refrigerator.

2. In dairy, meat or fruit shops

In such places where eatables have to be kept in low temperature, an
economical mini or large refrigerator can be made and installed and as it is
 about 10 times cheaper than the normal air conditioning system,
shopkeepers can easily afford it.

3. In ships
When transportation of frozen items has to be done, it is difficult to carry a
huge burden of ice along with the items to keep it frozen. Once this system
is installed on a ship, it can run almost forever with extreme affordability.
However, for storage of frozen items a very low temperature is required.
Hence, a more efficient compressor should be used, more aluminium
capillaries can be installed and similar other improvements can be made to
turn it from a refrigerator into a freezer. In ships, another benefit is that
there is no need to construct a lower water tank because firstly it takes up
a lot of space. Water is abundantly available around ships in the form of
seas and oceans and hence the used water can be drained in it and the
upper water tank can be refilled from fresh water from seas. In this case a
centrifugal pump will also not be required, saving more money. However, a
bit labor force will be required to refill the tank but since it won’t be at a
much higher elevation, refilling it won’t be a problem. Another cardinal
benefit in ships is that the water that is pumped straight from oceans has
an average temperature of 13.1 degrees centigrade. Hence there will be no
need to even install the solar panels and a whole refrigeration system. In
this way there will be a precipitous decrease in the cost of the whole
system.

3. In large buildings
As the cost saving is discussed in detail earlier, the larger level this system is
installed on, more beneficial it is as a whole. Some slight changes can be
made on a larger scale depending on the type of area building is in and so
on. For example, instead of constructing a lower water tank and centrifugal
pump, used water can be drained in nearby areas and used for domestic
purposes. This can save the efforts of pumping the water in case that the
targeted cooling area is very high above the ground level.
 Student’s word
I am planning to do further research to make this project even more cheap and
sustainable as a whole. Engineering has always been my major interest and
proposed profession in the future. At this stage, my circle of knowledge is
constricted to basic sciences, yet I tried to think out of the box and come up
with a unique invention just for the benefit of the country. I fear to die without
serving the nation and its people. My ambition has always been to contribute in
the flourishment of Pakistan and when I noticed energy crisis as a major
problem of the country, I decided to put my endless endeavors in overcoming
the issue. It is my dream to take this project on a bigger level and even work
with highly qualified engineers to come up with further improvements in the
mechanism.

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