Prepared by:

Molano, Carl Joseph O.

Sto. Domingo Arvin M.
Campus, Diego P.
What is Refrigeration?
 Refrigeration is a process in which work is done to
move heat from one location to another.

Where it is Uses?
• To provide refrigeration for food and medicine
preservation. To provide comfort cooling.
Solar Refrigeration

 Refrigerator which runs on electricity provided by

Solar Energy is known as solar refrigeration . Solar-
powered refrigerators may be most commonly used in
the future generation. Developing the world to help
mitigate poverty and climate change.
Types of Refrigeration:

 Refrigeration systems is broadly classified into two

types: • Vapour Compression Refrigeration (VCR)
(uses mechanical energy). • Vapour Absorption
Refrigeration (VAR) (uses thermal energy).
Vapour Compression Refrigeration:

 Highly compressed fluids tend to get colder when

allowed to expand.

 If pressure high enough, Compressed air hotter than

source of cooling Expanded gas cooler than desired
cold temperature
Refrigeration Cycle
Type of refrigerant:
 Refrigerant determined by the required cooling
temperature. • Chlorinated fluorocarbons (CFCs) or
freons: R-11, R-12, R- 21, R-22 and R-502.

 Two advantages:

 Lot of heat can be removed (lot of thermal energy to

change liquid to vapour) • Heat transfer rate remains
high (temperature of working fluid much lower than
what is being cooled)
Vapour absorption Refrigeration:
 The vapor absorption refrigeration system comprises
of all the processes in the vapor compression
refrigeration system like compression, condensation,
expansion and evaporation.
 In the vapor absorption system the refrigerant used is
ammonia, water or lithium bromide.
 The refrigerant gets condensed in the condenser and it
gets evaporated in the evaporator.
 The refrigerant produces cooling effect in the
evaporator and releases the heat to the atmosphere via
the condenser.
Condenser Generator Evaporator
AbsorberCold Side Hot Side
Refrigeration cycle
Vapour Absortion Cycle
Advantages
 (i) Moving part is pump
 (ii) Reduced vaporization
pressure & temperature
 (iii) Load variation does not
affect performance
 (iv) Capacity > 1000 T, 30TR
91% electricity saves.
Disadvantages
 (a) Efficiency is low
 (b) Takes long time to
produce cooling effect
 (c) Kerosene/oil/gas flame
gives bad smell.
Solar Refrigeration:
 Refrigerator which runs on
electricity provided by Solar
Energy is known as solar
refrigeration. Solar-powered
refrigerators may be most
commonly used in the future
generation.
Need of solar refirgeration:
 Need refrigeration in areas
not connected to power grid.
 Need to minimize
environmental impact and
fuel cost .
 Evaluate potential of solar
energy to meet these needs.
 Evaluate efficiencies of three
types of solar refrigeration
Types of solar refrigeration:
 Photovoltaic Operated Refrigeration Cycle
 Solar Mechanical Refrigeration
 Absorption Refrigeration Solar cooling can be
considered for two related processes:
-To provide refrigeration for food and medicine
preservation and To provide comfort cooling.
Photovoltaic Operated
Considerations:
Refrigeration Cycle:
 Must match voltage imposed on
 Vapor compression cycle with PV array to the motor
characteristics and power
power input from requirements of the refrigeration
Photovoltaic cells. DC electric cycle For given operating
power output from PV runs condition (solar radiation and
the compressor of a module temperature), single
conventional cycle voltage provides maximum
power output. Must find
compressor motor closely
matched to the electric
characteristics of the PV
module.
Schematic view of a conventional
vapor compression cycle driven by
solar photovoltaic:
Solar Mechanical
Considerations:
Refrigeration

 Vapor compression cycle with  • Efficiency optimization

power input from solar based on delivery
Rankine cycle. temperature.
 Efficiency of Rankinecycle
increases with increased heat
exchanger temperature.
 Efficiency of solar collector
decreases with increase in
temperature.
Solar driven mechanical power
cycle:
Absorption Refrigeration:
 Condenser, throttle, evaporator function exactly the
same way.
 Replaces compressor with “thermal compression
system”.
 Ammonia is working fluid
 Minimal mechanical power input (pump instead of
compressor).
 Absorption into water solution allows it to be pumped.
 Desorbed in generator (rectifier required to separate
out water).
 Heat into generator provided by solar collectors.
 The pressurisation is achieved by dissolving the
refrigerant in the absorbent, in the absorber section.
 Subsequently, the solution is pumped to a high
pressure with an ordinary liquid pump.
 In this way the refrigerant vapour is compressed
without the need of large amounts of mechanical
energy that the vapour-compression air conditioning
systems demand.
 This system greatly increases complexity.
Schematic view of a absorption
refrigerator driven by heat from
solar radiation:

Benefits:
 Environmentally friendly •
Longevity • Scalable
Application of solar
refrigeration:
 Solar energy should be given
a chance if we want to protect
the environment.
 We own it to our children,
our grandchildren and the
generations to come.
 Refrigerators
 Freezers
 Ice-makers
 Coolers
 Building air-cooling systems
Conclusion:
 COP for solar refrigeration systems is low .
 Better metrics: size, cost .
 Complexity of solar ref. systems requires more size,
bulkiness.
 Low operating costs do not outweigh high initial
investment .
 Advantage is that they don’t rely on power grid (PV is
most practical for small scale)