Hybrid Absorption Cooling Using Solar Steam and Day-Night Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hybrid absorption cooling systems using solar heat are limited in operation during nighttime, rainy, or cloudy days as they rely solely on solar heat, which is not available during these times.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid solar heat absorption cooling system that generates steam during the day using solar heat and stores hot water for nighttime use, enabling continuous operation through a combination of steam and hot water supply units, including a solar heat steam generator, daytime and nighttime storage tanks, and pumping systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If solar heat is used as the sole heat source for the absorption refrigerator, then the system can operate during the day, but the system cannot operate during nighttime, rainy, or cloudy days
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by storing hot water during the day when solar heat is available. The hot water storage tank accumulates thermal energy in advance, which is then used to drive the absorption refrigerator during nighttime or cloudy days when solar heat is unavailable, ensuring continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Hot water serves as an intermediary energy carrier between solar heat and the absorption refrigerator. The solar heat steam generator converts solar energy into hot water, which then acts as the heat source for the absorption refrigerator. This intermediary allows the system to decouple the direct dependency on solar heat availability.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a hybrid system with multiple storage tanks and pumping units is implemented, then twenty-four hour cooling is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hot water storage tank serves multiple functions: it stores hot water generated during the day for nighttime use, and also receives hot water from the absorption refrigerator during both day and night operations. The steam generator and pumping units also perform multiple roles in different operational modes, reducing the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables twenty-four hour cooling by utilizing solar heat during the day and stored hot water at night, providing a stable and efficient cooling solution without the need for electricity generation, with the use of a concentration solar collector enhancing temperature and quantity of heat obtained.
Implementation Method 1
a concentration solar collector configured to collect solar heat
Implementation Method 2
generate wet steam by heat-exchanging with hot water
Implementation Method 3
a steam drum configured to separate the wet steam generated by the concentration solar collector into dry steam and water
Implementation Method 4
an absorber that absorbs a refrigerant using an absorbent
Implementation Method 5
an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant
Implementation Method 6
a regenerator that regenerates the refrigerant by heating the absorbed refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an hybrid solar heat absorption cooling system comprising: an absorption refrigerator; a solar heat steam generator configured to generate steam using solar heat; a daytime steam supplying unit configured to supply steam generated by the solar heat steam generator during the day as a heat source for the absorption refrigerator; a daytime hot water storage tank configured to store hot water discharged from the absorption refrigerator during the day; a nighttime hot water supplying unit configured to supply hot water stored in the daytime hot water storage tank during the night as a heat source for the absorption refrigerator; a nighttime hot water storage tank configured to store hot water discharged from the absorption refrigerator during the night; and a daytime hot water supplying unit configured to supply hot water stored in the nighttime hot water storage tank during the day to the solar heat steam generator.