Study of a Solar-Assisted Air Conditioning System for South Africa

This book focuses on the analysis of the parameters involved in the production of chilled water using solar thermal energy via a single effect Absorption chiller into a storage buffer tank. The study investigates the performances of the solar thermal collector system and the absorption chiller for the four seasons in the year. The capital cost, maintenance cost, operating cost and payback period of adopting a solar absorption cooling plant are also presented. This book also includes the investigation of the various parameters such as passive cooling, heat transfer, air distribution and absorption cooling involved in the design process of any cooling system in general. Solar-assisted absorption cooling systems using water as a refrigerant and Lithium Bromide as an absorbent is not a new technology, however, it has not previously been installed and tested for South African climate and therefore there is no existing performance data for this type of air-conditioning system. This study contributes to the knowledge and feasibility of the Absorption Cooling system using Solar-thermal heat in South Africa.