Performance Predictions of Solar Open-Cycle Absorption Air Conditioning Systems in Three Climatic Regions

Open-cycle absorption air conditioning is a promising type of solar-driven cooling system. It addresses, in a significant way, the problems of high solar collector costs and power requirements that are inherent in other solar cooling systems. Previous open-cycle absorption modeling studies have been very limited and included only the solar collection part of the system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential for use of this type of system in various climatic regions of the United States. The study examines this promising type of air conditioning as a total system interacting dynamically with its environment. Mathematical analysis and computer simulation were used. System simulations were performed for three system design concepts. The Typical Meteorological Year data base for Miami, FL, Washington, D.C., and Phoenix, AZ, were used to estimate system potential. The best performance predictions resulted in approximately 60 percent of the seasonal load being met by an open-cycle absorption system in Miami, 70 percent in Washington, and 99 percent in Phoenix.