TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC INVESTIGATION OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (SPV) REFRIGERATION SYSTEM IN EASTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA

The paper presents the performance and economic analysis of a simple photovoltaic powered vapor compression refrigeration system carried out on winter days in the eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The system has a 66 W DC refrigerator, 100 W PV mono-crystalline module and a 100 Ah battery bank. The thermal loads were distributed in the refrigerator cabin using ice trays of 300 mL each for a total mass of 2.1 kg. The system performed continuously without any interruption or fault for the entire time of the experiment. The minimum time taking for complete formation of ice in the trays was 6 h and 40 min. A larger area to volume ratio, which enhances the heat transfer is created due to this load distribution pattern. A refrigeration efficiency of 60% was calculated after ice formation has been completed. At the maximum solar radiation level, the best PV efficiency and solar panel orientation efficiencies were 15.5% and 98%, respectively. It was however observed from the cost analysis that the system would not be economical without government subsidy on the system components or alleviating the current subsidy on the electricity cost in Saudi Arabia.