A comprehensive simulation tool for adsorption-based solar-cooled buildings – Control strategy based on variable cycle duration

[Display omitted] •Conjugate and dynamic simulations of adsorption-based solar-cooled buildings.•Validated computational models for buildings and adsorption cooling systems.•Optimization of the adsorption cycle duration based on the operating temperatures.•Variable cycle duration approach reduces auxiliary heating or solar collectors area.•Solar adsorption cooling can provide carbon dioxide emissions avoidance of 28.1–90.7%. Adsorption cooling systems (ACS) may contribute towards a sustainable way of satisfying the increasing cooling demand, as they utilize solar thermal energy and employ non-ozone-depleting substances. Apart from the intrinsic ACS performance, the successfulness of its operation depends on its integration within the entire thermal system (solar collectors, thermal storage and building), which is not straight-forward due to thermal inertia effects and its inherent cyclic operation. Numerical simulations can contribute in understanding the system behavior, its adequate dimensioning and the implementation of optimized control strategies. A computational model was developed, capable of performing conjugate, dynamic simulations of the entire thermal system. The influence of the control criteria is investigated and quantified through three simulation phases, conducted for various solar collectors areas and storage volumes. Higher solar fraction is achieved for lower auxiliary heater activation temperature and lower temperature difference activation of the solar pump. Subsequently, simulations with variable cycle duration were performed, using optimized cycle duration according to the instantaneous operating temperatures. This approach reduces significantly the auxiliary consumption or satisfies the demand with less solar collectors. The potential CO2 emissions avoidance is calculated between 28.1–90.7% with respect to four scenarios of electricity-driven systems of different performance and CO2 emission intensity.