A Simulation Study of Performance Evaluation of Single-Glazed and Double-Glazed Collectors/Regenerators for an Open-Cycle Absorption Solar Cooling System

Feasibility for an open-cycle absorption solar cooling (air-conditioning) system operated in Kaohsiung, Taiwan is studied via a computer simulation program using previous obtained experimental correlations for the collector/regenerator (C/R) performance and the statistical meteorological data for the summer season at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Comparisons of the system performance for two C/R models are discussed in this study. They are the systems with natural convection single-glazed C/R and with the forced convection double-glazed C/R. The effects of the C/R area, the C/R solution flow rate, the solution storage, the chilled water temperature and the daily cooling demand on the system performance in terms of seasonal solar fraction are studied and discussed. The results show the influence of the solar C/R performance on the total performance of the cooling system. It is shown that the double glazed forced convection C/R gives a better system performance.