A review of thermal energy storage technologies and control approaches for solar cooling

This paper presents a review of thermal storage media and system design options suitable for solar cooling applications. The review covers solar cooling applications with heat input in the range of 60–250°C. Special attention is given to high temperature (>100°C) high efficiency cooling applications that have been largely ignored in existing reviews. Sensible and latent heat storage materials have been tabulated according to their suitability for double effect and triple effect chillers. A summary of system designs for water storage (sensible heat), and phase change material storage (latent heat) has been provided. The article summarizes literature related to solar thermal air-conditioning systems from a material level as well as plant level considerations. This includes evaluating various control strategies for managing the thermal store, that aid in optimal functioning of a solar air conditioning plant. Modeling approaches are reviewed for sizing the solar thermal store, highlighting the large difference seen in specific storage size when applied in different applications.