Alternative designs for a 24-h operating solar-powered absorption refrigeration technology

The air-conditioning and refrigeration systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia consume more than 60% of the electrical energy of the building sector. Most of the used systems are of the vapor-compression type. Using solar energy to power such systems will save a large amount of energy (primary or electrical) that can be utilized by the production sectors such as industries. Therefore in the present study, alternate designs for a 24-h operating solar-powered absorption refrigeration technology have been developed in detail. The development includes an in-depth review of the design and operation of the conventional and solar-assisted absorption refrigeration systems coming-up with new alternative designs, detailed thermodynamic analysis of some of the new alternative designs and selection of the most suitable alternative design. The analysis indicates that continuously operating solar-powered aqua-ammonia absorption system with refrigerant storage is the most suitable alternative design for an uninterrupted supply of cooling effect.