About Solar Refrigeration

Laura Coroiu*, Helga Silaghi*, Adriana Grava**, M. Pantea**

*Electrical Drives and Automation Department
University of Oradea, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology,
5 Armatei Romane str., 410087 Oradea, Romania.
[email protected]

**Electrical Engineering, Electrical Measurements and Electric Power Use Department,

University of Oradea, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology,
5 Armatei Romane str., 410087 Oradea, Romania.

Abstract – This paper has the purpose to unfold thus reached to the conclusion that just one of the three
the results of all researches which proved before that the technologies, the photovoltaic-based vapor compression is
solar energy constitutes itself as an ideal resource for at the moment a viable technology when it comes to the
heating application that necessitate lower temperature, solar refrigeration.
e.g. the heating of a certain space or the preparation of
the domestic hot water. II. TECHNOLOGIES OF REFRIGERATIONS
The refrigeration systems, which are based on the non-
toxic refrigerants for the environment, offer a sustained A. Vapor compression refrigeration
advantage when compared to the other types of the
refrigerants. But, whichever might be the case, the use of Before we should discuss how the solar energy might be
the energy associated to the operation of the refrigeration providing the refrigeration, it would be more appropriate to
system and with the impact that it has upon the review the basic principles of the operation for refrigerant
environment, as well as the association with its cycles that are based on the vapor compression, which at
production and distribution, have often a bigger their turn are the foundation of nearly all the conventional
importance than the selection of the refrigerant. In order refrigeration systems. A schematic of the vapor
to minimize the impact which the operation of the compression cycle is illustrated in Figure 1a, and the
refrigeration systems exerts upon the environment, it is corresponding enthalpy-pressure diagram for the
recommended that there should be checked all the refrigerant is represented in Figure 1b.
possibilities of using a pure source of energy. In the vapor compression cycle, the evaporator is supplied
with a low-temperature refrigerant while a mixture of
Keywords: solar energy, refrigeration, environement liquid and vapors (State 4) is vaporized by the thermal
input from the load. The equipment that remained in the
system recuperates the refrigerant, restoring it to the
I. INTRODUCTION condition in which it can be used again in order to provide
the cooling. The vapors that exit the evaporator (State 1) in
Taking into consideration a sustained point of view, the a saturated (1a) or slightly superheated condition(1b) enter
direct solar usage as a primary resource of energy is a very into the compressor which rises the pressure and,
attractive one, because of its universal availability, of the consequently, the temperature of the refrigerant.
low impact that it exercises upon the environment and of The refrigerant found in a high pressure condition (State 2)
the low or almost imperceptible cost of the fuel. The enters then in a condenser heat exchanger that uses the
researches have therefore proved that the solar energy ambient air or water in order to cool the refrigerant to its
represents an ideal source for heating applications that saturation temperature, prior to its fully condensation into a
necessitate lower temperatures, e.g. the heating of a certain liquid (State 3). The liquid is furthermore throttled to a
space or the preparation of the hot domestic water. The lower pressure stage, an operation which causes the
solar heating applications are intuitive since the solar vaporization of a part from the refrigerant, as a
energy is absorbed on a surface, the surface temperature consequence of the temperature reduction. The low
rises, offering thus a heating potential. The use of the solar temperature liquid is available to produce the cooling.
energy for refrigeration is still less intuitive. The major energy input to a vapor compression
In this article, we took into consideration three different refrigeration system is the mechanical power needed to
approaches that use the solar energy to provide drive the compressor. The minimum power of the
refrigeration at temperatures that are below 00 C (320 F). compressor is given in the equation below. The compressor
In order to establish the potential technologies, we power requirement is a substantial one because the specific
compared their characteristics during their operation. We volume of the refrigerant vapors, v, is large. Therefore

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additional power is needed in order to operate the fans and
the pumps to move the external fluids.
P2
W&comp ,min = m& ⋅ ∫ v ⋅ dP
P1
The figure of merit for a vapor compression refrigeration
system is its coefficient of performance, defined as the ratio
of the cooling capacity to the total electrical power that is
required. The coefficient of performance for a system
which provides refrigeration at a -10o C (14o C) and rejects
heat at a temperature of 30o C (86o C) is approximately 3.
The system of the coefficient of performance diminishes Fig. 1a: The schematic of a vapor compression refrigeration
from that level when the electrical power that is necessary system
to move the external fluids is justified in the coefficient of
performance.
Two of the solar refrigeration systems taken here into
consideration are based on the vapor compression
refrigeration cycle in a certain form. The third solar
refrigeration system uses the thermal energy as the primary
input to the cycle. The open systems that use the water as a
refrigerant, such as the solar desiccant cycle, can be used to
provide cooling at temperatures above the freezing level,
but these alternatives are nu to be discussed within this
article.

B. Photovoltaic operated refrigeration cycle

Fig. 1b: Pressure – enthalpy - diagram for the refrigeration cycle.
Photovoltaics involve the direct conversion of the solar
radiation into the direct current electricity by making use of At any level of the solar radiation and of module
the semiconducting materials. Theoretically, the operation temperature, there will result a single voltage of operation
of a photovoltaic-powered solar refrigeration cycle is when producing the maximum electrical power from the
simple. The photovoltaic solar panels produce the direct module. The module that is represented in Figure 2 points
current electrical power which can be used when operating out the voltage which produces maximum power in ranges
a direct current motor, which is connected to a compressor between 30 and 35 volts for this photovoltaic system.
of a vapor compression refrigeration system. When The efficiency of these solar panels, defined as the ratio of
designing a photovoltaic refrigeration cycle, the major the electrical power produced to the incident radiation is
importance has to be granted to the correct matching of the between 8% and 10% within maximum power conditions
electrical characteristics of the motor which operates the for the photovoltaic system represented in Figure 2. If the
compressor with the voltage and the current resulted from photovoltaic refrigeration system will work at a high
the photovoltaic operation. efficiency, it is essential that the voltage required to the
The rate of the electrical power generated by a photovoltaic photovoltaic system be close to the voltage that provides
system is usually provided by the manufacturers of the the maximum power.
photovoltaic modules for standard operation conditions,
e.g. the incident solar radiation of 1,000W/m2 (10 800
W/ft2) and a module temperature of 25o C (77o F).
Unfortunately the photovoltaic modules will operate with a
diverse range of conditions that are rarely so favorable as
the operating conditions. As a consequence, the power
produced by a photovoltaic system is as variable as the
solar resource from which it derives.
The performance of a photovoltaic module, expressed in
terms of the characteristics of its current-voltage and
power-voltage characteristics, principally depends on the
solar radiation and on the module temperature. Figure no. 2
shows current (the solid lines) and power (the dotted lines)
versus voltage for a 1.32 m2 (14 ft2) single crystalline
photovoltaic module, at the reference conditions and four Fig. 2: Current (solid lines) and power (dotted lines) versus
types of operating conditions. voltage for a single crystalline photovoltaic module at different
operating conditions

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This requirement can be met in several ways. First of all, heated by the solar collectors. A storage tank can be
there can be used a maximum power tracker which included to provide some high temperature storage. The
transforms, in a continuous way, the voltage required by vapors flow through a turbine or piston expander in order
the load to the maximum power voltage. If the system to produce mechanical power, as it is shown in Figure 4.
includes a battery, the battery voltage will control the The fluid exiting the expander is condensed and pumped
operating voltage of the photovoltaic module. The back into the boiler, from where it is vaporized again.
photovoltaic panels can thus be chosen so that their
maximum power voltage is close to the voltage for the
battery system.
In the same time, the battery provides the storage of the
electricity so that the system can operate even if the solar
radiation is not available. However, the addition of a
battery will only lead to the increase of the system weight
and can reduce the constant efficiency. Electricity storage
is not necessary in some solar refrigeration systems as Fig. 4: Solar driven mechanical power cycle.
thermal storage, e.g. low temperature phase storage
The efficiency of the Rankine cycle increases
medium, may be more efficient and more convenient.
concomitantly with the temperature of the vaporized fluid
A final option, for the systems that do not use a maximum
that enters in the expander, as it is shown in Figure 5 (the
power tracker or a battery, is to select an electric motor
bold line).
which has the characteristics of current-voltage closely
The efficiency of the Rankine cycle in Figure 5 was
matched to the maximum power output of the module.
estimated for an organic fluid at a high temperature,
Figure no. 3 points out the current-voltage characteristics
assuming that the saturated vapors are provided to a 70%
of a series direct current motor and separately, of a excited
efficient expander n and condensation takes place at 35o C
motor on the photovoltaic module. In this case, the excited
(95o F). However, the efficiency of a solar collector
motor will provide a more efficient operation because it
decreases proportionally with the increasing temperature of
more closely matches the maximum power curve for the
the produced energy. High temperatures can be obtained
photovoltaic module. However, neither one of the two
from the concentration of the solar collectors that track the
types of motors shown in Figure 3 does not match to the
position of the sun, in one or two dimensions. The tracking
characteristics of the photovoltaic module which could
systems add cost, weight and complexity to the system. If
cover the whole range of the incident solar radiation. The
the installation of the tracking systems is avoided,
studies concerning the solar-powered motors have shown
evacuated tubular, compound parabolic or advanced multi-
that the permanent magnet or separately excited direct
cover flat plate collectors can be used to produce fluid
current motors are always a better choice than the series
temperatures with the range between 100o C – 200oC (212o
excited direct current motors in the direct-coupled systems
F – 392o F).
which are not equipped with a maximum power tracker.
The efficiency of the solar collectors depends on both the
solar radiation and the difference in temperature between
the entering fluid and the ambient. Figure 5 also shows the
approximate efficiency of the solar collector as a function
of the fluid delivery temperature for a range of solar
radiation values.
The overall efficiency of the solar mechanical refrigeration,
defined as the ratio of the mechanical energy produced by
the incident solar radiation, is the result of the efficiencies
of the solar collectors and of the power cycles. There is an
optimum efficiency in the case of any solar radiation, but
the optimum efficiency would be of maximum 4.5% for the
conditions presented in figure 5. The efficiency of the
Rankine cycle increases concomitantly with the
Fig. 3: Current-voltage characteristics for a photovoltaic module temperature of the vaporized fluid that enters in the
and two direct current motor types. expander, as it is shown in Figure 5 (the bold line).
The efficiency of the Rankine cycle in Figure 5 was
C. Solar mechanical refrigeration estimated for an organic fluid at a high temperature,
assuming that the saturated vapors are provided to a 70%
The solar mechanical refrigeration uses a conventional efficient expander n and condensation takes place at 35o C
vapor compression system driven by mechanical power (95o F). However, the efficiency of a solar collector
that is produced with a solar-driven heat power cycle. The decreases proportionally with the increasing temperature of
heat power cycle that is usually used for this type of the produced energy. High temperatures can be obtained
application is the Rankine cycle in which a fluid is from the concentration of the solar collectors that track the
vaporized at a high pressure by heat exchange with a fluid position of the sun, in one or two dimensions. The tracking

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systems add cost, weight and complexity to the system. If
the installation of the tracking systems is avoided,
evacuated tubular, compound parabolic or advanced multi-
cover flat plate collectors can be used to produce fluid
temperatures with the range between 100o C – 200oC (212o
F – 392o F).
The efficiency of the solar collectors depends on both the
solar radiation and the difference in temperature between
the entering fluid and the ambient. Figure 5 also shows the
approximate efficiency of the solar collector as a function
of the fluid delivery temperature for a range of solar
radiation values.
The overall efficiency of the solar mechanical refrigeration,
defined as the ratio of the mechanical energy produced by
the incident solar radiation, is the result of the efficiencies
of the solar collectors and of the power cycles. Fig. 6: Ammonia-water absorption refrigeration system.

The operating system operates in the exactly the same

manner as the vapor compression system. However, in
place of the compressor, the absorption system makes us of
a series of three heat exchangers (absorber, regenerating
intermediary heat exchanger and generator) and a small
solution pump. The ammonia vapors that exit the
evaporator (State 6) are absorbed in a liquid solution of
ammonia-water in the absorber. The absorption of the
ammonia vapors into the water ammonia solution
resembles to a condensation process. The process is
exothermic, so that it is necessary that the cooling water
Fig. 5: Approximate efficiencies for a Rankine cycle carries away the heat of the absorption. The principle
(bold line) and evacuated solar collectors (fine lines) at 30o C governing this phase of the operation is that the vapors are
(86oF) ambient and differing solar radiation values. much faster absorbed into a liquid solution, if the
temperature of the liquid solution is reduced.
There is an optimum efficiency in the case of any solar The liquid solution rich in ammonia which exists the
radiation, but the optimum efficiency would be of absorber (State 7) is pumped to a higher pressure, passed
maximum 4.5% for the conditions presented in figure 5. through a heat exchanger and then introduced in the
This efficiency is significantly lower than the one which generator (State 1). The minimum mechanical power
can be achieved with non-concentrating photovoltaic necessary to operate is given by Equation 1, the same
modules. The solar mechanical systems are competitive equation that applies to the minimum power needed by a
only at higher temperatures, for which they necessitate compressor.
tracking solar collectors. This option would only be However, the power required for the pump is much smaller
applicable when using the large refrigeration systems (e.g. than the one for the compressor since v, the specific
1.000 t or 3.517 kWT). volume of the liquid solution, is much smaller than the
specific volume of the refrigerant vapors. Actually, there is
D. Absorption refrigeration possible to design an absorption system that does not
The absorption refrigeration is the least intuitive alternative require any mechanical power input; instead it is based on
of the solar refrigeration. Unlike the photovoltaic methods gravity. Whichever might be the case, the grid-connected
and the mechanical solar refrigeration, the absorption systems are usually based on the usage of a small pump.
refrigeration system is considered to be a “heat driven” In the generator, the liquid solution is heated, a fact which
system which requires a minimal mechanical power for the favors the desorption of the refrigerant (ammonia) from
compression process. This system replaces the energy- the solution. Unfortunately, there is some water desorbed
intensive compression in a vapor compression system that in the same time while the process of ammonia desorption
displays a “thermal compression system”. A schematic of takes place, therefore it is necessary its separation of the
a single phase absorption system, which uses the ammonia ammonia using a rectifier. Without the use of a rectifier,
as a refrigerant and the ammonia-water as the absorbent is the water exits(State 2) with the ammonia and goes towards
shown in Figure 6. The absorption cooling system which the evaporator, where it increases the temperature at which
makes use of the lithium bromide-water as a absorption- refrigeration can be provided.
refrigerant fluid can not be used at temperatures below 0oC The temperature of the solution needed to drive the
(32oF). desorption process with the ammonia-water is in the range
between 120oC – 130oC (248oF – 266oF). These

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temperatures can be obtained using cheap solar collectors, all three solar refrigeration concepts presented in this
without having a solar tracker. At these temperatures, the article, the photovoltaic system is the most suitable for
evacuated tubular collectors can be more suitable than the small capacity portable systems located in areas that are not
flat-plate collectors, being less sensible at the operating close to the conventional energy sources (electricity or
temperature. gas). The absorption and the solar mechanical system are
The overall efficiency of a solar refrigeration system is the larger and bulkier and they need pipings, as well as a good
result of the solar collection efficiency and of the connecting system to electricity. As the cost of the thermal
coefficient of performance of the absorption system. Figure energy is high, the absorption systems can be suitable for
5 shows us the efficiency of an evacuated tubular collector larger stationary refrigeration systems. The solar
for different levels of solar radiation and at different energy mechanical refrigeration systems will make use of tracking
delivery temperatures. solar collectors in order to produce higher temperatures at
The coefficient of performance of an ammonia-water which the efficiency of the thermal power cycle gets
system with a single stage depends on the evaporator and competitive.
condenser temperatures. The coefficient of performance If the investment expenses and the efficiency of the
for providing the refrigeration at -10oC (14oF) with a 35oC tracking solar collectors can be significantly reduced, this
(95oF) condensing temperature is of approximately 0.50. type of refrigeration system could be efficiently used on a
Advanced configurations of the absorption cycles have larger scale for refrigeration applications.
been developed and which could achieve higher values of Summarize the conclusions of the paper in a simple,
the coefficient of performance. The absorption cycle will straightforward way. Emphasize the original contribution
operate with lower temperatures of the thermal energy of the authors.
provided by the solar collectors with a minimum impact on
the coefficient of performance, although its capacity will
be significantly reduced. REFERENCES

III. CONCLUSIONS [1] Duffi J.A. and W.A. Beckham. 1991. Solar Engineering of
Thermal Processes, 2nd ed. Wiley Interscience
The overall coefficient of performance of a system can be [2] Herold, K.E., R.Radermacher and S.A. Klein. 1996
defined as the ratio of the refrigeration capacity to input Absorption Chillers and Heat Pumps, CRC Press.
[3] Al-Ibrahim, A.M. 1997. “Optimum Selection of Direct-
solar energy. The coefficient of performance of a system is Coupled Photovoltaic Pumping System in Solar Domestic Hot
reduced for all three types of solar refrigeration systems. Water Systems” Ph.D Thesis, University of Wisconsin-
However, this definition of the efficiency is not the most Madison
relevant measure for a solar refrigeration system because
the fuel that drives the system during the operation, the
solar energy, is free. Other metrics that are much more
important are the specific size, weight and of course, the
cost.
A number of barriers have tried to prevent the use of the
solar systems on a larger scale.
First of all, the solar refrigeration systems are more
complicated, more expensive and bulkier than the
conventional vapor compression systems, due to the
necessity of local generating the power needed for the
refrigeration cycle operation.
Secondly, the operating capacity of a refrigeration system
is rendered by the availability of solar radiation. Because
this energy resource is a variable one, the existence of a
redundant number of elements or energy storage is
necessary for most applications, which adds more to the
size and cost of the system. The advantage of solar
refrigeration systems is that they replace most or all the
conventional fuels. The operating costs of a solar
refrigeration system should be lower than that of a
conventional system, but at this very moment and for the
fuel costs, the operating price savings do not compensate
the additional investment expenses, even in a long-term
analysis.
The major advantage of the solar refrigeration is that this
can be designed to operate independently of the utility grid.
There are application in which this capacity is essential. Of

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