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Hybrid Solar Air Conditioning Systems

This $20,000 research grant funded a project to test a newly developed hybrid solar air conditioning system and optimize its performance. Researchers installed the system in a test room and measured its operation under various weather conditions. They found that minimizing the refrigerant temperature after condensing increased efficiency. Specifically, using a three-way valve to bypass the refrigerant around a heat exchanger during low demand periods improved performance by an average of 11.4% compared to uncontrolled operation. The project increased understanding of solar air conditioning and provided evidence that the modified design saves energy. It has generated interest from other research groups and its findings have been published in several journal articles.

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47 views1 page

Hybrid Solar Air Conditioning Systems

This $20,000 research grant funded a project to test a newly developed hybrid solar air conditioning system and optimize its performance. Researchers installed the system in a test room and measured its operation under various weather conditions. They found that minimizing the refrigerant temperature after condensing increased efficiency. Specifically, using a three-way valve to bypass the refrigerant around a heat exchanger during low demand periods improved performance by an average of 11.4% compared to uncontrolled operation. The project increased understanding of solar air conditioning and provided evidence that the modified design saves energy. It has generated interest from other research groups and its findings have been published in several journal articles.

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jho estrada
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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2012 Research Seeding Grant

$20,000

HYBRID SOLAR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS

overview of the project

Photo courtesy: Quang Ha, University of Technology Sydney


Buildings are responsible for about half of the total energy consumption of
our modern society, and a large proportion of this is due to the operation
of heating and cooling systems. Small capacity air conditioners, although
economically attractive, do not usually offer much better energy consumption
levels compared to large air conditioners, due to unreliable controls. There
is increasing interest amongst researchers and industry in the use of solar
panels to reduce electricity consumption.
The University of Technology used a Research Seeding grant to test the
operation of a newly developed direct expansion hybrid solar air conditioning
system, to determine how to best optimise its performance and energy
The experimental solar DX hybrid air conditioner and
consumption. Direct expansion (DX) air conditioning plants are simpler in programmable logic controller device
configuration and more cost-effective to maintain than central cooling plants
that use chillers and cooling towers. Known as ‘Green Automation’ this area of research focusses on the use, control and automation
technologies required to achieve reliable use of renewable energy sources and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

how the project was carried out The new design allows the system to operate at a lower temperature
after the refrigerant passes through the air-cooled condenser
The research was carried out using an experimental solar DX which results in a significant increase in the overall operating
hybrid air conditioner together with its programmable logic performance. Furthermore, the lower refrigerant temperature
controller device. The air conditioner was installed in a 38m2 room leaving the condenser decreases the refrigerant temperature
with an external condensing unit which was combined with a solar entering the evaporator which in turn increases the cooling or
vacuum collector. refrigeration effects. The research has concluded that optimising
The air conditioning system was fully-instrumented with high refrigerant temperature in solar air conditioners can result in
precision sensors to measure a variety of operating variables an average power saving of 11.4% compared to uncontrolled
including meteorological parameters (solar radiation, air operating conditions.
temperature and relative humidity), water temperature in the solar
storage tank, temperature and humidity in the test room, refrigerant
temperature and total power consumption of the plant. The system
benefits, challenges & lessons learned
performance was tested under various weather conditions. Day- The Research Seeding project has substantially increased
long tests were carried out for 24 hours with all measured data researchers’ understanding of the operation of solar hybrid
being monitored at 10 minute intervals. air-conditioning systems and provided key evidence that the
The energy efficiency of a DX air conditioner is closely dependant modified design tested is capable of saving energy and reducing
on the thermodynamic properties of the refrigerant before and after greenhouse gas emissions. Two larger research projects are now
it leaves the condensing system. The key aim of the research was being proposed to further explore the use of green automation
therefore to minimise the temperature of the refrigerant leaving the technology in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy
condenser in order to increase operating performance. costs associated with residential air conditioning systems.
The research findings have generated interest from other research
outcomes now and in the future organisations including Macquarie University, CSIRO and Royal
Melbourne Institute of Technology. The findings of the project have
The research has tested a new design that uses a three-way been disseminated through five conference presentations and the
valve to regulate the flow of the refrigerant depending on ambient publication of seven scientific journal articles.
conditions and cooling demand. During periods of low demand
(when condensing temperature is low), the control valve sends the
refrigerant directly through a new bypass line to the condenser.
During periods of high demand (when condensing temperature is
high), the refrigerant goes through the normal pathway to a copper
coil inside the water tank where a heat exchange occurs.

OEH 2014/0678 Published September 2014

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