Design, modeling and optimization of solar absorption cooling system for cold storages in Pakistan /

Abstract

This study is focused on design and modelling of a novel solar assisted absorption cooling system for cold storage with banana facility located in Mardan, Pakistan. The system can be used to store up to 70,000 kg of banana in the temperature range of 14-16 0C. the system performance analysis is performed for two system configurations with a peak load of 82400 kJ/hr. (22.88kW). In configuration-1 (C-1), the fluid returning from the absorption chiller is always directed towards the stratified hot water storage tank which is connected to the evacuated tube solar thermal collectors. In configuration-2 (C-2), the fluid returning from the absorption chiller is diverted to absorption chiller instead of going towards the storage tank if its temperature is higher than the minimum operating temperature (e.g. 90 0C) of the absorption chiller. Both systems configurations were modelled in TRNSYS and simulations were carried out for whole year. Both configurations were optimized for lowest life cycle cost for 20 years by manipulating parameters (e.g. Solar collector area and Storage tank volume) affecting initial and operational cost of the system. Results reveals that C-2 have lowest life cycle cost 6.4 million PKR with optimum parameters of 120.3 m2 collector area and 3.95 m3 storage tank volume as compared to C-1 which have a life cycle cost of 28.4 million PKR for optimum parameters of 150 m2 collector area and 1.98 m3 storage tank volume.