Design and development of solar-powered adsorption cooling unit

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The objective of this project is to design, develop, characterize (thermos-economic), and optimize a novel solar adsorption cooling concept. Solar-thermal energy collected by conventional collectors (e.g., evacuated tubes or flat plate collectors) can be used in an adsorption refrigeration cycle to effectively replace the mechanical vapour compression. The proposed design has two key advantages over conventional cooling units: lower electricity consumption attributed to an efficient use of low-grade heat collected from solar energy, and minimal use of rotary equipment. Recent growth and interest in renewable energy sources, due to environmental concerns and the surging electricity costs, and the need for efficient off-grid cooling and refrigeration (e.g., air conditioning units for boats) make the proposed concept particularly promising. The main mechanical design arguments in favour of the proposed design are that sorption systems are quiet, long lasting, and economical to maintain since there are no moving parts in the compression cycle. As such, solar adsorption refrigeration and air conditioning can be a great solution for mobile units and off-grid locations. There are a few published works on the concept, as well as some exploratory systems developed at a lab scale; however, there is currently no off-the-shelf solar adsorption cooling unit for commercial, industrial, or residential applications. Through this proposed research, Sheridan College (PI: Dr. Amin Ghobeity, P.Eng.) and industry partner DR HVAC Ltd. aim to develop a proprietary solar adsorption cooling unit in the range of 6,000 BTU/hr. (i.e., 0.5 ton).