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solar

5 ton Solar Powered Air Conditioner

S Bengi

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Posts: 3828

Location: Massachusetts, Zone:6/7 AHS:4 GDD:3000 Rainfall:48in even Soil:SandyLoam pH6 Flat

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posted 5 years ago

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Just found this really cool 48W 5 ton absorption cooler.
http://www.yazakienergy.com/waterfiredspecifications.htm

1) Solar Thermal Panels heat water to 190F, range is from 158F to 203F, it can be stored in a tank.
2) The solar hot water is cycled thru the adsorption chiller device (86,000 Btu/hr, ΔT=9F, 19gpm actual range is 6-22gpm)
3) The chiller needs a well/pool/loop/etc water to accept the heat with a ΔT=7F, at 40gpm for 146,000Btu/hr
4) The chiller produces chilled water at 44F, 60,000Btu/hr using only 48W. Yes only 48W
5) Fan coil units or air handlers to distribute the coolth

The chiller is only 2ft x 2ft, and 5ft tall, and can be outside.
The input is 25kW of hot water, I wonder how big the solar array has to be to generate that. Or maybe it can just be heated with a rocket stove/pellet stove.

Iterations are fine, we don't have to be perfect
My 2nd Location:Florida HardinessZone:10 AHS:10 GDD:8500 Rainfall:2in/mth winter, 8in/mth summer, Soil:Sand pH8 Flat

James Black

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Posts: 365

posted 5 years ago

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Something like this might be paired with the solar energy system that we should see available in a few years. One major advantage is the system currently can heat a liquid 114 degrees Fahrenheit (that number is expected to improve as the technology if refined) by passing over a catalyst, so to achieve 190 degrees the liquid containing the energy molecules only needs to be around 70 degrees. This removes the need for specialized containers to store heated liquid as the new molecule can be stored for decades. I keep posting about this technology as I see it’s potential as a sustainable source of heat and besides’ I want a unit for my greenhouse. Here is another article that gets into the science a bit more.

Edited to add this illustration of the system:

6D8021C7-7E4D-4872-8191-47A66EE35E08.jpeg

R Scott

pollinator

Posts: 4140

Location: Kansas Zone 6a

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posted 5 years ago

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Well, it takes a little more than 48 watts in most cases, most people would have to pump the 40 gpm cooling water. Total install cost on a small system is (or at least was) considerably higher than conventional HVAC or even ground loop heat pumps.

IF you have a spring or hydro setup with enough flow and head, it will absolutely work. Completely self powered with micro hydro on the exhaust.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." --Francis of Assisi.
"Family farms work when the whole family works the farm." -- Adam Klaus

S Bengi

pollinator

Posts: 3828

Location: Massachusetts, Zone:6/7 AHS:4 GDD:3000 Rainfall:48in even Soil:SandyLoam pH6 Flat

558

I like...

posted 5 years ago

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Instead of just one 48W motor it is probably going to take five:
1) Device
2) Hot Water/Source Loop ...... Device to Tank to Boiler/Solar
3) Exhaust ..... Device to Pond/Pool/Well/Earth/Stream.
4) Chilled Water ..... Temp Control aka Sensible Heat
5) Fan Coil ...... Humidity Control aka Latent Heat

This setup has 5 motor(fan/pump) vs the usual 3(fan-exhaust, heatpump, indoor air handler fan) in a window unit AC.
The wattage just went from 50W to a max of 250W. Thats still less than the 15,000W that a 5ton unit normally uses.
And the humidity control fan-coil can be toggled on/off independently saving energy.
And no refrigerant has to enter the home, just chilled water.

Iterations are fine, we don't have to be perfect
My 2nd Location:Florida HardinessZone:10 AHS:10 GDD:8500 Rainfall:2in/mth winter, 8in/mth summer, Soil:Sand pH8 Flat

R Scott

pollinator

Posts: 4140

Location: Kansas Zone 6a

327

posted 5 years ago

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I think it will take 300 watts to push the 40 gpm for the source water, depending on head and loss. So 500 watts instead of 15000.

They didn't make sense in an on grid house with cheap electricity, as the payback used to be 15ish years, and priced way out of most people's budget. Instead of paying an electric bill they had a second mortgage to pay for the AC.

But the power savings for a large space are CRAZY, I remember a church that put in one of these systems and they figured they spent more electricity on the lights than the AC!

Off grid or high grid power costs, and big price reductions make these a lot more fiscally viable. And a lot more environmentally friendly as far as AC goes.

Robert Hogward

Posts: 29

posted 4 years ago

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You’ll generally require one to five solar panels for a 100-watt. If you pick a 250-watt solar panel, one solar panel is adequate to run the AC. However, you’ll need three solar panels if they are 100W. An AC usually comes with 1500-watt, so you’ll require six solar panels with a 250-watt capacity.

John F Dean

master steward