Systems for solar cooling and air conditioning

The EU directive on the energy performance of buildings requires member states to set maximum consumption standards for new buildings and, in the case of fundamental renovation, for existing buildings as well. In the case of non-residential buildings in particular, the electricity consumption for ventilation, air conditioning, heating (pumps and other auxiliary energy) and lighting is also recorded. Overall, household electricity consumption rose by more than 43 % between 1990 and 2009. “In relative terms, the applications air conditioning (growth of 600 %), tumble dryers (180 %), and televisions and freezers (50 % each) recorded the greatest increases. (Haas 2011)

The peak loads occur mainly on hot days during the midday hours. One application with high expansion potential is solar cooling, due to the fact that demand and generation of solar heat are largely synchronized, which means that solar cooling is a possible application. The major advantages of solar cooling are the electricity-saving potential, the use of waste heat or renewable heat, low operating costs, good controllability (10 to 100 %), low maintenance costs and effort as well as a long service life (approx. 20 years) (Rakos o.J.) However, disadvantages are still high investment costs and the large space requirement.

Solar Air Conditioning by Thomas H. Culhane, Length: 6:32 min.