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An integrated absorption cooling technology with thermoelectric generator powered by solar energy

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Abstract

A novel integrated solar absorption refrigeration system with a thermoelectric generator and thermoelectric cooler is presented. The proposed system is of a 20-kW single-stage lithium bromide absorption cycle driven by solar evacuated tube collectors or by the heat rejected by the thermoelectric cooler module. The governing equations of the thermodynamic model are solved, and the results are validated. It was found that the coefficient of performance of the system approaches a constant value at a generator temperature of 100 °C. The best performance of the system was found in the case of placing the thermoelectric cooler between the generator and the condenser. The coefficient of performance and the overall thermal efficiency were found to be 1.12 and 73.4%, respectively. Furthermore, a 20% rise in the generator temperature would increase the power produced by thermoelectric generator modules by 60%. An increase of 20% in the thermoelectric generator modules would result in a reduction of 11.5% in its efficiency, while doubling the temperature difference would increase the generated power by a factor of three.

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Abbreviations

A n&A p :

Legs cross-sectional area (mm2)

ACS:

Absorption cooling systems

A:

Area

COP:

Coefficient of Performance

C p :

Specific heat of water (J kg−1 K−1)

ETC:

Evacuated tube collector

EES:

Engineering Equations Solver

GHG:

Green House Gases

h :

Enthalpy (kJ kg−1)

I :

The electrical current, (A)

K t :

TEC thermal conductivity, (J (s m K)−1)

K:

The total thermal conductance of TEG

LMTD:

Log mean temperature difference

L n&L P :

Length of legs (mm)

ṁ:

Mass flow rate, (kg s−1)

N :

Number of modules

N c :

Number of thermocouples

P TEC :

Power of TEC, (kW)

P :

Electric power, (W)

Q :

cooling capacity, (kW)

Q TEC :

Thermoelectric cooler capacity, (kW)

Qtot :

Total cooling capacity, (kW)

Q a :

Absorber cooling capacity, (kW)

Q c :

Condenser cooling capacity, (kW))

Q g :

Generator cooling capacity, (kW)

Q e :

Evaporator cooling capacity, (kW)

q r :

Radiation heat losses, (W)

q h :

The heat transferred to the hot junction, (kW)

q :

Heat transfer rate, W m−2

q L :

The heat transferred to the cold junction, (kW)

q t :

Total received energy, (W)

q u :

Useful transferred thermal energy, (W)

R :

The electrical resistance of TEG, (Ω)

Re:

Reynolds number

R L :

A load of resistance (Ω)

SHX:

Solution heat exchanger

T am :

Ambient Temperature, (K)

T :

Temperature, (K)

T L :

Low temperature, (K)

T H :

High temperature, (K)

T g :

The generator temperature, (K)

T c :

The condenser temperature, (K)

T e :

The evaporator temperature, (K)

TEC:

Thermoelectric cooler

TEG:

Thermoelectric generator

T a :

The surrounding temperature

UA:

The product of overall heat transfer coefficient and area, (W K−1)

VAC:

Vapor absorption cooler

W:

Pump work, (kW)

X:

Mass fraction of LiBr

Єg :

The glass layer emissivity

Σ:

Stephan–Boltzmann constant (W m−2 K−4)

ρ n&ρ p :

Electrical resistivity of legs (Ω cm)

ε :

Emissivity

τ :

The transmittance of the glass tube

α :

absorptivity

ε SHX :

The solution heat exchanger effectiveness

η overall :

The overall efficiency of the (ACS and TEG )

η sys :

Total system efficiency

η :

Efficiency

A:

Absorber

C:

Condenser

E:

Evaporator

G:

Generator

H:

Hot junction

L:

Cold junction

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, Jordan

    Bourhan Tashtoush & Husam Qaseem

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  1. Bourhan Tashtoush
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  2. Husam Qaseem
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Correspondence to Bourhan Tashtoush.

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Tashtoush, B., Qaseem, H. An integrated absorption cooling technology with thermoelectric generator powered by solar energy. J Therm Anal Calorim 147, 1547–1559 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10512-5

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