Automation and control of solar air conditioning systems
AssigneeUniversity of Puerto Rico
InventorsLuis V. Melendez-Gonzalez, Jorge E. Gonzalez-Cruz, Gerson Beauchamp-Baez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar powered air conditioning system includes an absorption machine coupled to three primary loops. A heat loop provides energy to the absorption machine. A cooling tower loop exhausts heat from the absorption machine. A chilled water loop is used to draw heat from a room or building. The heat loop provides energy from a boiler and/or from a number of solar collectors. In one mode of operation, the solar collectors circulate through a storage tank. The flow through the solar collectors is regulated to maximize energy collection.
Claims14
A method of operating a solar powered air conditioning system comprising the steps of:
- circulating a fluid through at least one solar collector;
- regulating a rate at which the fluid circulates through the at least one solar collector, wherein the rate is increased when the at least one collector produces a greater increase in temperature of the fluid, and wherein the rate is decreased when the at least one collector produces a lesser increase in temperature of the fluid;
- pumping the fluid through an absorption chiller after circulating the fluid through the at least one solar collector;
- and
- pumping a refrigerant through the absorption chiller and through a heat exchanger positioned within a building, wherein the heat exchanger cools the ambient temperature of the building.
A method of operating a solar powered air conditioner comprising the steps of:
- pumping a first fluid through a plurality of solar collectors, wherein the flow rate is directly related to the amount of energy absorbed by the solar collectors;
- determining a temperature of the first fluid after passing through the solar collectors;
- determining a temperature of the first fluid in a stratified storage tank;
- pumping the first fluid from the plurality of solar collectors to the stratified storage tank when the temperature of the first fluid after passing through the solar collectors is greater than the temperature of the first fluid in the stratified storage tank;
- pumping the first fluid from the plurality of solar collectors to an absorption machine while the plurality of solar collectors absorb energy;
- pumping the first fluid from the stratified storage tank to the absorption machine when the plurality of solar collectors absorb an decreased amount of energy;
- and
- pumping a second fluid through the absorption chiller and to a heat exchanger configured to reduce an internal temperature of a building.
A solar powered air conditioning system comprising:
- a plurality of solar collectors positioned to absorb energy;
- a pump operationally coupled with the solar collectors and configured to circulate a fluid through the solar collectors;
- a first thermocouple positioned at the plurality of solar collectors to determine a temperature of the fluid after passing through the plurality of solar collectors;
- a proportional flow valve operationally coupled with the plurality of solar collectors and configured to control a rate of flow of the fluid through the plurality of solar collectors;
- a closed loop operationally coupled with the plurality of solar collectors;
- a storage tank loop operationally coupled with the plurality of solar collectors and a storage tank;
- a second thermocouple positioned at the storage tank and configured to determine a temperature of the fluid within the storage tank;
- an absorption machine loop operationally coupled with the plurality of solar collectors and an absorption machine;
- at least one shut-off valve operationally coupled with the closed loop, the storage tank loop and the absorption machine loop and configured to direct the flow of the fluid from the plurality of solar collectors;
- a controller operationally coupled with the first thermocouple, the second thermocouple, and the at least one shut-off valve and configured to stop circulation of the fluid from the solar collectors to the storage tank when the temperature of the fluid after passing through the solar collectors is less than the temperature of the fluid within the storage tank;
- and
- a cooling circuit operationally coupled with the absorption machine and configured to effect a decrease in temperature to the interior of a building.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.