Stationary analysis of a solar LiBr-H2O absorption refrigeration system

The present work describes the operation of a solar powered absorption cooling system. This solar cooling installation was designed in order to resolve the overheating problems of an existing solar field. Since 2007 the system was completely monitored to be able to analyze it. The work evaluates the performance of this kind of installation as well as the behavior of the absorption chiller focusing on its steady state operation. This methodology was applied to the monitoring results of the installation in order to compare the first two years of operation of the system. It is concluded that the performance of the chiller showed better values in 2007 because the heat rejection temperature and the outdoor temperature were more favorable than in 2008. Nevertheless, the coefficient of performance (COP) achieved acceptable values in both periods, over 0.5, being the average chilling capacity between 3.6 kW and 5.8 kW. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.