In this paper, an evaluation of the performance and operating parameters of a hybrid compression/absorption chiller coupled with a low-capacity solar concentrator is presented. The study was carried out using energy and mass balances applied to each component of each system. The variables evaluated in the hybrid chiller were the cooling power, the supply power, the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of both cooling systems and the ratio between heat and power. The diameter and temperature of the hot spot as well as the performance of the dish collector were evaluated. The changed parameters were the heat removed by each refrigeration system, the condenser temperature, the evaporator temperature, the concentration ratio and the irradiance. Results have shown that the compression system can produce up to 53% more cooling power than the heat supplied to the hybrid system. Meanwhile, the absorption system produces approximately 20% less cooling power than the supplied heat. It has also been found that, for the cooling power produced by the hybrid cooler to be always greater than the heat supplied, the cooling power provided by the absorption system should preferably be between 20% and 60% of the total, with a Stirling engine efficiency between 0.2 and 0.3 and a condensation temperature from 28 to 37 °C. Likewise, it has been found that the compression system can produce cooling power up to 3 times higher than the heat of the Stirling engine hot source, with T_h = 200 °C and η_s = 0.3. Finally, it has been found that, in a low-capacity solar concentrator, on a typical day in Mexico City, temperatures in the hot spot between 200 and 400 °C can be reached with measured irradiance values from 200 to 1200 W/m².

En este artículo se presenta el modelado y la simulación de un refrigerador solar para medicamentos mediante refrigeración por absorción y energía solar térmica. El modelado fue realizado mediante balance de masa y de energía en cada componente de cada subsistema. Las condiciones de operación para la simulación fueron de -25°C a -15°C en el evaporador y de 25 a 35 °C en el condensador. La temperatura de generación fue variada entre 55 y 95 °C. Los resultados mostraron que para una potencia frigorífica de 0.725 kW, el calor requerido en el generador que a su vez se requiere desde un colector solar, es de 1.2 kW aproximadamente, con coeficientes de operación del sistema de refrigeración entre 0.2 y 0.7. El área de colector requerida para producir 725 W, con un sistema de refrigeración por absorción puede ser de 4.5 m2 o máximo de aproximadamente 6.2 m2.

This article presents the modeling and simulation of a solar cooler using an adiabatic absorption cooling system powered by solar thermal energy at low capacity. The study was carried out mainly by means of energy and mass balances in each component of the system. Of the results, the heat produced by the low-temperature solar collectors was 306 W, with solar radiation of 342 W/m 2. The cooling power produced, as well as the performance of the cooling system were respectively 150 W and 0.79. Using the results shown from the simulation, it was possible to conclude that cooling can occur in an adiabatic absorption cooling system using flat solar collectors.

En este artículo se presenta el modelado y simulación de un sistema de aire acondicionado continuo mediante refrigeración por absorción de simple efecto, alimentado por energía solar térmica a baja temperatura (85°C) mediante colectores solares de placa plana, para ser empleado en zonas tropicales. El modelado se realiza principalmente mediante balances de energía y de masa en cada componente del sistema. Para una potencia de enfriamiento de 3.517 kW, el calor requerido por el generador del sistema de refrigeración por absorción, fue de 4.8 kW. En tanto que el área del colector requerido mayor fue de 16 m2 aproximadamente.