Solar absorption system for space cooling and heating

Solar winter heating and cooling are considered the most promising prospects of solar energy utilization in the near future. The paper presents the feasibility of solar cooling and heating using the solar absorption system. Two mixtures in wide use for absorption cooling systems are NH/sub 3/-H/sub 2/O and H/sub 2/O-LiBr. The difference between the two compounds is that the lithium bromide is non-volatile. The absorption system is capable of providing space cooling and is usually operated on waste heat or low grade heat. There are two modes of operation for space heating with the absorption system. The first system operates with solar heat supplied to the evaporator and additional non-solar heat supplied to the generator. The other system functions similar to a mechanical evaporation heat pump system. Flat plate collectors or concentrating collectors can provide the energy necessary for the system. A thermodynamic analysis was performed for different ranges of the operation factors chosen to suit typical Israeli climate conditions. The system analysis shows that using the absorption system for space heating may effect up to 70% savings in energy requirements.