SOLAR AIR CONDITIONING

 

Solar Air Conditioner:


The solar air conditioning system is simply a solar-powered cooling system, rather than electricity from large pipes. Although they may have significant overhead costs, solar air conditioners are much cheaper to operate and work longer, as they use almost the same amount of energy that our sun provides.



With so much energy being absorbed by your building, it makes a lot of sense to harness it to cool the inside environment. This may seem like a novel idea, but in fact, solar-powered air conditioning is a growing market that may soon rival electric-powered air conditioning.


Working of Solar Air Conditioner :


Solar air conditioners are designed to be tied to a solar energy system. As such, they will run on DC electricity instantly.

A solar energy system contains solar panels, which collect sunlight in photovoltaic (PV) cells then turn the sun’s energy into DC power. This system is wired to the air conditioning in order that any DC produced is employed to power the unit.

For solar air conditioners which require the utilization of AC power, they're going to contain a tool called a solar inverter. The inverter converts DC to AC and the other way around when needed.


Types of Solar Air Conditioning :


Air is often cooled or heated in more than one way using an air conditioning. Solar air conditioners are often divided into two broad categories by the working mechanism, i.e., using photovoltaic panels or solar thermal heating.

1.    Solar thermal air conditioners

These use solar collectors to heat a liquid, like water, which is passed through the air conditioning system. The evaporation and condensation of the liquid within the system then produces cool air. Nearly all the models out there are grid tied.

2.    Solar Photovoltaic (PV) air conditioners

These work an equivalent as traditional split air conditioning systems. They are powered with the help of energy from PV panels.

The number of solar panels needed varies according to the output of every panel, size of the system and power needs of the air conditioning.



Types of Solar Photovoltaic air Conditioner are:

  • Powered by DC
  • Powered by AC
  • Powered by both AC and DC (Hybrid)

A.  DC powered solar air conditioners

Also called conventional solar powered air conditioners, they're purely designed to run on DC electricity generated by solar panels. DC powered solar air conditioners are wired on to solar panels without the need for a solar inverter.

As such, it has the simplest setup, which makes it easier for DIY installation and systems maintenance. However, they don’t work without sunlight or in the dark .

Solar batteries and a solar charge controller got to be added to store excess solar energy also to power the air conditioner during non-daylight hours. These additional components will raise the worth of the system .

B.  AC powered solar air conditioners

This type of air conditioners is built to run on AC only. It is often connected to the grid. Power generated by a solar panel must be converted from DC to AC first. That is why this sort is additionally mentioned as inverter air conditioners, as a solar inverter is required for it to function.

Batteries are often added to store excess solar energy for later use. Alternatively, it is often sent back to the grid if an appropriate meter is connected to the system. Generally, AC powered solar air conditioners cost lower than DC powered solar air conditioners.

C.  Hybrid solar powered air conditioners







This type of unit is meant to run on both AC and DC power. It is quite popular now because it can take electricity from the grid as and when needed, or not in the least.

In fact, a number of the newest models don’t even need the addition of batteries, inverters, charge controllers or net metering. For example, the ACDC12C, which functions like a plug and play device. Just plug the solar panels into the air conditioner unit which makes the hybrid the simplest to put in among all the kinds.

DC power flows directly into the outdoor unit. At the same time, the unit is linked to the grid via a power point within the house. This negates a requirement for a contract with the utility provider as this technique doesn't back feed power to the grid.

The grid ‘connection’ is often added to automatically allow operation in the dark and through poor daylight situations. A hybrid solar air conditioning can pull energy back forth the system and grid automatically. It also can supplement any shortage of power from the solar source thereupon of the grid.


EER For Air Conditioning :


EER, or Energy-Efficiency Ratio, is a ranking system for energy efficiency in cooling devices. Any air conditioner specification sheet will have them. When it comes to comparing different air conditioners in terms of energy efficiency, the energy-efficiency ratio is crucial.

What exactly is EER?

EER stands for energy efficiency rating, and it is a ratio of useful cooling output (in BTU/h) to electricity intake (measured in W).

For every Watt of energy you offer, an air conditioner with a higher EER rating will provide a lot of cooling effect.

What Is a Good EER For an Air Conditioner?

Air conditioners of various sorts are more energy efficient than others.

Checking their EER rating is the simplest approach to see which ones are a good choice if you want to save money on your power bill.

When comparing room air conditioners, the EER rating is most usually employed. Portable air conditioners are the most common of these, as they can simply be transported from one room to another.

Portable air conditioners have an average EER rating of around 8.5. That means buying ones with an EER of less than 8.5 is a waste of money, while buying ones with an EER of more than 8.5 is a prudent investment. The EER rating of the most energy-efficient portable air conditioner is 11.2.

The following graph compares the energy efficiency of portable air conditioners (in percent) to a standard EER 8.5 portable AC unit:




As you can see, a unit with an EER of 7 is 18% less efficient than one with an EER of 8.5. That means it will need 18% more electricity to achieve the same result.

We can observe that an EER 11 unit is 29% more efficient than an EER 8.5 unit on the other end of the spectra. An EER 11 portable air conditioner, on the other hand, will cost you 29% less to run.

Theoretical Maximum EER (Based On 1st Law of Thermodynamics)

In reality, the EER rating is computed by dividing the capacity of an air conditioner by the input power, as shown above. We can, however, compute the highest EER a perfect air conditioner could have by using the first rule of thermodynamics.

The COP ratio is used to calculate theoretical EER (Coefficient of Performance; A basic metric for cooling and heating devices). The following is the formula for calculating the maximal EER from COP:

 

COP = Tcold / (Thot – Tcold)

EER = 3.41 x COP


Let's pretend it's a hot summer. The outside temperature is 95 degrees Fahrenheit (Thot = 308K ), and we wish to cool down to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (Tcold = 300K).

 

We must plug the temperature (in degrees Celsius) into the upper equation to obtain the theoretical maximum EER for these conditions:

 

EER = 3.41 x 300K / (308K – 300K) = 127.9

Obviously, the EER rating can be 10 or more times lower in practice.


Solar Powered Air Conditioning Cost :


The most important factor that impacting a solar consumer mindset is its price. In general, the price of a solar air conditioner depends on various factors similar as its capacity, brand, and standing, type.

As on average, solar air conditioner price thresholds from Rs. 99000 for 1 ton and goes up toRs.1.39 Lakh for1.5 ton ( including solar panel, solar inverter, and complete accessories).




Prices are exclusive of Govt. Subsidy, as the subsidy on solar systems depends on your eligibility and types of solar system.

Below is a general breakdown of the cost for a stationary home:

  • Solar air conditioner: Rs . 90,000 – 1,20,000
  • Photovoltaic panels: Rs . 17,500 –  24,500 each (two or three needed to run the air conditioner unit)
  • Wiring: Rs . 350 – 1400 based on panel location (roof or ground, distance from the house)
  • Solar inverter/batteries/charge controller:  Rs . 25,000 – 45,000 based on the needs of your system
  • Professional installation: Rs. 5,000 – 7,000

When is Solar Air Conditioning a good Choice :




There are some steps when installing one that might work for you

A.   You have limited roof space.

Rather of installing a full domestic solar panel system, a solar air conditioner is one way to take advantage of renewable energy, drop your power consumption, and save on your mileage bill.

B.   You live off grid.

Utmost off-grid homes tend to be lower than conventional bones, so lower energy is demanded for heating or cooling.

C.   You live in a mobile home.

A bitsy of  space will need lower cooling or heating power, which makes solar air conditioners more practical.

D.   Heating or cooling takes up a knob of your mileage bill.

In corridor of North America, India, Australia and Europe, the summers can be ridiculously hot and the layoffs simply indurating. Heating and cooling bills can make up a large chance of mileage cost. Having solar air conditioners that can toast and cool will reduce reliance on the grid.


Pros and Cons of Solar Air Conditioning :


Pros:

·       Increases the value of your property

·       Saves on bills to make up for the initial costs

·       With peak load shifting it reduces the overall energy demand

·       Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Cons:

·       Depending on weather

·       Tracking the sun

·       Cleaning

·       High Setup Cost

·       Expensive Batteries

·       Limited Power Supply


Conclusion :


Air conditioners are a basic need for hot and humid environments. However, it is necessary to decide which option is best for you, depending on your location. If you live in Delhi or Texas, a sunny climate can prove a good investment. However, you may want to consider a hybrid air-conditioning system if you live in a dark place.

Although there are many advantages and disadvantages to solar power, it may seem that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. No one can deny the incredible savings you will make on your long-term utility bills. Tune in to solar energy to cool your living spaces. After all, it is the newest way to protect the earth and to save money.


References:

[1]. A Review on Solar Powered Air Conditioning System – Ravi Gugulothua, Naga Sarada, Somanchia Hima, Bindu Banoth, Kishan Banothua.

[2]. EER rating - https://learnmetrics.com/eer-rating/

[3]. Solar Powered Air Conditioning System – I. Dutta, Muhammad Irwanto – University of Malaysia Sabha(UMS).

[4]. Science Direct - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610213011363



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Higher Pairs

Image
                                                           Higher Pairs INTRODUCTION: In The higher pair, only one point or line are responsible to form a joint between two links. The elements of higher pair must have curve in its shape. These joints are found in the cylinders or spheres of equal or different radius which have their axis parallel to each other. A cylinder or sphere lying on a flat surface has a point Contact and makes a higher pair. The relative motion of cam and follower makes a point Contact between them. The point of contact between two involute gear meshing makes a higher pair. These are some basic examples to explain the higher pair better.   When the two elements of a pair have a line or point contact when relative motion takes place and the motion between the two elements is partly turning and partly sliding, t...
Read more