Study of Compressor Free Air Conditioning System for Solar Cooling

Solar refrigeration may have applications in both developed and developing countries. Applications in developing countries such as vaccine storage or large scale food preservation have been the subject of much research. In developed countries the main area of interest is air conditioning. Previous work on photo-voltaic and solar thermal systems is reviewed. Research at Warwick is underway on carbon-ammonia refrigerators driven by the heat of steam condensing in a thermosyphon heat pipe. The heat source can be solar energy, biomass, or some combination of the two. A new area of interest is the use of desiccant wheel technology for solar powered air conditioning. The basic principles are described and pastexperience assessed.