THEORETICAL-STUDY OF A SOLAR POWERED ABSORPTION MED COMBINED SYSTEM

In this article, a theoretical study is presented for a solar powered combined system comprising a LiBr-H2O absorption cooling machine and a multiple-effect distillator (MED). The MED has 8 VTE of the falling film type, and it replaces the condenser in conventional absorption machines. Steam released at the generator pressure is supplied to the effect which matches its conditions, and the condensate follows its usual route towards the evaporator of an A/C unit. Thus, the MED is powered by the waste heat of the absorption machine which improves the overall gain and the thermodynamic characteristics significantly. Governing equations for the combined system are given and are numerically solved. Medium parabolic concentrators are used to power the system, and a transient simulation for the combined arrangement is presented. Results are given for a typical design summer day in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for a range of firing temperatures 150-190-degrees-C with a storage temperature amplitude of 10-20-degrees-C over a daily working period of 12 h. For a given cooling load of 100 ton refrigeration, the system can produce up to 40 m3 of fresh water at a specific collector area of 12.41. H2O plus 0.03 TR/m2. The overall COP(o) reaches 1.44, which is more than twice that of a conventional absorption machine at the same temperature levels.