A Quantitative Examination of the Efficiency of a Biogas-Based Cooling System in Rural Regions

Abstract

This study investigates the efficiency of a biogas-powered cooling system through the utilization of energy and exergy calculations. Biogas, which can be generated and stored in small-scale plants as needed, serves as a viable fuel source for absorption cooling systems. The present research focuses on the biogas consumption of a triple-effect absorption cooling system specifically designed to supply a fixed cooling load of 100 kW under varying operational conditions. This study highlights the coefficient of performance and exergetic coefficient of performance values of the system, along with the exergy destruction rates of its individual components, at the optimal temperatures of operation. Furthermore, to determine necessary biogas consumption, this study explores the establishment of dedicated farms for various animal species, ensuring an adequate number of animals for biogas production. The findings reveal a coefficient of performance of 1.78 and an exergetic coefficient of performance of 35.4% at the optimized operating temperatures. The minimum mass flow rate of biogas is determined to be 0.0034 kgs−1, facilitating the operation of the boiler with a methane content of 65%. This study concludes that a total of 290 head of cattle is required to generate the annual biogas consumption necessary for the cooling system. Additionally, the number of the cattle is enough to establish 284 biogas plants in Bursa Province in Türkiye.