Numerical Research of a Solar Driven Bubble Pump for Diffusion Absorption Refrigeration Systems

Abstract

In conventional vapor compression and absorption refrigeration systems, a compressor or a mechanical pump, respectively circulates the refrigerant. Mechanical input, which is required by the compressor or the pump operation, contributes significantly to the noise level and lessens its reliability and portability. In contrast, diffusion absorption refrigeration (DAR) systems are heat-driven and contain no moving parts. Solar-driven diffusion absorption cooling system uses a low-grade heat to produce a cooling effect, and it's specially tuned for remote locations with high levels of solar radiation. This article studies the performance of a DAR system in Ashdod, Israel. Based on existing models in the literature and on experimental measurement of quantities such as the solar irradiance and the air temperature, the cooling capacity and the COP were simulated. Cooling capacity of the DAR system varies between 100 and 140 W, and COP between 0.09 and 0.17.