Economic Feasibility and Performance Study of a Solar-Powered Absorption Cycle Using Some Aqueous Salt Solutions

Abstract

Economic analyses of solar collectors, for optimizing generator temperatures in the absorption cycle using aqueous solutions of LiBr, LiBr–ZnBr2, LiBr–ZnBr2LiCl, and LiBr–ZnCl2–CaBr2 salts, have been carried out for a wide range of the operating conditions. Ordinary collectors with two glass covers and evacuated-tubular collectors have been selected as the sources of energy for providing hot liquid in the generator of the absorption cycle. Of the four solutions, as the working fluids in the absorption cycles, those having better coefficients of performance are the LiBr/H2O at the low evaporator temperatures, and the (LiBr–ZnBr2–LiCl)/H2O as well as the (LiBr–ZnCl2–CaBr2)/H2O at the high evaporator temperatures. Similarly, costs of the solar collectors are low, at low evaporation temperatures for the LiBr/H2O and at high temperatures for the other two solutions; the (LiBr–ZnBr2)/H2O, on the other hand, have relatively low COP and high operating costs.