Solar Air ConditioningSolar air conditioning is the elusive holy grail of solar energy systems. When air conditioning is needed the most and solar energy is at its peak the combination of the two should create an unlimited opportunity for success.
Solar cooling should be very cheap in the very places that it is needed the most, places where it gets really hot. Everybody wants it, everybody needs it and everyone is trying to get it! It’s not available to everyone yet! But we’re getting real close!
There are several ways to achieve solar cooling: Solar air conditioning using desiccants Okay, what are desiccants? Desiccants are materials that absorb water. Solar desiccant systems use desiccants to dry out the air and then use thermal (heat) energy from a solar collector to regenerate (dry out) the desiccants.
The dried air can then be circulated by fans to lessen the need for air conditioning. I can vouch for this because here in southern Arizona it is very dry most of the year.
In the early part of summer when it is very hot and dry, we keep the house shut up during the day, with the air conditioner off and the blinds and curtains drawn, and it stays fairly comfortable inside. But in the later part of the summer when the rains come, it is too uncomfortable with the higher humidity.
Passive Solar Cooling
Passive solar cooling
is the principle of designing or modifying a building that slows the rate of heat transfer into a building and removes unwanted heat from a building. In other words the idea is to reduce the amount of cooling that is needed in the first place.
Photovoltaics (solar cells) can provide the power to drive an air conditioner or chiller. At this time a photovoltaic system to power a compressor type air conditioner that are in homes today would be too expensive. However they can power the fans that are used to circulate the air for other air conditioning systems.
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