Experimental investigation of a solid/gas thermochemical storage process for solar air-conditioning

This paper focuses on the experimental performances of a solar air-conditioning pilot plant for housing, which is running in PROMES laboratory (Perpignan-Odeillo, France) since 2006. This pilot of daily cooling capacity of 20 kWh consists of a solid/gas thermochemical sorption process which is powered at 60 -70 degrees C by 20 m(2) of flat plate solar collectors. The thermochemical sorption process is based on the coupling of a liquid/gas phase change of a refrigerant (NH3) and a reversible chemical reaction between a reactive solid (BaCl2) and this refrigerant. Its functioning mode is intrinsically discontinuous and cyclic. It is relevant for the storage or transformation of solar energy. An analysis of 2-years experimental working of the prototype leads to an averaged yearly efficiency of solar collectors and a process COP ranging respectively from 40 to 50% and 30-40%. This prototype enables thus a daily cooling productivity at 4 degrees C of about 0.8-1.2 kWh of cold per m(2) of flate plate solar collector and leads to a global solar COP ranging from 15 to 23%. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.