Experimental study for a double glazed forced-convection solar collector/regenerator for open-cycle absorption cooling system

An experimental study of a double-glazed forced-convection solar collector/regenerator for absorption solar cooling is presented. The south facing experimental solar collector/regenerator with 10/spl deg/ slope is located at Kaohsiung, Taiwan at 120/spl deg/18'E longitude and 22/spl deg/34'N latitude. The size of the collector is 1 m wide and 7 m long. Previous study for a single-glazed forced-convection solar collector/regenerator operated at the same location has shown to have a best day-average efficiency of 17%. In order to raise the system performance, a double-glazed collector/regenerator is constructed such that air can be pre-heated in the upper channel flow. The pre-heated air is then conducted into the lower channel where it contacts with the film flow of solar heated lithium-chloride solution and regenerates the solution by carrying out the evaporated water vapor. Since the preheated air has lower relative humidity ratio, the regeneration driving potential is increased. The present study shows that the best day-average efficiency can reach 20% which increases the feasibility of the open-cycle absorption solar cooling system. Effects of controlling parameters on the collector/regenerator performance are studied, and heat and mass transfer correlations are also presented for design purposes.