Not surprisingly, about 50% of our energy consumption is devoted to heating and cooling our buildings. (This data is substantiated by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development). And, that means that we should pay more attention to these needs- both in the design of our buildings and in the development of new apparati.
Decades ago, we employed the evaporative cooling effect of water to our advantage. The process uses the enthalpy of vaporization to cool buildings. During the phase transition of liquid water to vapor, the temperature of dry air can be dropped significantly- hence cooling is afforded.
When we were designing water reuse systems, we included evaporation of the excess water (the primary source from urination) as a means to cool the buildings. Of course, we first used this process in the drier climes and where the ambient temperature was fairly high. However, this concept was also used in Washington DC, during the bicentennial (1976) celebrations, as part of the water reuse systems employed on the mall.
Now ClimateWell (UK company, originally from Sweden) is offering a three-phase system (mostly an energy storage and release system) used to capture solar energy and cool buildings, without additional electricity. ClimateWell began oeprations in 2001, when Goran Bolin and Ray Olsson merged their respective companies to form this entity. What makes this exciting is that both energy storage and hot water can be effected without refrigerants. (ClimateWell claims that it does not have moving parts or pumps- but they are needed to transport the energy (via cooled or heated water).)
Basically, the system has two reservoirs- one filled with (hygroscopic) salt and one with water; when the water evaporates, it is absorbed by the salt system. This can continue until the salt is fully hydrated. (If you heat the salt, it will release the water back to the evaporator section.) A heat exchanger can collect heat from the salt mixture (which is gaining in temperature) or employ cooling from the evaporator (where the water temperature has been decreased). In a vacuum (or reduced pressure system), the water evaporates more quickly than at ambient conditions; this process requires energy. And, as this happens, the remaining water gets colder in temperature. (Note: the system does not include the solar energy collectors.)
Right now, this device is available in Europe (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, and Turkey), India, Africa (Tunisia and Morocco), Dubai, Canada, and Columbia and the Dominican Republic. It is coming to the US, soon.
What a “cool” idea. We need to have and use any technology out there that will help us use our resources better and less expensive in the long run.
Shawn recently posted..Dating Excursions
Ah, a comment that makes me swoon…
Thanks for visiting and keeping things just right!
Roy
As I read I thought of the battle between the wind and the sun to remove the rider’s coat. We do need to find a better way to do thinks. I can see Australia loving this too. I feel so lucky where I live, I rarely need a heater or air conditioning
Roberta recently posted..Stuck Waiting for…..?
OH, Roberta, I just turned my air conditioning off last week! I know it’s been warm here, but my A/C is generally on from April to December.
Roy
Hi Roy, I love to see this solar Cooling its looks easy to do it, and I think I really must do this because in our place its really hot and I’m always not in condition because in our weather.. and My air con is destroy I dont know what is the problem when I turn on on fan is working but when I turn into cool its not working.. that’s why This solar cooler was really great I will tell to my husband so he can see make one..
Fatima Hipolito recently posted..Loan
Fatima:
I am not sure where you are located- because you will need sufficient solar irradiation to make this financially feasible. That will be the key for any large use of solar (as opposed to solar hot water, which generally does not have large demands in the home).
Thanks for visiting.
Roy
I locate in Phil Roy, and I leave in the east and its very hot in our place My husband now doing this Roy I want to say thanks for sharing..
Fatima Hipolito recently posted..home loan
I want to perform modeling and simulation of solar thermoelectric-adsorption cooling system. My questions are:
a) Which program should i use?
b) Any website or e-books that i can visit to improve my knowledge on this?
(Preferably real answers from engineers out there)
Please don’t spam as this is very important to me. Thanks.
I suggest you peruse one of the local university libraries (which has a good mechanical or chemical engineering department)- or MIT’s (plug, plug) online courses. Because it’s not just a program, it’s the formulation of the problem that sets it proper solubility. (I’m not sure of your background.) I would hesitate to suggest a tome, not knowing your technical prowess.
Good luck.
Roy
Solar Cooling! This amazes me. I want this for my office.
deanne sotero recently posted..אוכל מוכן
Deanne-
I’m with you. It would save me a fortune (even counting the costs of installation)!
I am looking for theme for my dissertation, and I interested in solar cooling. I have scholarship from my government for my doctor program, are you a professor of a university? How can I contact you for further consultation? please tell me and I look forward to accepting your reply into my email. Thank you prof.
Hi, Dewanto…
First, I am no longer associated with any universities or colleges (although I am considering doing so, once I retire…)
You are certainly welcome to contact me and I would be honored to assist you.
I’ve sent you an eMail (privately) which you can use to contact me. Good luck!
Roy