ENERGY INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS
Solar Thermal Air Conditioning
Solar thermal air conditioning
commercial viability
In designing the world’s most efficient small-scale thermal air conditioning unit, IDC worked with university R&D teams to turn research into a product in under a year.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) of Ejector
IDC was tasked with designing the world's first solar air conditioning unit. It was required to be low cost and deliver a cooling power output of 1.5kWs.
Powering air conditioning using solar energy is not economically viable when using photo voltaic (PV) solar cells to drive a standard a/c unit. IDC was given the challenge of developing a low cost air conditioning system, powered by solar thermal energy.
Cycle Schematic
Prototype Construction
As part of an EU CRAFT research project, IDC undertook the design, development and construction of the thermally driven refrigeration cycle and ancillary components.
This cycle uses an ejector to generate the cooling effect, replacing a compressor that is used in a conventional cooling system.
Evaporator Unit
Ejector Assembly
With the consultation of an ejector refrigeration specialist, IDC designed, built and tested two prototype units, which produce cooling power output of 1.5 kWs.
