Experimental Validation of Theoretical Studies on Open and Forced Flow Solar Regenerator

Abstract

To observe the cooling capacity of an open cycle solar absorption cooling system over a hot summer day, an experiment on open and forced flow solar regenerator has been performed with water-LiBr and water-LiCl solution as the working fluids each of 35% initial solution concentration. The effects of ambient temperature, ambient relative humidity, ambient/forced air velocity and solar intensity on the desorption rate/regeneration of the two liquid desiccants have been experimentally observed for both the working fluids at each hour of the day. The earlier theoretical studies on the mass desorption rates for each of the solar regenerators have also been validated for the same operating and ambient conditions. It is found that the experimental results are in reasonably good agreement with the theoretical predictions. It is concluded that LiBr-H₂O working fluid is better in performance than LiCL-H₂O solution and a forced flow solar regenerator is more suitable for hot and dry climate in terms of mass desorption rate.