UNIT-1

CONTENT
 Introduction of the subject
 Energy Scenario and Survey of energy resources.
 Classification and need for conventional energy resources
 Solar Energy: The Sun-sun-Earth relationship
 Basic matter to waste heat energy circuit
 Solar Radiation, Attenuation, Radiation measuring instruments
 Solar energy applications:
Solar water heating, Space heating, Active and passive heating,
Energy storage, Solar stills and ponds, solar refrigeration,
Photovoltaic generation.

Dr. Mohammad Shaukat Ali

Associate Professor, Department of ME, SNIST, Hyderabad-501 301
 Solar Energy
The Sun

A star that is very close

To Earth
Solar Energy
Solar Energy
Solar Energy
 Solar Energy

• Our Sun has been burning brightly for currently about 4.5 billion years
and will continue to do so for another 7 billion years or so
 Solar Energy
Nuclear Fusion
• Process during which two or more lighter atomic nuclei merge and form
one heavier nucleus
• Causes the release of large quantities of energy
• Fuels the sun (and other stars)
• Used to make hydrogen bombs
• Provides a relatively inexpensive alternative energy source for electric-
power generation
 Solar Energy
Availability of Solar Energy
• Energy from the Sun is Abundant.
• The Earth receives 174x1012 kW of incoming solar radiation (insolation) at the
upper atmosphere.
• Solar power systems installed in the areas defined by the dark disks could
meet the world's current total energy demand.
 Solar Energy
Availability of Solar Energy
• Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using
a range of ever-evolving technologies (e.g., electro magnetic radiation).

• It is an important source of renewable energy and its technologies are

broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on
how they capture and distribute solar energy or convert it into solar power.

• Energy is used for cooling/heating/drying/distillation/power generation.

• The Earth receives 1,74,000 terawatts (TW) of incoming solar radiation

(insolation) at the upper atmosphere.

• Most of the world's population live in areas with insolation (amount of

solar radiation reaching area) levels of 150-300 watts/m², or 3.5-7.0
kWh/m² per day.
 Solar Energy
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC SPECTRUM

The energy radiated from the sun is electro-magnetic waves reaching the
planet earth in three spectral regions.

(i) Ultraviolet 6.4 % (λ ≤ 0.38 µm)

(ii) Visible 48.0 % (0.38 µm < λ < 0.78 µm)
(iii) Infrared 45.6 % (λ ≥ 0.78 µm) of total energy

Due to the large distance between the sun and the earth (1.495 × 108 km) the
beam radiation received from the sun on the earth is almost parallel.
Solar Irradiation: the radiated energy received on the earth surface.
Solar Insolation: solar radiation received on a flat horizontal surface on earth
 Solar Energy
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC
SPECTRUM

1 A = 10 m
 Solar Energy
Direct Radiation: Solar
radiation that reaches to the
surface of earth without being
diffused is called direct beam
radiation.

Diffused Radiation: As
sunlight passes through the
atmosphere, some of it is
absorbed, scattered and
reflected by air molecules,
water vapour, cloud, dust, and
pollutants from power plants,
forest fires, and volcanoes.
This is called diffused
radiation.

Global Solar Radiation: The

sum of diffuse and direct solar
radiation is called global solar
radiation.
 Radiation Measuring Instruments

It is important to measure solar radiation -

• To increasing the number of solar heating/Cooling

applications.

• To gather the accurate solar radiation data to predict

performance of different solar energy conversion systems.

• To know the availability of the solar energy at a particular

location to find the suitability of the location for installation of
any solar energy conversion system.
 Radiation Measuring Instruments

Pyrheliometer Pyranometer

Sunshine Recorder
 Radiation Measuring Instruments
PYRANOMETER
• It measure the total hemispherical solar radiation.

• Solar constant-The average amount of solar radiation received

by the Earth's atmosphere, per unit area, when the Earth is at
its mean distance from the Sun.

• The value of the solar constant is found experimentally to be

1368 W/m2.
 Radiation Measuring Instruments
PYRANOMETER: CONSTRUCTION
 Radiation Measuring Instruments
PYRANOMETER: WORKING
• When it placed in sun rays then it receive the radiation, due to which the
temperature of the surface(absorbing surface) start rising .
• The rise in temperature of the absorbing surface is detected by thermopile.
• Now the thermopile generate thermo emf proportional to radiation
absorbed.
• This thermo emf is calibrated in terms of received radiation
 Radiation Measuring Instruments
PYRANOMETER: WORKING
 Radiation Measuring Instruments
PYRANOMETER: FOR DIFFUSE SOLAR RADIATION MEASUREMENT

• Diffuse solar radiation can be

measured by blocking the
direct solar radiation to fall
on the Pyranometer sensor.

• Shading the Pyranometer can

be done using a shadow ring
or by mounting it on a solar
tracker with a shading
mechanism
 Radiation Measuring Instruments
PYRHELIOMETER

• Used to measure beam of direct

radiation.

• It collimate the radiation to

determine the beam intensity as a
function of incident angle.

• Also known as normal incidence

Pyranometer.
 Radiation Measuring Instruments
PYRHELIOMETER: WORKING PRINCIPLE

• Sunlight enters the instrument through

collimator tube and is directed onto a
thermopile (sensing element) which
converts heat to an electrical signal that
can be recorded.

• It is used with a solar tracking system to

keep the instrument aimed at the sun.

• A Pyrheliometer is often used in the

same setup with a Pyranometer.
 Radiation Measuring Instruments
PYRHELIOMETER: CONSTRUCTION & WORKING

• Uses a long collimator tube to collect

beam radiation whose field of view is
limited to a solid angle of 5.5° by
appropriate diaphragms inside the
tube.
• Inner surface is blackened to absorb
any radiation.
• At the base of tube a wire wound
thermopile having a sensitivity of
approximately 8 micro volt/W/m2
• Tube sealed with dry air to eliminate
absorption of beam of radiation
within the tube by water vapour.
 Radiation Measuring Instruments
SUNSHINE RECORDER

• Measures the duration in hours of bright sunshine during the course of

the day.

• The results provide information

about the weather and climate
of a geographical area.
• This information is useful in
meteorology, science,
agriculture, tourism, and other
fields.
 Radiation Measuring Instruments
SUNSHINE RECORDER: CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING
• Consist of a glass sphere installed in a
section of “spherical metal bowl” having
groves for holding a recorder card strip
and the glass sphere.

• Glass-sphere which act as a convex lens,

focusses the sun’s rays to a point on the
card strip.
• Whenever there is bright sunshine the
image formed is intense enough to burn
a spot on the card strip.
• The image moves along the strip due to
the sun movement.
• Thus a burnt space whose length is
proportional to the duration of sunshine
is obtained on the strip.
 Radiation Measuring Instruments
INSTRUMENTS TO MEASURE DIFFERENT QUANTITIES

MEASURAND INSTRUMENT

GLOBAL HORIZONTAL IRRADIANCE PYRANOMETER

SOLAR RADIATION ON A TILTED PLANE PYRANOMETER

IRRADIANCE IN THE 'PLANE OF ARRAY' PYRANOMETER

DIRECT SOLAR RADIATION PYRHELIOMETER ON A SOLAR TRACKER

DIFFUSE SOLAR RADIATION PYRANOMETER, SHADED

REFLECTED SOLAR RADIATION PYRANOMETER

 Radiation Measuring Instruments
OVERVIEW OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOLAR RADIATION DATA
 How Much Solar Energy ?

 Using present solar techniques some of the solar energy

reaching the earth is utilized for generating heat, electricity etc.

 Even then the energy demand met by using solar energy is very
less (less than 1%).
 How solar energy is used ?

 Solar Thermal Energy

 Solar Heating/Cooling
– Solar Water Heating
– Solar Space Heating
– Solar Space Cooling
 Electricity Generation Using Solar Concentrators
 Electricity Generation Using Photovoltaic Cells
 Solar Thermal Energy

 Solar thermal technologies involve harvesting energy from the sun

for heating water or producing electrical power.
 Solar thermal collectors are used for this purpose.
 Solar thermal collectors are special kind of heat exchangers that
transform solar radiation energy to internal energy of the transport
medium.

Three are two main types of solar thermal collectors:

- Flat-plate collectors
- Evacuated-tube collectors
 Solar Thermal Energy
Flat-Plate Solar Collectors
 Flat-plate collectors are the most common type of solar collector
which are widely used for domestic household hot-water heating
and space heating purposes.
 Solar Thermal Energy
Construction of Solar Flat Plate Collector

The basic components of a flat plate solar collectors are

 A dark flat-plate absorber.
 A transparent cover called glazing.
 A heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from
the absorber.
 A heat insulating backing.
 Flow passage.
 Enclosure.
 Solar Thermal Energy
Construction of Solar Flat Plate Collector
 Solar Thermal Energy
Working Principle of Flat Plate Collectors

 In Flat Plate Collectors Sunlight passes through the glazing and strikes
the absorber plate, which heats up, changing solar energy into heat
energy.
 Thus the heat is transferred to the fluid passing through pipes attached
to the absorber plate by means of convective heat transfer.
 Absorber plates are commonly painted with "selective coatings"
which absorb and retain heat better than ordinary black paint.
 Solar Thermal Energy
Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors
 ETC’s are built to reduce convection
and conduction heat loss
 Each evacuated tube consists of two
glass tubes.
 The outer tube is made of extremely
strong transparent glass that is able to
withstand changing climatic
conditions.
 The inner tube is also made of glass,
but coated with a special selective
coating which features excellent solar
heat absorption and minimal heat
reflection properties.
 The air is evacuated from the space
between the two glass tubes to form a
vacuum.
 Solar Thermal Energy
Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors
 Solar Thermal Energy
Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors
Solar Heating
Water Heating

Passive Solar Water Heating System

Active Solar Water Heating System

 Solar Heating
Water Heating > Active and Passive System
ACTIVE PASSIVE
Direct circulation systems: Pumps Integral collector-storage passive
circulate household water through systems: Made of a storage tank, solar
the collectors and into the home. collection tank, and the pipes that run
between them, these systems require cold
water to be supplied into the solar
collector in batches.

 Best for areas where  They work well in households with

temperatures rarely fall below significant daytime and evening hot-
freezing. water needs.

 Only works for single  Best in areas where temperatures rarely

application domestic use. fall below freezing but overall can be
less effective.
 Solar Heating
Water Heating > Active and Passive System
ACTIVE PASSIVE
Indirect circulation systems: Pumps Thermosyphon systems: Water flows
circulate a non-freezing, heat transfer through the system when warm water
fluid through the collectors and a heat rises as cooler water sinks. The
exchanger. This heats the water that collector must be installed below the
then flows into the home. storage tank so that warm water will
rise into the tank.

 Still functions in freezing  Reliable system.

temperatures.
 Careful attention must paid to the
 Suitable for multiple solar heating roof design because of the heavy
applications like a solar swimming storage tank.
pool as well as domestic use.
 Can be more expensive than
 Can be more expensive than direct integral collector-storage systems.
circulation systems.
 Solar Heating
Space Heating
Active Solar Heating System
 A system that uses water or air that the sun has heated and is then
circulated by a fan or pump to heat up the building.
Passive Solar Heating System
 The house itself acts as the solar collector and storage facility.
 No pumps or fans are used.
 This system makes use of the materials of the house to store and absorb
heat.
 Solar Heating
Space Cooling

The heat from a solar collector can also be used to cool a building
by using the solar heat as an energy source.
 Electricity from Solar Energy

Solar radiation can be converted into electricity by using

following techniques:

 Directly using photovoltaic (or PV) cells or

 Indirectly by Concentrated Solar Powers (CSPs).

 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

 CSP is a power generation technology that uses mirrors or

lenses to concentrate the sun’s rays.

 This concentrated solar heat is used to boil a liquid and

produce steam.

 The steam drives a turbine and generates power in the same

way as conventional power plants.

 Other concepts are being explored and not all future CSP
plants will necessarily use a steam cycle.
 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

There are now several devices and structures created

which focus and concentrate solar power such as -

 Solar Parabolic Troughs

 Stirling Dish

 Solar Power Tower

 The Linear Fresnel Reflector

 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

Solar Parabolic Troughs Stirling Dish

Solar Power Tower The Linear Fresnel Reflector

 Photovoltaic Cells (PV cells)
Or, simply solar cells

 Converts solar energy directly into electrical energy.

 Devices used are called solar panels.
 Solar panel is a group of solar cells.
 Solar cells work on the principle of photoelectric effect.
 Structure of a Solar Cell

This image cannot currently be display ed.

 Working of a Solar Cell

A typical solar cell is a multi-layered unit consisting of:

 Cover - a clear glass or plastic layer that provides outer protection to the
elements. Transparent Adhesive - holds the glass to the rest of the solar cell.
 Anti-reflective Coating - this substance is designed to prevent the light that
strikes the cell from bouncing off so that the maximum energy is absorbed
into the cell.
 Front Contact - transmits the electric current.
 N-Type Semiconductor Layer - This is a thin layer of silicon which has
been mixed with phosphorous (process called doping) .
 P-Type Semiconductor Layer - This is a thin layer of silicon which has
been mixed or doped with boron.
 Back Contact - transmits the electric current.
 Photoelectric effect

 When a light of certain frequency falls on the surface of a metal,

 Electrons will absorb the energy,

 If incident light energy is greater than the work function

(minimum energy required to remove the loosely bound valence
electrons) of the metal,

 Then the photo electrons will be emitted, and

 The excess energy is converted to the kinetic energy of electron.

 Photoelectric effect

 When solar panels are placed in the sunlight , photons will strike
the surface and emits electrons.
 As a result electron-hole pair is created in the solar cell.
 When external circuit is connected to the solar cell, electrons flow
in the circuit and the current is generated.
 The Types of Solar Electric Systems

 The Stand Alone System

 Standalone, or off-grid, solar power systems consist of solar panels and a
battery bank.
 Used in rural areas and regions where there is no access to the utility grid.
 Very good at giving economical electricity.

 Grid-Tie Solar System

 Very useful for homes that are already linked to the utility grid.
 Primary advantage is the cheap price of utility.
 The system needs to be wired with an inverter that creates ac electricity,
which is needed for linking to the utility grid.
Stand Alone, or off grid, system
Grid connected
 USES OF SOLAR ENERGY

Heaters Green houses

Cars water pumps
Lights Desalination
Satellites Chilling
Dryers Solar ponds
Calculators Thermal

Commercial use
On an office building , roof areas can be covered with solar panels.
In developing countries, this solar panels are very much useful.
Even on the highways, for every five kilometres, solar telephones
are used.
 Applications

Solar car

Solar lights
Solar heater
 Advantages of solar power

 The power source of the sun is absolutely free.

 The production of solar energy produces no pollution.

 The technological advancements in solar energy systems have

made them extremely cost effective.

 Most systems do not require any maintenance during their

lifespan, which means you never have to put money into them.
 Advantages of solar power

 Solar energy systems are now designed for particular needs. For
instance, you can convert your outdoor lighting to solar. The solar cells
are directly on the lights and can’t be seen by anyone. At the same
time, you eliminate all costs associated with running your outdoor
lighting.

 Solar energy can be used in remote areas where it is too expensive to

extend the electricity power grid.

 It is estimated that the worlds oil reserves will last for 30 to 40 years.
On the other hand, solar energy is infinite (forever). Solar energy can
be used in remote areas where it is too expensive to extend the
electricity power grid.
 Advantages of solar power

 Solar cells are long lasting sources of energy which can be

used almost anywhere.
 Solar cells are also totally silent
 Disadvantages of solar power

 Initial Cost : The initial cost of purchasing and installing solar

panels always become the first disadvantage.
 Disadvantages of solar power

Location: The location of solar panels is of major importance in the

generation of electricity. Areas which remains mostly cloudy and foggy
will produce electricity but at a reduced rate and may require more panels
to generate enough electricity. Houses which are covered by trees,
landscapes or other buildings may not be suitable enough to produce solar
power.
 Disadvantages of solar power

 Pollution: Most of the photovoltaic panels are made up of silicon

and other toxic metals like mercury, lead and cadmium. Pollution
in the environment can also degrade the quality and efficiency of
photovoltaic cells. New innovative technologies can overcome the
worst of these effects.

 Reliability: Unlike other renewable source which can also be

operated during night, solar panels prove to be useless during night
which means you have to depend on the local utility grid to draw
power in the night.
 Disadvantages of solar power

 Inefficiency: Since not all the light from the sun is absorbed by the solar
panels therefore most solar panels have a 40% efficiency rate which
means 60% of the sunlight gets wasted and is not harnessed.

 Installation areas: For home users, a solar energy installation may not
require huge space but for big companies, a large area is required for the
system to be efficient in providing a source of electricity.
 Energy Storage
Energy storage means converting energy from forms that are difficult to
store to more conveniently or economically storable forms for use at a
later time.

Common examples of energy storage are -

Rechargeable battery: which stores chemical energy readily
convertible to electricity to operate a mobile phone.
Hydroelectric dam: which stores energy in a reservoir as
gravitational potential energy.
Ice storage tanks: which store ice frozen by cheaper energy at night
to meet peak daytime demand for cooling.
 Energy Storage: Methods
Energy storage types:
 Fossil fuel storage
 Mechanical
• Compressed air energy storage (CAES)
• Fireless locomotive
• Flywheel energy storage
• Gravitational potential energy
• Hydraulic accumulator
• Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (pumped hydroelectric storage,
PHS, or pumped storage hydropower, PSH)
 Electrical, electromagnetic
• Capacitor
• Super capacitor
• Superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES, also
superconducting storage coil)
 Energy Storage: Methods
Energy storage types: Contd ………
 Biological
• Glycogen
• Starch
 Electrochemical (Battery Energy Storage System, BESS)
Flow battery
Rechargeable battery
Ultra Battery
 Chemical
Biofuels
Hydrated salts
Hydrogen storage
Hydrogen peroxide
Power to gas
Vanadium pentoxide
 Energy Storage: Methods
Energy storage types: Contd ………
 Thermal
• Brick storage heater
• Cryogenic energy storage, Liquid air energy storage (LAES)
• Liquid nitrogen engine
• Eutectic system
• Ice storage air conditioning
• Molten salt storage
• Phase-change material
• Seasonal thermal energy storage
• Solar pond
• Steam accumulator
• Thermal energy storage (general)

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_storage
 Energy Storage: Methods
Energy storage types:

SEMINAR IN GROUPS OF 3
ON
ENERGY STORAGE TYPES

Reference: 1. Non-conventional Energy Resources by B H Khan

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_storage
 Selective Surface
• Absorber plate surfaces which exhibit the characteristics of a high value
of absorptivity for incoming solar radiation and a low value of emissivity
for out going re-radiation are called selective surfaces.

• Such surfaces are desirable because they maximize the absorption of

solar energy and minimize the emission of the radiative loss.

• Obviously they would yield higher collector efficiencies than are

obtained when the absorptivity and emissivity are equal.

• The basis of selective surface can be understood if one compares the

spectral distribution of extraterrestrial solar radiation with the black
body radiation from a source at 350 K (which corresponds approximately
to the temperature of the absorber plate).
 Selective Surface
• These are shown in the figure and it is immediately obvious that there is
almost no overlap between the two.

• Unlike solar radiation, which lies almost exclusively in the wavelength

region up to 4 μm, the radiation coming off from the absorber plate is of
large wavelengths with a maximum at 8.3 μm.

• It follows therefore that if a surface that has a high absorptivity for

wavelengths less than 4 μm and a low emissivity for wavelengths greater
that 4 μm can be prepared, it would have the characteristics desirable
for an absorber plate surface to act in a selective fashion. T

• he characteristics desired for an ideal selective surface (αλ = ελ = 1 for λ

< 4 μm and αλ = ελ = 0 for λ > 4 μm) are also shown in the figure.
 Selective Surface

(a) Spectral distribution of

extraterrestrial solar
radiation and blackbody
radiation from a source at
350 K
a (b) Monochromatic
emissivity/absorptivity
variation desired for an
ideal selective surface

Ref: Solar Energy

– S P Sukhatme

b
 Selective Surface
• The development of selective coatings on various metal substrates has
been the subject of intensive work for many years.

• The selectivity is achieved by having a polished and cleaned metal base

and depositing on it a thin layer which is transparent to large
wavelengths, but highly absorbing for small wavelength solar radiation.

• The layer is less than I μm in thickness and is deposited by a variety of

methods such as electroplating, chemical conversion, anodic oxidation,
rf-magnetron sputtering and reactive DC magnetron sputtering.
 Solar Still
Introduction

• A solar still is a simple way of distilling water.

• It uses solar energy to distill the water.

• It removes impurities such as salt and other microbiological organisms.

Water Impurities

• Suspended particles

• Dissolved inorganic salts

• Dissolved organic compounds

• Micro-organisms

• Pyrogens
 Solar Still
Types of purification

• Distillation.

• Vapour compression.

• Reverse osmosis.

Benefits of Distillation

• It produces water of high quality.

• Maintenance is almost negligible.

• Any type of water can be purified into potable water by means of this
process.

• Wastage of water will be minimum.

Working of Solar Still
 Solar Still
Types of solar still

• Spherical solar still.

• Hemispherical solar still.

• Pyramid solar still.

Spherical Solar Still
Hemispherical Solar Still
Pyramid Solar Still
 Concept for making a good solar still

• The cover can be either glass or plastic.

• Glass is preferable to plastic because most plastic degrades
in the long term due to ultra violet light f rom sunlight.
• The use of the mirror reflector will increase the
temperature of the solar still basin.
• The basin must be sufficiently insulated with wool,
thermocol, sealants etc. in order to prevent loss of heat.
 Solar Still

Advantages
• Free of charge sun energy (during sunlight it eliminates
500 Watt electric consumption per one hour of sunlight).
• There are no moving parts, therefore it is reliable and
almost maintenance free (cleaning is required though).
• Water taste is claimed to be better since the device act as
a Solar Water Vaporizer and it doesn’t boil the water
(resembling rain water).
• Neutral pH is claimed (like rainwater).
 Solar Still

Disadvantages
• Low distillate output per unit area.
• Leakage of vapour through joints.
• High maintenance.
• Productivity decreases with time for a variety of reasons.
 Solar Refrigeration
What is Refrigeration?
• Refrigeration is a process in which work is done to move heat from low
temperature body to high temperature reservoir.

Where it is uses?
• To provide refrigeration for food and medicine preservation.
• To provide comfort cooling.

Solar Refrigeration:
• Refrigerator which runs on electricity provided by Solar Energy is known as
solar refrigeration.
• Solar-powered refrigerators may be most commonly used in the future
generation.
• Developing the world to help mitigate poverty and climate change.
 Solar Refrigeration

Types of Refrigeration:
Refrigeration systems is broadly classified into two types:

• Vapour Compression Refrigeration (VCR)

----- (uses mechanical energy).

• Vapour Absorption Refrigeration (VAR)

----- (uses thermal energy).
 Solar Refrigeration
Vapour Compression Refrigeration:
• Highly compressed fluids (Refrigerant) tend to get colder when allowed to expand.
• If pressure is high enough,
- Compressed air hotter than source of cooling (normally at ambient temp.)
- Expanded gas cooler than desired cold temperature (evaporator temp.)

Advantages:
• Lot of heat can be removed (lot of
thermal energy required to change
liquid to vapour)
• Heat transfer rate remains high
(temperature of working fluid much
lower than what is being cooled)
 Solar Refrigeration
Vapour absorption Refrigeration:
• The vapor absorption refrigeration system comprises of all the processes as in the vapor
compression refrigeration system like compression, condensation, expansion and
evaporation.
• In the vapor absorption system the refrigerant used is ammonia, water or lithium
bromide.

• The refrigerant gets condensed in

the condenser and it gets
evaporated in the evaporator.
• The refrigerant produces cooling
effect in the evaporator and
releases the heat to the
atmosphere via the condenser.
 Solar Refrigeration

Advantages of vapour absorption cycle:

1. Moving part is pump
2. Reduced vaporization pressure and temperature
3. Load variation does not affect performance
4. Capacity may be more than 30TR
5. Waste heat in the industry as well as solar energy can be utilized

Disadvantages of vapour absorption cycle:

1. Efficiency is low
2. Takes long time to produce cooling effect
3. Kerosene/oil/gas flame gives bad smell and pollution during operation
 Solar Refrigeration

Solar Refrigeration:
• Refrigerator which runs on electricity provided by Solar Energy is
known as solar refrigeration.
• Solar-powered refrigerators may be most commonly used in the future
generation.

Need of solar refrigeration:

• Need refrigeration in areas not connected to power grid
• Need to minimize environmental impact and fuel cost
 Solar Refrigeration

Types of solar refrigeration:

• Photovoltaic Operated Refrigeration Cycle
• Solar Mechanical Refrigeration
• Absorption Refrigeration
 Solar Refrigeration
Photovoltaic Operated Refrigeration Cycle:
• Vapor compression cycle with power input from Photovoltaic cells.
• DC electric power output from PV runs the compressor of a conventional cycle

Considerations:
• Must match voltage imposed on PV array to the power requirements of the
refrigeration cycle
• Must find compressor motor closely matched to the electric characteristics of
the PV module.
 Solar Refrigeration
Solar Mechanical Refrigeration
• Vapor compression cycle with power input from solar Rankine cycle.

Considerations:
• Efficiency optimization based on delivery temperature
• Efficiency of Rankine cycle increases with increased heat exchanger
temperature
• Efficiency of solar collector decreases with increase in temperature.