Working fluid concentration measurement in solar air conditioning systems

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 80; no. 2; pp. 177 - 181
• Main Authors: Romero, R.J., Basurto-Pensado, M.A., Jiménez-Heredia, A.H., Sanchez-Mondragón, J.J.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2006; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Air conditioning equipment; Air conditioning. Ventilation; Applied sciences; Corrosive working fluids; Electrolytes; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Heating, air conditioning and ventilation; Lithium bromide; Natural energy; Refractive index; Solar air conditioning systems; Solar collectors; Solar energy; Solar thermal conversion; Techniques, equipment. Control. Metering; Temperature; Weight concentration; Weight concentration; Solar air conditioning systems; Lithium bromide; Refractive index; Corrosive working fluids; Air conditioning; Solar collector; Refraction index; Working fluid; Concentration measurement; Optical method; Measurement method; Aqueous solution
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2005.05.002

In order to evaluate on-line corrosive electrolyte concentration in solar air conditioning systems, an optical technique to determine the concentration is being proposed. With this optical sensing method, it is possible to measure the percentage concentration of the aqueous corrosive lithium bromide solution at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 70 °C and a maximum concentration of 60%. The measurement system is based on the refractive index of the solution and the data correlation, at several temperature and concentration values. The results of this work present a direct method for concentration measurement of corrosive liquids and also show the correlation among the three parameters: refractive index, temperature and weight concentration. This correlation can be used to develop the optical device for solar air conditioning systems to control and improve efficiency.