Solar-Powered Air Conditioning System Using a Mixture of Glycerin and Water to Store Energy

• Main Author: CHEN CHENGJUN JULIAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.12.2009
• Subjects: AIR-CONDITIONING, AIR-HUMIDIFICATION, VENTILATION, USE OF AIRCURRENTS FOR SCREENING; BLASTING; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS,e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USERAPPLICATIONS; COLD ROOMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; ICE-BOXES; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; RANGES; REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; VENTILATING; WEAPONS

A solar-powered air conditioning system comprising an energy-storage medium of 5%-10% glycerin and 90%-95% water in a thermally insulated container, a solar photovoltaic panel, a vapor-compression refrigeration unit driven by a DC motor powered directly by the solar photovoltaic panel, a heat-exchange coil to cool a stream of air by the energy-storage medium, and a ventilation apparatus to circulate the cooled air. In the presence of sunlight, the electrical current generated by the solar panels drives the vapor-compression refrigeration unit to freeze the mixture of glycerin and water. In the absence of sunlight, the frozen mixture of glycerin and water keeps temperature low. The flowing air cooled by heat-exchange coils through the energy-storage medium circulates in the room or the entire building to keep the space cool.