Modeling, Optimisation and Control of Solar Absorption Air-Conditioning System

Solar thermal energy can provide a benign and environmentally friendly heat source for driving a vapour absorption refrigeration system of unit capacity using R 717 (NH3) and water as the working fluids. The last few decades witness an upsurge in energy demand, both at the domestic and industrial cooling and heating demand. Traditionally, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) performance and design are based on construction of prototypes in a wind tunnel. This approach is not only time consuming but expensive. In this study, a model-based approach for the modelling, optimisation and control of a solar vapour absorption air-conditioning system is presented. A model-in-loop and hardware-in-loop model was also develop to validate the control algorithm.