Another musing…

Is there a way of using solar energy to power a refrigeration unit or aircon system, as in in power it more directly rather than using photo-voltaic cells to make electricity and use that to power a electric unit?

maybe a Stirling engine or something like that?

party_pants said:

Another musing…

Is there a way of using solar energy to power a refrigeration unit or aircon system, as in in power it more directly rather than using photo-voltaic cells to make electricity and use that to power a electric unit?

maybe a Stirling engine or something like that?

heat exchanger. solar panel, liquid not PV, on roof etc. feed hot liquid through a heat exchanger of some description. how the old kero fridges used to work.

You could focus sunlight onto a heat exchanger to drive an Ammonium refrigeration (absorption cycle) fridge.

Rule 303 said:

You could focus sunlight onto a heat exchanger to drive an Ammonium refrigeration (absorption cycle) fridge.

That occurred to me, too. Not that I know much about the ammonia refrigeration system. (Checks wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator

“An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source (e.g., solar energy, a fossil-fueled flame, waste heat from factories, or district heating systems) to provide the energy needed to drive the cooling process. Absorption refrigerators are often used for food storage in recreational vehicles. The principle can also be used to air-condition buildings. Absorption refrigerators are a popular alternative to regular compressor refrigerators where electricity is unreliable, costly, or unavailable, where noise from the compressor is problematic, or where surplus heat is available (e.g., from solar plants).”

“Commercial production began in 1923. In 1926, Albert Einstein and his former student Leó Szilárd proposed an alternative design known as the Einstein refrigerator.”

mollwollfumble said:

Rule 303 said:

You could focus sunlight onto a heat exchanger to drive an Ammonium refrigeration (absorption cycle) fridge.

That occurred to me, too. Not that I know much about the ammonia refrigeration system. (Checks wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator

“An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source (e.g., solar energy, a fossil-fueled flame, waste heat from factories, or district heating systems) to provide the energy needed to drive the cooling process. Absorption refrigerators are often used for food storage in recreational vehicles. The principle can also be used to air-condition buildings. Absorption refrigerators are a popular alternative to regular compressor refrigerators where electricity is unreliable, costly, or unavailable, where noise from the compressor is problematic, or where surplus heat is available (e.g., from solar plants).”

“Commercial production began in 1923. In 1926, Albert Einstein and his former student Leó Szilárd proposed an alternative design known as the Einstein refrigerator.”

Annotated patent drawing of the Einstein Refrigerator. This uses ammonia and butane instead of the more common ammonia and hydrogen system. Apply sunlight directly to the generator, numbers 29 and 36 on the drawing.

mollwollfumble said:

Rule 303 said:

You could focus sunlight onto a heat exchanger to drive an Ammonium refrigeration (absorption cycle) fridge.

That occurred to me, too. Not that I know much about the ammonia refrigeration system. (Checks wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator

“An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source (e.g., solar energy, a fossil-fueled flame, waste heat from factories, or district heating systems) to provide the energy needed to drive the cooling process. Absorption refrigerators are often used for food storage in recreational vehicles. The principle can also be used to air-condition buildings. Absorption refrigerators are a popular alternative to regular compressor refrigerators where electricity is unreliable, costly, or unavailable, where noise from the compressor is problematic, or where surplus heat is available (e.g., from solar plants).”

“Commercial production began in 1923. In 1926, Albert Einstein and his former student Leó Szilárd proposed an alternative design known as the Einstein refrigerator.”

IIRC, we had a gas powered fridge when I were a lad. I think they were quite common, way back then.

The Rev Dodgson said:

mollwollfumble said:

“An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source (e.g., solar energy, a fossil-fueled flame, waste heat from factories, or district heating systems) to provide the energy needed to drive the cooling process. Absorption refrigerators are often used for food storage in recreational vehicles. The principle can also be used to air-condition buildings. Absorption refrigerators are a popular alternative to regular compressor refrigerators where electricity is unreliable, costly, or unavailable, where noise from the compressor is problematic, or where surplus heat is available (e.g., from solar plants).”

“Commercial production began in 1923. In 1926, Albert Einstein and his former student Leó Szilárd proposed an alternative design known as the Einstein refrigerator.”

IIRC, we had a gas powered fridge when I were a lad. I think they were quite common, way back then.

I had one in an old caravan. Seemed extremely efficient for the tiny amount of gas it burnt.