Directly solar powered air conditioner

DEnd · 07-30-16, 02:58 PM

The issue with adsorption chillers is initial costs and serviceability. If you go with a net metering scheme then it really doesn't make sense. If you are fully off-grid an absorption chiller might make sense, also if you had a good source of waste heat. It's a good idea, but the cost of PV and A/C equipment is so cheap that it's hard to justify. If you were to size a system you would likely have an oversupply of heat during the swing seasons along with a daily under supply of heat during the evening and morning. While PV won't have the peak efficiency as thermal collectors they produce usable power during "lean" heat times. PV still won't match the ultimate efficiency of solar thermal but PV producing more usable power and its price point makes solar thermal hard to justify.

The other point of serviceability, you'd be forced to use a commercial service firm if it breaks (or DIY), as a residential customer you would be a low priority for them if they would even talk to you. DIY might be fine for us but it would not be for the vast majority of homeowners. This for DIYers makes access to the knowledge base more difficult, and makes parts and components more expensive.

07-30-16, 02:58 PM	#31
DEnd Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: NC Posts: 117 Thanks: 6 Thanked 27 Times in 25 Posts	The issue with adsorption chillers is initial costs and serviceability. If you go with a net metering scheme then it really doesn't make sense. If you are fully off-grid an absorption chiller might make sense, also if you had a good source of waste heat. It's a good idea, but the cost of PV and A/C equipment is so cheap that it's hard to justify. If you were to size a system you would likely have an oversupply of heat during the swing seasons along with a daily under supply of heat during the evening and morning. While PV won't have the peak efficiency as thermal collectors they produce usable power during "lean" heat times. PV still won't match the ultimate efficiency of solar thermal but PV producing more usable power and its price point makes solar thermal hard to justify. The other point of serviceability, you'd be forced to use a commercial service firm if it breaks (or DIY), as a residential customer you would be a low priority for them if they would even talk to you. DIY might be fine for us but it would not be for the vast majority of homeowners. This for DIYers makes access to the knowledge base more difficult, and makes parts and components more expensive.