Solar powered air conditioning is an exciting new technology that got a big boost in China just one year ago. Unveiled at the World Solar-Powered Air Conditioning Development Forum in September 2010, the Shandong Vicot AC unit has an impressive record so far.
One of the World’s First Solar Powered Air Conditioning Units
The efficiency of the new Chinese solar powered air conditioning unit is incredible, measured at 85% thermal cooling conversion rate. Shandong Vicot Air Conditioning Co., the company who developed the world’s first solar powered air conditioning, says their product also supplies continuous cooling for 24 hours. It also performs 24 hour continuous heating and hot water. Out of necessity comes innovation, or so goes the saying.
The Chinese solar powered air conditioning unit also boasts a feature which allows it to use natural gas during periods of low sun activity. According to reports, however, sunshine falls on two thirds of China’s surface area and a measurement of annual solar irradiance is quite high.
To say the least, China is ideally set up for solar powered air conditioning. They have the drive, the brain power, and the conditions for this new technology. American scientists and engineers did collaborate on the solar powered air conditioning unit, however, so it’s more of a global victory in green technology.
Who Else is Developing Solar Powered Air Conditioning?
A Swedish company called ClimateWell, now headquartered in the United Kingdom, is also developing solar powered air conditioning. Like the Chinese units, ClimateWell’s units can also provide heating and cooling. Their solar powered air conditioning systems can go in single family homes, businesses, and in industrial applications.
ClimateWell’s solar powered air conditioning system has no moving parts and uses no refrigerants. Their version of solar cooling works like this: solar thermal technology captures the energy of the sun and creates cooling without using any electricity. It also stores thermal energy for later use. This storage idea means the system can deliver both heating and cooling at the same time.
If you’re in Madrid, Spain you can visit ClimateWell’s demo house and learn more about it as well as see the solar powered air conditioning system in action. Their solar powered AC systems are available for sale in the US and certain countries in Europe, plus Morocco.
Who’s Researching New Technology for Solar Powered Air Conditioning?
Researchers at University of California at Merced, that’s who. Their solar powered air conditioning system uses collector tubes to capture the sun’s energy. That heat then powers existing technology for AC, heating and other uses.
The UC Merced system is rated to have 60% solar thermal efficiency…not quite that of the Chinese solar powered air conditioning system, which was 85%. They’ve put it to use on a trailer used as an office. They believe it’s the first of its kind in the world…so needless to say it’s a very different technology than the Chinese solar powered air conditioning, which is said by the maker to be the first in the world.
Thermal Powered vs. Solar Powered Air Conditioning
Thermal powered air conditioning has been around for decades, actually. Industrial applications are especially like to have thermal powered AC. These types of AC units are called absorption chillers, and they are powered by heat…more specifically, they are powered by hot water. The hot water is usually waste heat from a generator or from a gas boiler installed just for powering an air conditioning unit.
The hot water can come from any source, and of course that’s where solar powered air conditioning comes into play. Existing thermal powered air conditioning units can be configured to run quite nicely and efficiently with a solar power configuration.
Just take a look at any AC system in a hospital, hotel or office building and you’ll probably see thermal powered air conditioning units at work.
More About Absorption Chiller ACs and Solar Powered Air Conditioning
Absorption chiller units have been around for over fifty years now. In Japan, they constitute almost 40% of all commercial AC systems! It’s a pretty good technology since it doesn’t use any CFCs, it’s a simple technology so it’s dependable, and some even work with no moving parts, which means easy and cheap maintenance. The idea of converting absorption chiller units to be used with solar powered air conditioning is under development as we write.
There may be some moving parts like small fan motors and pumps, in absorption chillers. These exist to move the Glycol, which transfers the thermal energy, from the solar collector to the chiller and vice versa.
Payback Period for Solar Powered Air Conditioning
The payback period (how long it takes to pay for itself) depends on which state you live. Tax credits and green incentives make all the difference in the world. If your state has a good program for incentivising alternative energy, your solar powered air conditioning installation can pay for itself in as little as two years. Keep in mind that most tax incentives for green energy applications is for business, not domestic installations.
How Long Does a Solar Powered Air Conditioning Unit Last?
The absorption chiller type of solar powered air conditioning system has a life expectancy of over twenty years but less than 25. It lasts so long because, as stated before, there aren’t really that many moving parts. Pumps may wear out, but they can be replaced cheaply. Pumps wearing out do not require the consumer to purchase a whole new solar powered air conditioning system.
How Long Has this Type of Solar Powered Air Conditioning Been Around?
There are two technological developments working together in a solar powered air conditioning system: solar thermal collectors have been around since the 1970s. Absorption chiller AC units have been around for over 50 years. It’s only in the past ten years that the two technologies have been combined to give us solar powered air conditioning.