Solar Mechanical Refrigeration
Solar mechanical refrigeration uses a conventional vapor
compression system driven by mechanical power that is produced
with a solar-driven heat power cycle. The heat power cycle usually
considered for this application is a Rankine cycle in which a
fl uid is vaporized at an elevated
pressure by heat exchange
with a fl uid heated by solar
collectors. A storage tank can
be included to provide some
high temperature thermal storage.
The vapor fl ows through
a turbine or piston expander
to produce mechanical power,
as shown in Figure 4. The
fl uid exiting the expander is
condensed and pumped back
to the boiler pressure where it
is again vaporized.