Patent ID: 6539738
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: F25B,Y02A,Y02B

Abstract:
A compact solar-powered air conditioning system operable without the use of a cooling tower comprising:a plurality of solar collectors positioned to collect energy and configured to heat a fluid along a path that passes through the solar collectors; a storage tank coupled with the solar collectors and configured to store the heated fluid after passing through the solar collectors; and an absorption machine operationally coupled with the storage tank and configured to draw the heated fluid from the storage tank to drive a refrigeration loop, wherein the absorption machine includes: a desorber that receives the heated fluid and causes a refrigerant to change from a liquid state to a gaseous state using energy from the heated fluid; a condenser in communication with the desorber to receive the refrigerant in the gaseous state therefrom and configured to cause the refrigerant to return to a liquid state; an evaporator in communication with the condenser to receive the refrigerant in the liquid state therefrom and to return the refrigerant to a gaseous state, wherein the change from the liquid state to the gaseous state is able to absorb energy from an external cooling loop; an absorber in communication with the evaporator to receive the refrigerant in the gaseous state therefrom and configured to circulate an absorbent solution in the presence of the refrigerant, whereby the absorber releases heat of dilution and heat of condensation, and wherein the heat of dilution and the heat of condensation are exhausted by passing ambient air over the absorber, and a housing that encloses the desorber, the condenser, the evaporator and the absorber, and wherein the housing defines a first air inlet and a first exhaust configured to permit the passage of ambient air through the housing and over the absorber.