Dynamic study of the thermal behaviour of solar thermochemical refrigerator: barium chloride-ammonia for ice production

The results of the theoretical thermodynamic analysis and the dynamic behaviour of the solar heating system of a thermochemical refrigerator, which operates on a heterogeneous solid–gas reaction between barium chloride and ammonia, are presented in this work. The thermodynamic analysis of the barium chloride–ammonia system shows that after energy and mass balance, the global efficiency coefficient (COP) varies very little. The theoretical relative low temperatures of dissociation in this system which are between 50°C and 60°C need simple heating systems such as flat plate collectors are needed, with an advantage over traditional liquid/vapour absorption systems. A simulation of the annual dynamic behaviour of the solar heating system for the operation of a solid-gas reactor is also presented. For an ice production specific cooling load, calculations are made of the different solar fractions of different areas of solar caption as well as the monthly variations of the efficiencies of the refrigeration systems.