| Title: |
Optimise a solar thermal cooling system using combined simulation TRNSYS and Genopt software for refrigeration demand in various African climates. |
| Authors: |
Abdelwanes, Abdelsalam1 (AUTHOR) a.a.abdelwanes@cranfield.ac.uk; King, Peter1 (AUTHOR); Wijayantha, KGU1 (AUTHOR); Patchigolla, Kumar2 (AUTHOR); Renaldi, Renaldi3 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: |
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power & Energy (Sage Publications, Ltd.). Jun2026, Vol. 240 Issue 4, p562-578. 17p. |
| Subject Terms: |
*Solar collectors; *Heat storage; *Solar air conditioning; *Climatic classification; Cost benefit analysis; Optimizers (Computer software); Computer simulation |
| Geographic Terms: |
Egypt |
| Abstract: |
This study presents an optimisation simulation-based approach for the ideal solar absorption cooling system design, including a thermal storage tank and a solar thermal collector. The strategy aims to reduce the costs of solar chilling systems by determining the optimal collector area and storage capacity while minimising electricity consumption to operate system. A hybrid approach is used to achieve the optimal configuration by combining dynamic simulation with TRNSYS and an optimisation algorithm using Gen-Opt. The system's life cycle cost, over 20 years, serves as the optimisation goal. The study examines the effects of three economic factors: solar collector area, storage capacity, and electricity prices, on the design. The outcomes are analysed from technical and economic perspectives across various African locations. Additionally, techno-economic optimisation was conducted to identify the best set of system design parameters. The findings illustrate how electricity prices and climatic conditions influence the techno-economic feasibility of the system. Alkufra demonstrates and achieves the best techno-economic performance due to its high solar radiation and lower reliance on auxiliary power, which reduces electricity costs throughout the system's lifetime. Cairo achieves a fairly reasonable performance, providing satisfactory economic viability compared to Lagos or Accra, due to sun availability and electricity costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| : |
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| Database: |
GreenFILE |