Solar Thermal Cooling System, the Innovation in Solar Energy

In academic studies, solar energy can be used as a source of electricity or heat. However, along with technological advancement, solar energy is now able to be used in a cooling system.

Solar Thermal Cooling System

Solar Thermal Cooling System (STCS) is a cooling system employing heat energy from sunlight, gas, and others. This study aims to analyze all the energy used in the solar thermal cooling system at Universitas Indonesia. This system all together uses three kinds of solar energy, gas, and electricity. They provide cooling capacity that has been installed in the Manufacturing Research Center (MRC) Building at Universitas Indonesia.

Economical and Useful

There are several benefits of STCS in reducing CO2 and air pollution and saving more electrical energy in an air conditioner. For instance, the existing system in the Manufacturing Research Center Building at FTUI uses a 280-kW cooling capacity but only consumes 20 kW of its electrical power with gas and solar energy. However, an air-conditioning system that uses conventional compressors requires 70 kW of electrical power. Therefore, it can save more than 40 tons of CO2 emissions in a year. The data showed us the use of STCS had proven to reduce electricity consumption and was suitable in a place with abundant sunlight like Indonesia.

How it Works

A single/double-effect water/LiBr absorption chiller is the main component of an STCS to provide cold water and make it circulated between the system and the MRC building. In this system, heat from solar energy is absorbed by the evacuated tube solar collectors; it then heated the water to 75-95°C used, together with the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), in the absorption chiller.

Quote:

“Solar Thermal Cooling System is the first system built in Indonesia. We should utilize this high-quality innovation to meet the community’s needs” 

– Prof.Dr. Ir. M. Idrus Alhamid