Prof. Dr. Ir. M. Idrus Alhamid

mamak@eng.ui.ac.id

1978 – Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Indonesia

1989 – Mechanical Engineering, K.U. Leuven, Belgium

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

Prof. Dr. Ir. M. Idrus Alhamid

Profile

In academic studies, solar energy can be used as a source of electricity or heat. However, along with technological advancement, solar energy can now 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, or others. This study aimed to analyze all the energy used in the solar thermal cooling system at Universitas Indonesia. This system simultaneously used three kinds of energy, namely solar energy, gas, and electricity, to provide cooling capacity that has been applied in the Manufacturing Research Center (MRC) Building at Universitas Indonesia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_XAwv_X4dg

Economical and Useful

There are several benefits of STCS, such as 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, having a 280-kW cooling capacity, only consumes 20 kW of its electrical power together with its gas and solar energy. However, an air-conditioning system that uses conventional compressors requires 70 kW of electricity. Therefore, STCS can save more than 40 tons of CO2 emissions in a year. The data showed us that the use of STCS had proven to be able to reduce electricity consumption and to be suitably applied in Indonesia, where there is abundant sunlight.

How It Works

Solar Thermal Cooling System (STCS)

Solar Panel

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