Optimized design and control system of linear parabolic trough collectors used in solar cooling at Material & Energy Research Center (MERC)

Using solar energy to provide hot water, space heating and cooling in Iran has attracted much attention in recent decade. In this article, two solar absorption chillers were optimized with the capacity of 20 tons of refrigeration for each one that has been designed for solar building at Material and Energy Research Center (MERC) in Meshkindasht with the area of approximately 1400 square meters and control systems were added to improve system performance. This study has shown that most adaptable solar absorption chillers are single effect chillers with hot water and the most appropriate collectors are linear parabolic trough collectors for solar cooling. Each of the generators of single-effect absorption chillers consume 108 kW power which power requirement will be provided by using 262 square meters of PTC 3000 linear parabolic collectors from Solitem Turkey company. Two cooling towers and a storage tank were designed with a capacity of 28,000 liters for the systems. Based on calculations, this system can meet the cooling system needs for 6 to 8 hours in the peak of the hot season. Designed collectors can supply thermal efficiency up to 62%