International.
An Australian company has developed an air conditioning system that runs on solar thermal energy.
Operating at the Stockland Wendouree shopping centre in Ballarat, Victoria, the system uses solar thermal concentration technology to produce thermal energy used to power the air conditioning system.
The system, designed by CSIRO, is closed-loop that heats and cools the air inside the building without introducing air from outside the system.
It has two desiccant wheels that act as dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air. They operate at different temperatures: one of them takes advantage of the heat captured by solar energy for the regeneration of the low-temperature wheel, which works without high temperature.
The air conditioning system uses collectors to capture solar heat at a temperature of around 150 to 200 °C, and then stores it in a 2,000-litre thermal oil tank. Using a heat cascade design, the high temperatures of the tank are used to heat the air of the mall in the winter. On the contrary, to cool the building in summer, an indirect evaporative cooler is used.
The roof space required for solar air conditioning technology can be 40% less than a traditional single-stage desiccant system.
More information about the project by clicking here.
