Mech/Elec ALS Lesson Two - Comfort Climate and Solar Design: Active Solar - Absorption and Dessicant Cooling, Steam generation

Mech/Elec ALS Lesson Two - Comfort Climate and Solar Design: Active Solar - Absorption and Dessicant Cooling, Steam generation

Dessicant system = Uses sun to bake all moisture out of a desiccant (such as silica gel, activated alumina or synthetic polymers).

Natural gas can be used to heat instead of solar. Dessicant first removes moisture from outside air coming in, dried air is passed into building.

Two batches of dessicant are needed, one works while the other is heated and dried out.

Absorption refrigeration cycle = similar to dessicant except it's a fluid version. Sun evaporates moisture out of a brine solution (typically lithium bromide) until it reaches saturation.

Solution is then used to absorb water vapor from a second source of clear water, increasing the evaporation rate and cooling it.

the second source water is used to cool the building.

Steam Generation = Steam from focusing collectors can be utilized to generate electricity. Not very efficient.

time: 0.25, 7:25-7:40pm 6/16/09