Solar Air-conditioning

System
Prepared by:
Kier Russell Emalada
Marvin Arnaiz
Jason Espineda
Emervie Jeffrey Signo
Jeremiah Malagueño
 What is Solar
Air-conditioning System
 Solar Air-conditioning System
Solar air conditioning refers to any air conditioning
(cooling) system that uses solar power. This can be done
through passive solar, solar thermal energy conversion
and photovoltaic conversion (sunlight to electricity). In
this system power is generated by converting solar energy
into electrical energy.
The air conditioning system uses solar thermal energy
as an energy source to help maintain the refrigeration
process which in turn reduces the amount of electrical
energy required to run the compressor.
Difference between Conventional Air
Conditioners and Solar Air Conditioners
Solar air conditioners and conventional air conditioners
both perform the same function. The main difference
between the two lies in the fact that conventional air
conditioners use grid electricity while solar air
conditioners use energy generated from the sun.
 Main Components of
Solar Air-conditioning System
The main components in the Solar air-conditioning
system can be divided into five main components
namely:
1. Solar Equipment
2. Compressor
3. Condenser
4. Expansion Valve
5. Evaporator
Solar panel
Solar panel refers either to a photovoltaic
module, a solar thermal energy panel, or a set
of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules electrically
connected and mounted on a supporting
structure.
Solar Photovoltaic Module
Solar Thermal Collector
Solar Thermal Collector
•The solar collector works on the green house effect principle;
solar radiation incident upon the transparent surface of the solar
collector is transmitted through this surface.
•The inside of the solar collector is usually evacuated, the energy
contained within the solar collector is basically trapped and thus
heats the coolant contained within the tubes. The tubes are usually
made from copper, and the backplate is painted black to help
absorb solar radiation.
Battery
Battery store the electric power
in the form of a chemical reaction.
Without storage you would only
have power when the sun is shining
or the generator is running. We
need battery of 48V
Inverter
The power inverter is the heart of
the system. It makes 220 volts AC
from the 12 volts DC stored in the
batteries. It can also charge the
batteries if connected to a generator or
the AC line.
Charge Controller
• To prevent the overcharging.
• Prevent the damage and increase
the life and performance of battery.
• Used in any solar power system.
• Blocks reverse current.
• It may also prevent battery over
discharge, protect from electrical
overload, and display battery status
and flow of power
Compressor
•Circulates the refrigerant in the
system under pressure, this
concentrates the heat it contains.
•At the compressor, the low
pressure gas is changed to high
pressure gas.
Condenser
• A device or unit used to
condense a substance from its
gaseous to its liquid state, by
cooling it.
• Application areas include air
conditioning, industrial chemical
processes such as distillation,
steam power plants and other
heat exchange systems.
Expansion Valve
•Tubing with several rounds of coils.
•The high pressure and medium
temperature refrigerant leaves the
condenser and enters the expansion
valve, where its temperature and
pressure drops suddenly
Evaporator
•The refrigerant liquid is converted
to gas, absorbing heat from the air in
the compartment by the evaporator.
•The evaporator removes heat from
the area that is to be cooled. The
desired temperature of cooling of the
area will determine if refrigeration or
air conditioning is desired.
Solar Air-conditioning System
using Photovoltaic
Solar Air-conditioning System
using Thermal Collectors
Cooling Cycle
Heating Cycle
Solar Air-conditioning System is
divided into 2 parts

the Indoor units and the Outdoor units

Indoor Unit Components
• Evaporator Coil or the Cooling Coil
The cooling coil is a copper coil made of number
turns of the copper tubing with one or more rows
depending on the capacity of the air conditioning
system. The cooling coil is covered with the aluminum
fins so that the maximum amount of heat can be
transferred from the coil to the air inside the room.
Indoor Unit Components
• Air Filter
The air filter removes all the dirt particles from the room
air and helps supplying clean air to the room. The air filter in
the wall mounted type of the indoor unit is placed just before
the cooling coil. When the blower sucks the hot room air, it is
first passed through the air filter and then though the cooling
coil. Thus the clean air at low temperature is supplied into the
room by the blower.
Indoor Unit Components
• Cooling Fan or Blower
Inside the indoor unit there is also a long blower that sucks
the room air or the atmospheric air. It is an induced type of
blower and while is sucks the room air it is passed over the
cooling coil and the filter due to which the temperature of the
air reduces and all the dirt from it is removed. The blower
sucks the hot and unclean air from the room and supplies cool
and clean air back.
Indoor Unit Components
• Drain Pipe
When the room air is passed over the cooling due
the suction force of the blower, the temperature of the
air becomes very low and reaches levels below its dew
point temperature. Due to this the water vapor present
in the air gets condensed and dew or water drops are
formed on the surface of the cooling coil. These water
drops fall off the cooling coil and are collected in a
small space inside the indoor unit.
Indoor Unit Components
• Louvers or Fins
The cool air supplied by the blower is passed into
the room through louvers. The louvers help changing
the angle or direction in which the air needs to be
supplied into the room as per the requirements. With
louvers one easily change the direction in which the
maximum amount of the cooled air has to be passed.
Outdoor Unit Components
• Compressor
It compresses the refrigerant and increases its
pressure before sending it to the condenser. External
power has to be supplied to the compressor, which is
utilized for compressing the refrigerant and during this
process lots of heat is generated in the compressor,
which has to be removed by some means.
Outdoor Unit Components
• Condenser and Condenser Cooling Fan
The high temperature and high pressure refrigerant from the
compressor comes in the condenser where it has to give up the heat. The
tubing is made up of copper since it rate of conduction of heat is high.
The condenser is also covered with the aluminum fins so that the heat
from the refrigerant can be removed at more faster rate.

The cooling fan is located in front of the compressor and the

condenser coil. As the blades of the fan rotate it absorbs the surrounding
air from the open space and blows it over the compressor and the
condenser with the aluminum fins thus cooling them. The hot air is
thrown back to the open space and the circulation of air continues
unhindered.
Outdoor Unit Components
• Expansion Valve
The expansion valve is usually a copper capillary tubing
with several rounds of coils. In the split air conditioners of
bigger capacities thermostatic expansion valve is used which is
operated electronically automatically. The high pressure and
medium temperature refrigerant leaves the condenser and
enters the expansion valve, where its temperature and pressure
drops suddenly.
Outdoor Unit Components

Solar Collector
Solar Air-conditioner
Installation
For Indoor Unit

 Fit the installation plate horizontally on a

structurally sound part of the wall with spaces
around the installation plate.
 If the wall is made of brick, concrete or the like use
anchor bolts.
 Fit the installation plate on the wall with (8) type
“A” screws included.
For Indoor Unit
 Always use conduit when drilling through metal
grid, metal plate or the like.
 Determine the hole positions, slanting slightly to
the outdoor side.
 Always use conduit when drilling through metal
grid, metal plate or the like
For Indoor Unit
Connective Pipe and Drainage Installation
 Run the drain hose sloping downward. Do not install the
drain hose as illustrated in the picture. When connecting
extension drain hose, insulate the connecting part of
extension drain hose with a shield pipe, do not let the
drain hose slack.
For Indoor Unit
Connective Pipe and Drainage
Installation
 Bundle the tubing, connecting cable,
and drain hose with tape securely
 The condensed water from the rear of
the outdoor unit is gathered in a
ponding box and is piped out of the
room. Do not put anything else in the
box.
 Pass the piping through the hole in
the wall.
For Indoor Unit
Connective Pipe and Drainage Installation
 Put the upper claw at the back of the indoor unit on the
upper hook of the installation plate, move the indoor unit
side to side to see that it is securely hooked.
 Piping can be made easy by lifting the indoor unit and
placing a spacer between the indoor unit and the wall.
For Indoor Unit
Connective Pipe and Drainage
Installation
 Push the lower part of the indoor
unit up on the wall, then move the
indoor unit from side to side, up
and down to check if it is hooked
securely.
 Bundle the tubing, connecting
cable and drain hose securely and
evenly with tape as shown.
For Indoor Unit
Precaution
 Do not expose the indoor unit to heat or steam.
 Select a place where there are no obstacles in front of or
around the unit.
 Make sure that condensation drainage tube can be
conveniently routed away.
 Do not install near a doorway.
For Indoor Unit
Precaution
 Ensure the spaces indicated by arrows
from the wall, ceiling or other
obstacles
 A place where noise prevention is
taken into consideration. Min. 3 ft.
from TV or electronic instrument.
 There should not be any direct
sunlight on the indoor unit, sunlight
may fade the color of the unit.
For Indoor Unit
Caution
 Connect the indoor unit first, then the outdoor unit.
 Do not allow the piping to let out from the back of
the indoor unit.
 Be careful not to let the drain hose slack.
 Be sure that the drain hose is located at the lowest
side of the bundle. Locating at the upper side can
cause drain pan to overflow inside the unit.
For Outdoor Unit
 Install the outdoor unit on a rigid
base to prevent increasing noise
level and vibration. Determine the
air outlet direction where the
discharged air is not blocked. In the
case that the installation place is
exposed to strong wind such as a
seaside, make sure the fan operating
properly by putting the unit
lengthwise along the wall or using a
dust or shield plates.
For Outdoor Unit
 The installation wall should be solid
brick, concrete or the same intensity
construction, or actions to reinforce,
damping supporting should be taken.
The connection between bracket and
wall, bracket and the air conditioner
should be firm, stable and reliable.
 Be sure there is no obstacle which
can block radiating air.
For Indoor Unit
Precaution
 If an awning is built over the outdoor
unit it must be done in a way that
does not block air flow to the unit.
 Keep the spaces indicated by arrows
from wall or other obstacles.
 Take the air conditioner weight into
account and select a place where
noise vibration, and hot air discharged
will not be an issue.
 Do not install in a location exposed to
flammable gas.
For Outdoor Unit
Rooftop unit
 If the outdoor unit is installed on a roof structure,
be sure to level the unit.
 Ensure the roof structure and anchoring method is
adequate for the unit location.
General Installation
Information
Electrical Information
 The Solar Air Conditioning System should only be installed, repaired and
maintained by a qualified, licensed Air Conditioning Installer.
 All Electrical work involved in the installation must be completed by a
qualified, licensed Electrician to the standards relevant to the location of
the installation.
 Ensure that the system is not installed in an environment that does not
contain air with unusually high levels of oil, sulphide gas, flammable gas,
alkaline, or where high frequency equipment is present.
 If the installation site does not have compliant electrical infrastructure the
installer shall use their judgement as to whether the installation is
suitable. If voltage fluctuations are greater than +/- 10% measures should
be taken to regulate the voltage.
 The power cord should be provided with effective grounding.
General Solar Collector Installation
 The collector operates at optimum performance in direct sunlight.
 For optimum performance the solar collector should face NORTH in
the southern hemisphere and SOUTH in the northern hemisphere.
 If the optimum position is not available the next best option is for the
system to face EAST.
 If neither the optimum position or and East facing position are
available the next best option is for the system to face WEST.
 It is not advised to install the collector facing in the opposite direction
to the optimum position.
 To ensure the condensate drained from the indoor unit is able to be
used to fill the water tank in the solar collector it is best to ensure that
the indoor unit it positioned higher than the top of the solar collector.
Refrigerant Piping
 When the piping is extended above the Standard Piping Length the
cooling/heating capacity will start to decrease and there is a
possibility that the power consumption will increase.
 A liquid stopping ring and oil collector shall be applied to the system
when the head drop is over 5m, and then one for every 5m drop.
 When bending the copper pipe, please use a bender in order to
prevent pipe damage.
 If the installation site is unique and the above guidelines can’t be
followed please contact the distributor of the product to discuss.
Safety and Leakage Check
Electrical Safety Check
Perform the electric safe check after completing the
installation
1. Grounding work – after finishing grounding work, measure the
grounding resistance by visual detection and an Ohm meter.
Make sure the grounding resistance is less than 4 Ohms.
2. Electrical Leakage check (performing during running test) –
During test operation after finishing installation, the serviceman
can use the multimeter to perform the electrical leakage check.
Turn off the unit immediately if leakage occurs, repair before
operating the unit.
Gas Leak Check
1. Soap and water method – apply a soapy water or a
liquid neutral detergent on the indoor unit connection
and outdoor unit connection with a soft brush to check
for leakage of the connecting points of the piping. If
bubbles come out, the pipes have leakage.
2. Leak Detector – Use the leak detector to check for
leakage.
Running Tests
Perform test operation after completing gas leak check at
the flare nut connections and electrical safety check.
 Check that all tubing and wiring have been properly
connected.
 Check that the gas and liquid side service valves are
fully open
Running Tests
You should perform the Test Run for at least 30 minutes.
1. Connect power to the unit
2. Press the ON/OFF button on the remote controller to
turn it on.
3. Press the MODE button to scroll through the following
functions, one at a time:
a) COOL – Select lowest possible temperature
b) HEAT – Select highest possible temperature
Running Tests
4. Let each function run for 5 minutes, and perform the following
checks:
 No electrical leakage
 Unit is properly grounded
 All electrical terminals properly covered
 Indoor and outdoor units are solidly installed
 All pipe connection points do not leak
 Water drains properly from drain hose
 Unit performs HEAT function properly
 Indoor unit louvers rotate properly
 Indoor unit responds to remote controller
Maintenance
Solar Collector
• Always turn off the Air Conditioning System at the
power switch before conducting any maintenance.
• The water inside the solar collector and the copper
piping entering and exiting the solar collector can reach
temperature of up to 85°C, please take care when
checking and filling the water level.
• Take particular care with water exiting the water
drain.
• These instructions apply to both the Flat Panel solar
collector and the Evacuated Tube solar collector.
Solar Collector
• In most situations (when the indoor unit sits higher than the solar
collector) the water tank inside the solar collector is constantly topped up
by the condensation drain pipe coming from the indoor unit that is attached
to the vertical inlet on the right hand side of the collector. In these this
typical situation the water level is constantly being topped up by the
condensate and the water level only needs to be checked once every 3
months
• If the condensation drain pipe from the indoor unit isn’t attached to the
solar collector the water level needs to be checked every 2 weeks.
• If upon inspection is water periodically exiting out of the water drain
(the horizontal outlet on the right of the collector) then there is no need to
check the water level further as the water tank inside the solar collector is
full.
Solar Collector
• Check the water level on the solar collector by unscrewing the Red Cap
from the top left hand corner of the solar collector and removing the
dipstick, ensure that the water mark is above the marking on the dipstick.
• If the water level is below the mark on the dipstick add water through
the opening that you have removed the dipstick from, the water tank inside
the solar collector is full when water starts to exit out of the water drain.
• Water added to the solar collector must be of drinking quality, if your
tap water is not of drinking quality then distilled water can be used.
• Ensure that the dipstick and red cap are inserted back in their original
positions once filling is complete.
• The solar collector can be cleaned by wiping with a soft cloth, damp
with clean room temperature water.
Indoor Unit
• Always turn off the Solar Air Conditioning System power at
the power switch before conducting any maintenance.
• The air filter should be removed and cleaned every 2 weeks
to ensure maximum efficiency of the Solar Air Conditioning
System.
• Remove the front panel of the indoor unit by holding the both
ends of the front panel/grille and pulling upwards and forwards
simultaneously to expose the air filters.
• Pull both of the air filters downwards gently once they are
exposed.
• Clean the excess dust off the air filters with a vacuum cleaner
set at low suction.
Indoor Unit
• Clean the remaining dust off the air filters by wiping with a
soft cloth, damp with room temperature water.
• Ensure that the air filters are dry before re-inserting into the
indoor unit, ensure that they are dried in the shade rather than in
direct sunlight.
• Re-install the air filters as per the diagram on the indoor unit
and close the front panel/grille when complete.
• The indoor unit can be cleaned with a soft cloth, damp with
clean room temperature water. Care should be taken to ensure
that no water enters any openings on the unit.
Outdoor Unit
• Always turn off the Solar Air Conditioning System power at
the power switch before conducting any maintenance.
• The copper piping entering and exiting the outdoor unit can
reach temperature of up to 85o C, please take care when
inspecting or cleaning the outdoor unit.
• The outdoor unit can be cleaned with cleaning products
suitable for cleaning powder coated surfaces.
• Care should be taken to ensure that no cleaning products
enter any of the openings on the unit.
• Particular care should be taken when cleaning around the
interconnecting electrical cable opening and plastic handles.
 Advantages of
Solar Air-conditioning System
Lower Energy Bills
Solar powered HVAC systems can also reduce your
utility costs in the long run. Once the system is installed,
the cost of heating and cooling your residence or place of
business is reduced to near nothing.
The Ability to Monetize Excess Energy
Utility companies in your area may also offer incentives
when you install a solar AC system. In fact, many utility
companies will buy back excess electricity from you.
 Can Brag About Going Green
Solar energy is the cleanest form of energy because it
does not produce carbon dioxide emissions like the
energy generated by power plants.
Outages Will Not Affect You
Solar powered HVAC systems don't rely on the power
grid, so your home or office will remain at the perfect
temperature, even when inclement weather or issues
with power lines knock out conventionally powered
systems.
 Disadvantages of
Solar Air-conditioning System
Weather-dependent
Solar energy panels for cooling have one obvious requirement - the
sun. If you choose solar AC, you could have a significant problem
on days where the skies aren't clear enough for the panels to soak
up the sun's energy.
Tracking the sun
For optimal efficiency, solar energy panels need to constantly be
directed towards the sun. Ideally, panel adjustments should be
made each season, but most solar panel owners usually mount
them in a fixed position for the latitude of the area they're in,
which means they are not optimally positioned for year-round use.
High set-up cost
Aside from battery costs and replacement panel costs, the initial
set-up cost for solar energy systems can be considerably high. In
the long run the system is worth it, particularly in areas where
there is constant sun and a constant need for cooling. However if
you don't want to wait for the long run, and don't want to invest a
small fortune in the set up process, you may want to consider
energy-efficient portable air conditioners.