Optimization and Simulation of Time Dependent Heat Driven Refrigerators with Continuous Temperature Control

Abstract

Economic and environmental considerations have brought new interest to heat driven refrigerators. A large research effort has been brought to bear on refrigeration systems of this kind in recent years [1,2]. These systems can make use of waste heat and renewable energy sources such as solar energy [2, 3]. In countries in which electricity and fossil fuels are available only intermittently or are very expensive, solar refrigeration may be an alternative for the preservation of foodstuffs and medical supplies [4], since a “reservoir of cold” can also be generated through the formation of subcooled ice for use when the sun is obscured. However, when uninterrupted precisely controlled cooling is required, heat driven systems powered by gas, electricity or oil are needed either as an alternative to solar thermal energy and waste heat or as a supplementary thermal energy source. The improvement and optimization of the design and control of heat driven refrigerators is a crucial issue regardless of the energy sources used. Heat driven refrigerators, with an effective control system, may well be able to combine economy with a low environmental impact.