Benefits of Installing Solar Air Conditioning

Did you know that Spain is one of the European countries with the highest irradiation? Making solar energy in our country more profitable than in others. And it is that regions of the north of Spain, which are generally considered unsuitable for photovoltaic energy, receive more irradiation than the average in Germany. Country that has maintained leadership in the promotion of photovoltaic solar energy for years.

Benefits of Installing Solar Air Conditioning

An energy that has multiple variables within the energy sector heating mainly focused on heating domestic hot water and the air conditioning in the house. But there is also a cooling variant, the so-called solar air conditioner or solar cooling. And although it sounds contradictory, it is possible to lower temperatures by obtaining sunlight. An option that can bring us many benefits:

• Environmentally friendly: by using solar energy that are less polluting and more respectful of the environment and that allows to reduce toxic gas emissions.
• Ideal for geographical areas with a lot of sun: It is an ideal way to take advantage of the sun’s rays and thus reduce electricity consumption for air conditioning.
• Non-invasive installation: we just need a space in our home to be able to locate the solar panels.
• Clean and free energy: only the heat of the sun is needed to activate the operation of the solar air conditioner.
• Lower network demand: Having solar panels that generate electricity for us reduces electricity demand by up to 70%.
• Reduced electricity costs: the final consumption in our electricity bill will be reduced.

What Type of Homes are Suitable for Solar Cooling?

Depending on the climate we have in our geographical area, we will opt for one or the other solar cooling system. Since the way they work varies between them, not all of them adapt equally well to certain weather conditions.

When nourished by the sun’s rays, it is normal that it is appropriate for them to be in areas where they affect the most. This is mainly the case of hybrid solar air conditioner. Traditional solar panels need the direct incidence of sunlight to work. Therefore, this option is especially suitable for those geographical areas where there are more sunny days. For example, the area of ​​Andalusia or also the Mediterranean coast.

What Types of Solar Air Conditioning are there?

1. Hybrid Solar Air Conditioner

Hybrid solar air conditioning is based on the combination of photovoltaic technology with the electric current that we use in homes. Depending on the weather and the incidence of sunlight on the panels, the system automatically switches from the battery to a direct supply of electricity for consumption and vice versa.

When it’s sunny, solar energy is used to recharge the batteries. When this is put on, recharging would take place thanks to the power supply from the electrical network. In this way, we can save on consumption while the sun’s rays affect. In addition, it is possible to save the energy that has been used, between 90% and 100%. The latter, however, have a much higher price than the rest and are suitable in drier climates.

2. Solar Absorption Air Conditioner

In the case of solar absorption cooling, the sun’s energy is used for the evaporation of a cooling liquid that is responsible for cooling the air. When the water is heated through solar energy, a dynamic low pressure process begins.

This cools the water to a temperature of around 7º. This water circulates through a series of copper tubes, and thus the cold air runs through the house cooling it.

It is called solar cold. Said liquid carries out a process that consists of four parts. The first one is expansion. The high pressure liquid is cooled, thus reducing its pressure and temperature, so that it can continue with the next step; the evaporation. During this, the liquid evaporates and transfers the cold to the house to be heated, through a fan.

In this phase the liquid has already passed into a gaseous state. Compression will then take place, in which the gas returns to a liquid state when compressed, with a very high pressure. Finally, we come to condensation, in which high-pressure steam circulates through the condenser. The heat is expelled to the outside and the refrigerant returns to its liquid state.

3. Solar Desiccant Air Conditioner

There is a third option in solar cooling which is not well known. In these, the cooling materials are desiccant. For example, silica gel is used, although it also works with liquids. The air is cooled by the evaporation of water and have built-in heat exchangers. Although they can be used in any climate, they are not seen very often, and their price is quite high.