Design of Solar Photo Voltaic Refrigeration System

Project Title

Design of Solar Photo Voltaic Refrigeration System

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

The prices of energy have been increasing exponentially worldwide. Refrigeration is one of the most energy-consuming sectors in hot and humid countries. The cooling load of a normally available domestic refrigerator is approximately 298 Watts . What if a refrigeration system is designed which uses no energy or minimal amount of energy? The solution lies in the solar photovoltaic (PV )refrigeration system. By producing a solar PV refrigeration system, we are not only cutting down the energy costs but also preserving our environment. This refrigeration system doesn’t use any of the ChlorofloroCarbons so our ozone layer is safe. It receives about 1kW of solar energy for square –meters of its landmass for 7-8 hours on average per day. The number of sunshine hours almost about 3000-3300 per year approximately. The weather is most favorable for the utilization of solar PV energy.  The solar refrigerator is the refrigeration system that runs on solar energy. They don't use a domestic power supply, rather use power produced by the solar panels. The solar refrigerator comprises of all the traditional components like the compressor, condenser, expansion valve and evaporator or the freezer. The power is supplied not by the domestic electrical supply system, but from the solar panel. The solar system of the solar refrigerator comprises a solar panel that collects solar energy.  During the normal running of the solar refrigerator, the power is supplied directly by the solar panel, but when the output power of solar panels is less, the additional power is supplied by the battery. The battery is recharged when an excess amount of power is produced by the solar panels. The invention can improve the refrigerating units, raise the coefficient of performance, reduce the energy cost of refrigerating units,s and has a notably social and economic benefit. Compared with the existing compressor refrigeration system, the system realizes a simplified structure, low energy consumption, and reduction of ‘discharge and environmental pollution by hazardous substances. In developing countries, like Pakistan where people facing the problem of electricity because there are few resources to generate electricity. Mostly the power generated in Pakistan from fossil fuels and there are no renewable energy resources. The energy generation from fossil fuels causes pollution and the main aspect is that it is expensive. To discourage the over usage of electricity in Pakistan reverse tariff rate is charged which has a bad impact on consumers. So to overcome the problem we have to decrease our load by generating electricity by renewable resources like solar PV cells.

Project Objectives

The objectives of this project are:

i. Design and implementation of a DC compressor in a traditional refrigerator.

ii. Design of a PV system to drive the new design system.

iii. To compare and evaluate the performance of the traditional and new systems.

iv. Development of a Solar Photo Voltaic based Refrigerator  

Project Implementation Method

In this project, the first task is to measure the efficiency of the regularly used refrigerator by examining its work throughout the whole day. In the second task, we will replace the ac compressor with a dc compressor which is used in the common refrigerator which will run on the solar photovoltaic system. In the next task, a dc circuit will be designed for a solar photovoltaic system. After that, we will compare the efficiency of the newly installed system with the old system. In the final task, we will evaluate the energy saved using solar PV system.

Benefits of the Project

In developing countries, like Pakistan where people facing the problem of energy crisis  because of the few resources to generate electricity. Most of the power generated in Pakistan from fossil fuels and there are no renewable energy resources. The energy generation from fossil fuels causes pollution and as well as expensive. To discourage the over usage of electricity and to meet the load demand in Pakistan reverse tariff rate is charged which has a bad impact on consumers. So to overcome the problem we have to decrease our load by generating electricity by renewable resources like solar PV cells. Some of the advantages related to my project are given below:

• High efficiency and low energy consumption
• Capacity to work maximum time.
• It works on both solar and battery.
• Rapid Cooling.
• Portable to anywhere in light, no need for electricity.
• Low maintenance cost.
• Totally ChlorofloroCarbon's free.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

 Since the solar refrigerator runs on solar energy there is lots of saving of electrical power that would have been produced by the conventional power plants causing lots of pollution. Solar energy is  freely available, abundantly and is a clean source of energy. One additional advantage is  the excess power produced by the solar refrigerator can be used for other domestic purposes. Solar refrigerators can be very useful for remote places where there is no continuous supply of electricity. 

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry Energy Other Industries Manufacturing Core Technology Clean TechOther Technologies OthersSustainable Development Goals Affordable and Clean EnergyRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	80000
Battery(Dry)	Equipment	1	10000	10000
Evaporator Coil	Equipment	1	3000	3000
Condenser Coil	Equipment	1	2000	2000
DC Compressor	Equipment	1	8000	8000
Capillary Tube	Equipment	1	2000	2000
Refrigerator Body	Equipment	1	45000	45000
Transporation	Miscellaneous	1	6000	6000
Printing & Stationary	Miscellaneous	1	4000	4000