Assessment of a Solar Powered Refrigerator Equipped with Thermal Storage for a Dairy Application

Publication Type

Contribution to conference

Authors

Coca-Ortegon, A; Torres-Toledo, V; Müller, J; Coronas, A

Year of publication

2017

Published in

Conference Proceedings

Editor

International Solar Energy Society Selection

DOI

10.18086/swc.2017.28.02 A

Page (from - to)

1-12

Conference name

ISES Solar World Congress 2017 - IEA SHC International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry

Conference location

Abudabi, U.A.E.

Conference date

30 October - 2 November 2017

Keywords

Compression refrigeration, Dairy sector, Phase change materials, Solar PV collectors, Thermal energy storage

Typical agro-food value chains use electric refrigeration systems. However, in many non-industrialized  countries, the cold chain is often not guaranteed due to lack of electricity access or unreliable electricity grids. In such cases, refrigeration systems must be equipped with electrical backups or other form of energy storage. This study analyses the use of a commercial available vapour-compression horizontal refrigerator for small-scale cheese processing system. The studied refrigerator of 350 litres capacity is powered by photovoltaic panels, which provide electricity to a DC compressor. Encapsulated phase change materials were incorporated to the system as energy storage option, for a reliable operation at temperature at 11°C. This operating temperature is suitable for the analysed product, but it is also suitable for other agro-food applications, such as the preservation of fruits and vegetables. In particular, this study evaluates the incidence of the incorporation of Phase Change Materials on the stratification temperature inside the refrigerator, the raise temperature time of the refrigerated product, the number of on-off cycles of the compressor, the COP of the system, and the sizing of the conventional storage system with electrical batteries.