Solar powered air conditioning even sounds strange. Questions likely abound after hearing about this technology so we should begin by describing exactly what this is. Solar air conditioning is really a new technology based on the old swamp coolers with way more advanced tech involved. Years ago people in the warmer southern climes of the United States realized that when you ran water past a fan blown radiator, they could feel the benefits of what is referred to as “evaporative cooling”. This is the same concept that was utilized in the earliest refrigeration procedures. As water evaporates from a surface, the area it once covered will be much cooler than the air temperature surrounding it.
That is the elementary principle of evaporative cooling so time to move toward an explanation on the why and how a solar power air conditioner works and what financial advantages there are. The units use about four gallons of water over a one hour period, dependant on the temperature of the ambient air. The more evaporation the cooler the unit will be. Since the ambient temperature – or really the outside temperature do the majority of the air cooling work in the air conditioning unit. The water used in the procedure also humidifies the air and the result is quite comfortable air.
There are numerous advantages to the unit and there will be a significant impact on air conditioning units and the cooling process of work space and home environments for many years into the future. One of the main benefits is these systems do not need any potentially hazardous chemicals [refrigerants] since the evaporation effect does the job of cooling. The second benefit is due to the water used is a thermal medium pumped through air ducts at the ideal comfort zone with respect to humidity levels, specifically in more arid zones.
The benefit that is largely considered the most impressive about these systems is that due to the cooling processes being completed by evaporation, the total energy needed by the whole unit is ninety percent LESS than what a conventional air conditioner would utilize. A traditional style air conditioner in your house needs about six thousand watts of electricity t work properly while the solar unit runs at peak capacity on only six hundred watts.
To understand this better, consider the common hand blower hair dryer many of us use on our hair. These will use up to eighteen hundred watts in some later models, with numerous fan speeds, the thing about certain solar air conditioning units is they will operate using one third of that energy.
That should cover the questions regarding the evaporation and cooling part of the system so now we will look at the solar aspects of the air conditioner unit. Since the power needs to work these units is so small, they use only four two hundred watt solar panel modules to generate the necessary power the whole system will ever require.
The last component of the solar air unit proves the importance of the solar feature. Al air conditioners generate expended air and though the air expelled from common systems is inevitably hot air, the air expelled from this latest technology is quite cool. Solar panels, which produce the power to drive the units, will produce much more power at lower temperatures, below the one hundred fifty degree mark. On the other hand, anyone who understands these solar panel units already knows that when they are left to collect sun energy on their own in the heat of the day, they will become so much hotter than the one hundred fifty degree mark and their power generation capability will be lowered by approximately fifteen percent.
It is because of this that the professionals suggest using duct work from the exhaust opening of the air conditioner system to redirect the cool expelled air to a plenum system. This is attached across the whole surface and behind the solar panel array that will keep the solar panels that are producing the energy to power the entire unit, much cooler in the sun’s heat. You will enjoy an extra fifteen percent of energy production squeezed out of the solar array.
Therefore, we should take a look back and recap our thoughts. There are no chemical refrigerants, the system is powered by one hundred percent solar energy, you get cool and comfy air at home or at work and your unit becomes more efficient as the temperature becomes warmer, saving you loads of money over the course of a year on air cooling costs.
The systems are wonderful alternatives to the many air conditioning systems of the conventional variety on the market today. The solar air conditioning units – degree by degree and dollar for dollar are a far more efficient and renewable form of air cooling. They are far more favorable to the environment than traditional models, and talk about a conversation piece!
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