Solar Cooling — A Proven New Technology Christian Holter

S. O.L. I.D Gmbh
PuchstraBe 85, A-8020 Graz

Tel.: ++43/316/292840, Fax ++43/316/292840-28, www. solid. at
c. holter@solid. at

S. O.L. I.D. has more than 10 years experience in the construction and financing (using contracting models) of solar thermal plants from 25m2 to 7000m2. Since 2003, a number of solar cooling projects have also been carried out. Currently 13 projects with a total cooling power of 1,6 MW and collector area of more than 4.000 m2 (2.8 MW) are already operational. For these projects, the solar plant covers most of the cooling demand and in some cases, as conventional back-up systems aren’t always available, the required cooling is 100% supplied by the solar cooling plant.

There are also several more projects with a total cooling power of several MW currently in the detailed planning phase.

Five different cooling machines were used in these projects; three commercial coolers using Lithium Bromide with water and two custom-made coolers using Water-Ammonia absorption technology.

Three different collector types were also used. As well as the standard large area plate collector and a specially developed model of the same, vacuum tube collectors were also applied on an experimental basis to make a direct comparison with the optimised flat plate collectors.

The projects are all commercial plants where functionality is a must (with the exception of the test plant in our own office). By means of service contracts or guarantees, S. O.L. I.D. is able to take over responsibility for the performance of the plants. The systems are remotely monitored and continuously evaluated. The typical contracting model where the plant is financed by the contractor was not possible for these projects as they were mostly in markets where contracting is not yet financially practicable. The daily operation of the various projects has highlighted the importance of accurate designing, optimisation potential of the components, and the need for precise coordination of the complete system.