India takes a quantum leap in solar thermal cooling system

India will soon enjoy a cooling technology to meet the demand for air-conditioning in a highly efficient and cost effective use of direct solar energy.

It has successfully been commissioned at the Solar Energy Centre in Gurgaon, Haryana.

The system has been developed by the Solar Energy Centre in collaboration with Thermax Limited, a provider of engineering solutions to the energy and environment sectors. 

The new 100 KW system works at 30% higher efficiency than the current available systems and is based on the new triple effect absorption cooling technology. It has indigenously built medium-temperature high-efficiency parabolic troughs for collection of solar energy.

A 288 square meter solar collector area, which generates nearly  60 kW of 210 °C pressurized hot water, has been installed to cater to the air-conditioning needs of thirteen rooms of energy center located in Gurgaon. The heat produced is, thus, used in the Vapour Absorption Machine to generate seven degree Celsius water, which in turn circulates through the fan coil unit installed in the thirteen rooms.