Thermo-economic Analysis of Solar-Assisted Absorption Systems in Sun-Belt Cities: Saudi Arabia Case Studies

Air conditioning consumes over 55% of electricity in countries like Saudi Arabia. A solar-assisted absorption chiller can significantly reduce energy consumption. The aim of this study is to introduce and evaluate the performance of solar-assisted absorption chiller under different weather conditions in different cities by developing a mathematical model and solving it using the Engineering Equation Solver code. The insights derived from this research hold significant relevance for countries with similar climatic conditions. Weather conditions and collector type have a direct impact on a chiller's Coefficient of Performance (COP). In Najran (South of Saudi Arabia), the use of a Flat Plate Collector yields a COP of approximately 0.6853, while an Evacuated Tube Collector (ETC) achieves a higher COP of 0.7412. Conversely, in Al-Khafji (Northeast of Saudi Arabia), the COP drops, with a FPC to 0.574 and to 0.7108 with an ETC. Economically, the study confirms that the system in Najran, equipped with ETC, outperforms that at any other city studied. With a 50-kW cooling capacity using yearly average Global Tilt (GT) radiation, the system at $984.32/kW boasts a 9.91-year payback period and a $52,742 net present value, 21.7%, 19.6%, and 18.2% lower than relying on minimum monthly average GT radiation, respectively. Despite higher costs, prioritizing monthly average GT radiation proves more effective for cooling demand. Finally, The Najran system, with a net present value (NPV) of $62,641 based on minimum monthly average GT radiation, is economically superior to the vapor compression chiller with NPV of $85,264.