Abstracts Physics

Solar space cooling in California: an evaluation of technical, economic, and environmental aspects of solar space cooling technologies in multiple California climate zones

by Kenneth L Osia

There are a variety of air conditioning technologies on the market that can be adapted to be powered with solar energy generated onsite. It is currently unclear whether systems utilizing these technologies for space cooling will be cost effective on the residential scale. It is also unclear where these technologies will be most effective or cost competitive, since the performance of solar cooling technologies is highly dependent on ambient weather conditions. In this analysis computer-modeling techniques are used to compare the technical and economic performance of a variety of solar cooling systems in order to determine which are most competitive under a set of different weather conditions. The performance of absorption, adsorption, evaporative, desiccant, and photovoltaic powered vapor-compression systems are simulated using weather data corresponding to six California climate zones. This is done using existing baseline weather data and weather data modified to reflect global warming projections for northern and southern California. Rebates and tax credits available through government incentive programs are then applied to determine which systems are financially competitive with traditional heating and cooling systems. When incentives and warming due to climate change are accounted for, the photovoltaic powered vapor-compression system achieves the best simple payback of 12 years. While solar thermal systems including the absorption, adsorption and evaporative cooler/solar hot water heater can produce significant energy saving in all climate zones, high capital costs and an absence of applicable incentives contribute to long payback periods. State-of-the???art desiccant cooling technologies have the potential to become financially competitive, but this will require adoption of financial incentives to support these technologies. Advisors/Committee Members: Jacobson, Arne.