An Innovative Solar-Powered Cooling Device, Based on Climate-Friendly Refrigerant and Thermal Energy Storage (COOLSPACES 4 LIFE)

In this project we aim to develop a prototype of refrigeration device with low Global Warming Potential (low-GWP), running with photovoltaic solar energy and a system of thermal energy storage at low temperatures. The group in the UAL-CIESOL is responsible for the design and test of the storage system in the laboratory scale, including the selection of a phase change material for this purpose. In a latter stage,this storage system will be up-scaled to the prototype of refrigeration device to be designed and built by the group from the WUST and PROZON, and the new system will be implemented in CIESOL, including two tanks of PCM for thermal storage of ca. 4000 liters. In the final stage of the project, starting in summer 2024, the system is expected to be ready for testing its performance and optimization. The results will be compared with a similar system implemented in Poland, in a very different climatic environment.