A modified cooling system based on in-series thermal/mechanical compression effects and driven by CPV/T to utilize compressed and hot air.

In this work, a new solar cooling system that is powered by a concentrated photovoltaic thermal module is presented. Given the intermittent nature of solar energy, the essence of this system lies in its capability to offer continuous cooling. Furthermore, the proposed cooling system is versatile in operation, with three alternative modes available depending on the user's demands. Two operating scenarios of the system are presented. In the first scenario, thermal energy is utilized for cooling during the daytime, while electric energy is stored as compressed air for nighttime use. In the second scenario, both thermal and electric energies are employed for cooling during periods of high demand. The system is studied under different evaporator temperatures, various ambient temperatures, and different solar intensities. The results show that at an evaporation temperature of 4 °C, the system can provide continuous cooling, generating up to 10.24 kW of cooling power during the daytime and up to 7.66 kW during the nighttime, with an overall coefficient of performance of 0.612. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]