A universal method for performance evaluation of solar photovoltaic air-conditioner

Photovoltaic air-conditioner (PVAC) exhibits the advantages of high energy efficiency and convenient building integration, among solar cooling and heating technologies. The objective of this study is to propose a universal and straightforward method for performance evaluation of PVAC. Sixteen scenarios are simulated by TRNSYS to compare the performance of PVAC in different climates and building types defined by the Chinese national standards. Indicators such as solar fraction (SF), self-consumption ratio (SCR), solar COP, and return of investment (ROI) are used for evaluating energy and economic performances. The results demonstrate that the performance of PVAC is significantly affected by climatic conditions and building types, and thus, the feasibility of PVAC can be conveniently estimated based on the data provided by the Chinese national standards. A PVAC exhibits higher SF and SCR in areas subjected to high temperatures during summer and in office buildings, business malls, and hospital buildings, which mainly operate in the daytime. The building types in the order of decreasing ROI are business mall, hospital buildings, hotel, and office buildings. A comprehensive evaluation indicator is proposed to optimize the PV capacity and is useful to evaluate both the energy and economic performances of PVAC.