Storing surplus solar energy in low temperature thermal storage for refrigeration applications

• An innovative solar energy storage concept for providing refrigeration is proposed.
• A possible form of load management for photovoltaic energy.
• Phase change materials are used as low-temperature thermal energy storage.
• Parameter study to evaluate the energetic efficiency of the new storage concept.
• Economic evaluation compares the presented storage concept with battery storage.

In this paper a thermodynamic analysis of a concept approach based on a possible form of load management for photovoltaic energy is presented. By using the surplus electricity for driving a compression chiller it is possible to load a low temperature thermal storage. This cold storage can be used to cover the cooling demand of domestic refrigerator and freezers. A parameter study was performed to evaluate the energetic efficiency for this system in a single family home. A short economic evaluation compares the concept to a system without storage and to a system with battery storage.