CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

A refrigerator (colloquially fridge) consists of a thermally insulated compartment

and a heat pump (mechanical, electronic or chemical) that transfers heat from the
inside of the fridge to its external environment so that the inside of the fridge is
cooled to a temperature below the room temperature.

Refrigerators powered by gas or kerosene have long been considered the best
option for storing vaccines in areas with unreliable electricity. Even so, drawbacks
with these devices have made keeping vaccines at temperatures within the safe
range of +2°C to +8°C both difficult and expensive. Battery-powered solar
refrigerators have addressed some of the drawbacks, but the batteries they rely on
are expensive and typically have a lifetime of just three to five years

Brief History

The history of artificial refrigeration began when Scottish professor William

Cullen designed a small refrigerating machine in 1755. Cullen used a pump to
create a partial vacuum over a container of diethyl ether, which then boiled,
absorbing heat from the surrounding air.[3] The experiment even created a small
amount of ice, but had no practical application at that time. In 1805, American
inventor Oliver Evans described a closed vapor-compression refrigeration cycle for
the production of ice by ether under vacuum. In 1820, the British scientist Michael
Faraday liquefied ammonia and other gases by using high pressures and low
temperatures, and in 1834, an American expatriate in Great Britain, Jacob Perkins,
built the first working vapor-compression refrigeration system. It was a closed-
cycle device that could operate continuously.[4] A similar attempt was made in
1842, by American physician, John Gorrie,[5] who built a working prototype, but it
was a commercial failure. American engineer Alexander Twining took out a
British patent in 1850 for a vapor compression system that used ether.
Problem Statement

Nigeria, like every other country located in the tropics, is constantly faced with
high temperature regimes. This coupled with the remote location of most villages,
makes electricity supply either nonexistent or very inconsistent. In addition Nigeria
is faced with inconsistent power supply due to inadequate power infrastructure and
poor management. Unfortunately this problem is bound to increase due to the
growing population.

More so with the increasing global warming accelerated by practices such as

pollution, deforestation, water contamination which unfortunately are very
dominant in the tropics, there is a critical need not only for people to have access to
cold water and soft drinks in the scorching tropic temperature but to preserve their
food stuff as well. Local attempts to combat this problem from the use of ice block
have marginally solved the problem.

Proposed Solution

Hence the apparent need to find an effective solution to our cooling challenges.
This problem can be solved effectively using the solar powered refrigerator. There
are several important reasons for considering solar energy as an energy resource to
meet the needs of developing countries.

First, most the countries called developing are in or adjacent to the tropics and
have good solar radiation available. Secondly, energy is a critical need of these
countries but they do not have widely distributed readily available supplies of
conventional energy resources. Thirdly, most of the developing countries are
characterized by arid with adequate sunshine climates, dispersed and inaccessible
populations and a lack of investment capital and are thus faced with practically
insuperable obstacles to the provision of energy by conventional means, for
example, by electrification. In contrast to this solar energy is readily available and
is already distributed to the potential users. Fourthly, because of the diffuse nature
of solar energy the developments all over the world have been in smaller units
which fit well into the pattern of rural economics.
Aim/objective of the Project

Aim

Performance evaluation of a solar powered refrigerating system

Objectives

To assemble a solar powered refrigerating system

To determine the COP of the refrigerator using solar energy generator and PHCN

Significance of the project

The significance is borne on the fact that electricity in a developing country like
Nigeria is inconsistent hence the solar energy is a viable substitute for electrical
energy

It will increase access to the use of refrigerator in rural areas where electricity is
practically absent. This can improve preservation method for these rural settlers.

Solar refrigerator is relatively cost effective hence readily affordable to most rural
dwellers this could be of significant benefit for Nigerians. More so refrigerators
can also facilitate commercial activities in the rural areas which in turn will trigger
economic growth in these areas.

Hospitals in the same vein can preserve sensitive drugs, blood tissues and the
mortuaries which will require a cheap source of electrical power to run their
refrigeration systems.
CHAPTER TWO

Literature Review

Working Principle

The solar refrigerator is the refrigeration system that runs on the solar energy. The
solar refrigerator comprises of all the traditional components like the compressor,
condenser, expansion valve and the evaporator or the freezer. The power is
supplied not by the domestic electrical supply system, but from the solar panel.
The solar system of the solar refrigerator comprises of the solar panel that collects
the solar energy. The solar panels are fitted with photovoltaic cells that convert the
solar energy into electrical energy and store it in the battery. During the normal
running of the solar refrigerator the power is supplied directly by the solar panel,
but when the output power of solar panels is less, the additional power is supplied
by the battery. The battery is recharged when excess amount of power is produced
by the solar panels
Technical Considerations in Design

Flowrate of the Coolant in the System

The flowrate of the coolant will affect corrosion properties and how well it lasts
which ultimately affect the cost of the material that will be considered.
 Thermodynamic System of Coolant ( Feron 22)

Feron 22 refrigerant is one of the most commonly used refrigerants in the air
conditioning systems. R22 is the short name for the halocarbon compound CHClF2
(monochlorodifluoromethane), which is used as the refrigerant. R stands for the
refrigerant. In the number “22" second “2" denotes the number of the fluorine
atoms in the compound. The boiling point of R22 is -40.8 degree Celsius (-41.4
degree F). Due to its low boiling point this refrigerant was initial developed for the
low temperature applications like domestic and farm freezers and in industrial
refrigeration applications. Even at present R22 is extensively used in the industries
for liquefaction of the gases like chlorine, for supplying chilled water to various
processes, machines, chillers of central air conditioning systems, etc.
COMPRESSOR POWER

The strength of power is also been considered. In our design consideration we put a
balance between cost, maximum power the compressor can supplied and the
temperature range that is suitable for the device.
CHAPTER THREE

Proposed Methodology

Expected Materials to be used

Galvanized steel sheet, Foam polyurethane, Copper pipe, Compressor, Dryers,

Capillary tubes, Solar panels, Inverters, Feron 22, Charge controller, Evaporator,
Condensers

The galvanized steel sheet will be measure and mark with a scriber. The required
rectangular shape will be obtained by the use of pressing machine to cut and shape
the required dimensions. The smaller rectangular box which will be made of plastic
cabinet will be firmly secured with a lagging material made of foam securely
packed and glue to place to discourage heat absorption from the surrounding
environment.

The fridge box will be comprises of two parts, the door and the container. Fridge
accessories such as evaporator, condenser, compressor and the pipes, inverter
chamber and inverters electrical installations will be fixed in accordance with the
proposed design.

The solar panel which will trap the solar energy will be connected in a way to suit
the design. The fridge will be trouble-shoot to check for leakage and other
malfunctional parts should they arise.

Galvanized Steel is to been use because of its resistant to corrosion since it always
in contact with water and the coolant.

Foam (Polyurethane) is to be used as a lagging material because it is a non-

conductor of heat

Copper Wire copper is a good conductor of heat to facilitate heat exchange

between the material to be cool and the coolant. In addition the copper wire was
chosen because it can with stand pressure.
Compressor The compressor will be made of copper alloy which will be able to
withstand the high pressure that the compression of the vapour to liquid will
undergo. In addition copper alloy is a good conductor of heat hence it will conduct
heat away from the coolant when it is converted to liquid. In addition the copper
alloy steel material will resist the corrosion of the coolant

Evaporator The evaporator will be made of copper alloy material which will be
under low pressure condition. The reason for this is to encourage the formation of
vapour phase of the coolant. In addition the copper alloy material will resist the
corrosion of the coolant.

Condenser The condenser will be made of copper alloy which will subjected to
high pressure conditions hence the copper alloy must be thick. More so the steel
material will conduct excess heat away from the fluid as the vapour turns to liquid.
In addition the steel material will resist the corrosion of the coolant.

Dryers contain drying agents that will remove water from the coolant hence
reducing corrosion of the system. Typically it will be made of copper alloy which
will facilitate heat exchange with the coolant during drying.

Capillary Tubes which is made of copper will aid the regulation of pressure build
up hence it must be very strong to resist high pressure conditions.

Solar Panel consists of the assembly of solar cells and cotex connecting wires .It
made function is to capture solar energy which will be converted to electricity
energy.

Inverter/Battery The inverter converts direct current from the solar panel to
alternating current which can be used by the refrigerator when not in use, the
battery stores the current that is supply.
Fig1 Refrigerator showing door Fig 2 Refrigerator showing circulation
system

Fig 3 Fig 2
Refrigerator
showing interior system

Fig 4 the image of propose solar accessory

Expected Result

After fabrication the solar system will be able to replace the convectional electrical
fridge that uses electricity as its source of power which is highly inconsistent in
Nigeria and to guarantee a long term refrigerating effect due to constant solar
power supply which is readily available in Nigeria, More so, to produce a cheaper
finished refrigerator that is cost friendly

Materials used Qty Cost (Naira)

Cabinet/Lagging Material 1 5000

Compressor (1 hp) 1 2500

Evaporator 1 1200

Condenser (single coil) 1 900

Copper pipes (2m) 1 300

Dryer 1 150

Capillary tube 1 500

Relay and Overload 1 700

Wires and Cables 1 500

Solar Panel 1 30,000

Inventers/Battery (1.5 KVA) 1 60,000

Charger Controller 1 10,000

Bolts, Hinges , Screws, Nuts Keys 10 1,000

Total Cost 112,750

Expected Conclusion

Solar refrigerator is a cost effective alternative to the convectional electric powered

refrigerator.

References
 Huang, B.J., J.M. Chang, C.P. Wang and V.A. Petrenko,1999, A 1-D
analysis of ejector performance, Int. J. Refrigeration.
 Huang,B.J., Chang.J .M, 1999, Empirical correlation of ejector design, Int. J.
Refrigeration .
 Nakagawa. M , Marasigan. A.R, Matsukawa.T and Kurashina. A, 2011,
Experimental investigation on the effect of mixing length on the
performance of two-phase ejector for CO2 refrigeration cycle with and
without heat exchanger, Int. Journal of Refrigeration.
 Seouk Park, I.L, 2009, Enhancement of entraining performance on thermal
vapor compressor for multi-effect desalination plants by swirl effects of
motive steam.
 Ouzzane, M. and Z. Aidoun, 2003, Model development and numerical
procedure for detailed ejector analysis and design, App. Thermal
Engineering. Solar Refrigeration : Current Status and Future Trends
 Selvaraju. A and Mani.A, 2004, Analysis of a vapor ejector refrigeration
system with environment friendly refrigerants, Int. Journal of Thermal
Sciences 43, 915– 921.

 He , S . Li ,Y . Wang, R.Z, 2009, Progress of mathematical modeling of

ejector, Renewable and sustainable energy reviews.

 Khalil .A, Fatouh .M , Elgendy. E, 2011 , Ejector design and theoretical

study of R134a ejector refrigeration cycle, Int. J. Refrigeration, 34, 1684-
1698.

 Scott. D, Aidoun.Z, Bellache. O, and Ouzzane. M ,2009, CFD simulations

of a supersonic ejector for use in refrigeration applications, in Proceedings
of the International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference at
Purdue.