Technical Feasibility

To build-in a check list, the first topic is naturally the building,
which is the target of the solar cooling system and its technical features. Please select an answer in the list for each question. If you do not know, let the answer empty.

Building

Climate of the location Choose answer ... Mediterranean climate Continental climate Oceanic climate Desertic climate Tropical climate Mountainous climate Climate of the location
This indication indirectly gives the energy production potential of the system. It also gives an indication on the correlation between the heating and cooling charge and the solar energy. Select the kind of climate in which is located the building. Area for solar collectors (R = building surface/available solar surface) Choose answer ... R < 2.5 2.5 < R < 3.5 R>3.5 Area for solar collectors
Free space available for the implementation of the solar collector field is important. This could be preferably done on the roof to avoid damages, possible shadows and for aesthetic reasons. The roof has to be adapted to the weight of the package (collectors + supporting structure).
To calculate the ratio for the answer, divide the total building surface to cool by the free surface available on the roof. A good value is usually obtained for a 3-or-less floor building (R<2.5). Space available for the technical premises Choose answer ... Respect conditions Don't know Do not respect conditions Space available for the technical premises
In the case of an absorption or adsorption solar cooling system, a particular space must be available in the building and not far from the premises for the cooling tower.
Electric power and water must be available in the premises.
Conditions on premises area:
For 10kW (300m²) it is required 10m².
For 35kW (1000m²) it is required 15m² and for 100kW (3000m²) it is required 20m². Heating and cooling distribution network adapted Choose answer ... Network adapted: both hot and cold No network Only hot temperature network Heating and cooling distribution network adapted
Adapted space for the distribution network in the building. This means air ducts for solar DEC systems and hot/chilled water insulated piping for ab/adsorption.
For example, if the existing building only has hot water heating piping, the adaptation for chilled water distribution can be very expensive. Existing or planned adapted conventional heating/cooling material Choose answer ... Existing or Planned (out of the solar project) Planned (included in the solar project) Not existing and not planned Existing but not adapted Existing or planned adapted conventional heating/cooling material
Existing heating and cooling production devices. This element can be very important because the solar system will have to be integrated in the entire system.
If possible, the control process for the solar system is mastering the conventional existing or future back up system, too.
The back up has to be for heating (boiler 70°C-95°C) or for cooling (heat pumps). Bio-climatic cooling solutions planned or installed. Choose answer ... Yes No Don't know Bio-climatic cooling solutions planned or installed.
Before to instal an air-conditionning solution, even a solar one, it is important to search for natural ways of reducing the thermal load.
Such actions can be: Protections from the sun and shades systems, over-ventilation at night, use of vegetation... Are you planning to call for an installer
and a engineering office with good solar cooling experience? Choose answer ... Yes No Don't know Are you planning to call for an installer and a engineering office with good solar cooling experience?
Since solar cooling industry is still emerging and in development, the experience of both installer and designer is very important to insure the installation will works properly.
We can consider an installer and a designer to have a good experience if they both installed / designed at least one solar cooling system in the last few years.

Load

Correlation between daily production and thermal load Choose answer ... The load is completely related with sun Part of the load is related with sun The load is not related with sun Correlation between daily production and thermal load
To be efficient, the solar cooling system has to work when chilled water is needed. This condition impose cooling between 10 am and 6 pm. The charge is the heat in the building which has to be taken out supplying chilled water. Correlation between yearly production and thermal load Choose answer ... No closing period Few closing periods Long closing periods Correlation between yearly production and thermal load
To be interesting, a solar cooling system has to work as long as possible in the summer period therefore the cooling season has to be as long as possible in the building.

For instance, a building with a non negligible holiday closing period in summer is not favourable for a solar system, even if when it is open, the cooling load is high. Energy needs (cooling, hot water and heating) all year long Choose answer ... All year long No needs in inter-seasons No needs in winter Energy needs (cooling, hot water and heating) all year long
The solar cooling system has to be reversible (unless a cooling load is present all year long which is rare) and, in this configuration, the solar energy is directly used for the heating process.
The cooling and heating loads should be as complementary as possible so that the solar system is used without significant inter-seasonal period.
A very good complementary load to the cooling load can be in the targeted building the presence of a constant and important need of hot water in winter, autumn and spring. If airconditioning is planned : is the solar system assisted with a back up? Choose answer ... Back up existing/planned Don't know yet No back up If airconditioning is planned : is the solar system assisted with a back up?
If strict comfort conditions must be offered in the building, the solar cooling system can not be the only operating cooling system. In the majority of the buildings, even if the temperature target is not strictly fixed, occupants can not live or work without cooling when the weather is cloudy but hot and wet (stormy weather).
That is why, in most cases, the solar system is completed with a back up solution.