This paper is concerned with the use of solar energy to operate absorption water chillers. Solar energy has generally been collected in the fonn of heat and since absorption units are heat operated, their use with solar energy would appear to be fortuitous. The majority of the proposals for solar heating and cooling of buildings specify flat plate collectors. The projected fluid temperatures available cover a range from approximately 180F to 240F with many at 200F or lower. Along with these relatively low temperatures, a desire for an air-cooled unit has been expressed. Many absorbent-refrigerant combinations have been proposed but have failed to survive, usually because they failed some major requirement. Dr. Ralph Buffington, in a paper frequently quoted, enumerated a number of requirements.

In view of these requirements it is not surprising that only two combinations have attained commercial success.

In this study, only these two absorbent-refrigerant combinations, the aqua ammonia and the lithium bromide-water combinations, will be considered.