Solar AC Overview
Due to the increase in the rate of population, the demand for resources to fulfil their needs has also increased. The scientist comes up with the idea to use sunlight for producing electricity. This idea gained popularity, and people started to install solar panels in their houses.
The manufacturer keeps on using this idea of solar energy product, and lately, solar ac have been introduced into the market.
Solar air conditions are use sunlight in order to work. The solar AC costly a lot when you first buy them; this can be taken as a drawback. But you get the product there is a big relief from the electricity bills.
Advantages of solar cooling systems
- While consuming sunlight, solar energy is also preserved for later use when there is cloudy weather, and the sun does not come out.
- It is very cost-effective as it can minimize the electricity bill you get every month.
- There is no problem with low voltage availability, and air conditioning is not stopped.
- These cooling systems do not get damaged because of the voltage up and down. Solar panels can provide a constant amount of energy to the air conditioners.
- Solar systems are free from pollution. They do not release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
- Reduce the requirement of fossil fuels and other slow methods of producing electricity.
- Solar air conditioners are more efficient than the other electricity air conditioners.
- Batteries are used to store solar energy for emergency use.
- It can be installed at any place. There is no long connection and approval required for solar panel installations.
Disadvantages of Solar Air conditioners
- The installation and the material of the solar fitting are very expensive at first. However, with the increase in popularity, the rates are getting lower, and soon they will be cost-friendly as well.
- The panels need a lot of free space for installation. The place is chosen carefully, so the panels receive maximum sunlight.
- The product is not 100 % efficient. As time passes, the problems in the system may occur.
- Solar panels produce DC current, and direct DC consuming motors in air conditioners are very expensive.
- There is little energy production in cloudy weather. If the weather stays cloudy for more than 5 to 6 days, it can be a problem for air conditioning systems.
- For energy storage, large batteries are required with may also consume a lot of space.
Working of a solar air conditioner
Solar photovoltaic air conditions convert sun rays into DC current. The only difference between a traditional AC and solar AC is that it is powered by sunlight. The rest of the functionality and the structure of the Air conditioners is the same.
There was another kind of solar air conditioning technology; it uses plates to capture the heat energy. But, lately, this technology has failed the Minimum Energy Performance Standards, also known as MEPS.
Why do solar Air conditioners cost much?
The solar air conditioners are expensive as compared to traditional air conditioners. This is because of the solar panels and the installation process. They also require large batteries for energy storage. As the battery size increase, the price also increases.
What you really need for a solar Air conditioning system?
There are three main factors that contribute to shifting for the traditional cooling system to a Solar cooling system. These are listed below:
Frequent sunlight
Sunlight is the main requirement of this product. If your area gets an excessive amount of sunlight in a day, you can shift to a solar cooling system; otherwise, this technology is not sufficient for you.
Solar PV
There are different types of solar panels available in the market, and their prices differ on the basis of efficiency and durability. If you want to have a low budget solar PV for the connection, you better should not get it because it is just a waste of money.
Consumption
This product is suitable for you if you use air conditioners very frequently. In other terms, we can say that it is good for commercial purposes, in universities, big offices, hospitals, hotels, and restaurants.
Companies making Solar Air Conditioners in Pakistan
In Pakistan, there are many companies that are producing solar AC, but only a few of them are successful in maintaining technology. The air conditioner that has maintained the trust of its customers are:
- Haier
- LG
- Gree
- Orient
- Dawlance
- Inverex
- Kenwood
- Samsung
The variant in solar air conditioner
There are two types of Solar AC on the basis of size. As the size increase, energy consumption and efficiency are also affected. These variants are listed below:
- 1-ton Hybrid Solar AC
- 1.5-ton Hybrid Solar AC
1-ton Hybrid Solar AC
- It needs 6 solar panels to generate power. Each panel can produce 250 Watts of energy. The total output is 1.5 kilo Watts.
- The solar inverter is required to be 2.5 KVA (Kilo Volt Ampere) Off-Grid.
- The battery should come by 4 nos. 150 AH. The battery attachment is optional if you want to store energy for later use or not.
- The motors in the AC use copper wire as is extra efficiency by being the best conductor of electricity.
- R-410A refrigerant gas is used in the AC. It is environment friendly and does not form pollutants that can harm the atmosphere.
- These 1 ton Air conditioners need a power supply of 998 Watts, and the voltage supply must be 230 V. this voltage is to be maintained continuously for proper functioning.
- The BEE rating for 1 ton AC is 5 stars. No product is ideal, but it can provide maximum efficiency.
- The companies usually give 5 years warranty for the air conditioners and 25 years warranty for the solar panels.
- Some companies may also provide you with an opportunity for solar panel cleaning. You can avail it anytime when you think your system needs proper cleaning.
1.5-ton Hybrid Solar AC
- These air conditioners are good for a room that has an area of 120 square feet to 190 square feet.
- It can be an ideal cooling source for medium to a large room with air circulation of 900 msg /h.
- It needs 10 solar panels to fulfil the energy requirement. Each panel can produce 250 Watts of energy independently.
- The total energy production is 2.5 KiloWatts.
- The battery installation is optional, but if you really want to install the battery with your system, it should be 4 Nos. 210 AH.
- BEE rating for these air conditioners depends on the quality of solar panels installed with it. With the best quality solar PVs, it can provide you with maximum efficiency.
- The power supply required by the air conditioner is 1450 Watts. It should have a continuously current supply of 6.54 Amperes and the voltage developed between the terminals is 230 V.
- Solar inverters used with Air conditions are 4 KVA off-Grid.
- The companies usually provide 5 years warranty for the air conditioning systems. Whereas, the solar panels have 25 years warranty.
Note: solar panels need continuous checks and maintenance. Make sure to consult the respective company before washing the solar panels with soapy water. Many companies cancel the warranty on solar panels because of this.
If your solar PVs need proper cleaning, it is recommended to call the experts.