Cover
Vol. 25 No. 2 (2025)

Published: December 31, 2025

Pages: 38-49

Original Article

Simulation Absorption Refrigeration System Powered by a Solar Pond

Atyab Safaa Saleem 1 Salman Hashem Hammadi 1
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
History
  • Received: July 4, 2025
  • Revised: July 21, 2025
  • Accepted: August 16, 2025
  • Available Online: December 31, 2025
DOI

https://doi.org/10.33971/bjes.25.2.5

Abstract

The thermal performance of an absorption refrigeration system powered by solar pond heat was studied, simulated, and evaluated under the climatic conditions of Basra, Iraq. The simulation used MATLAB to solve the heat and mass transfer equations within the three layers of the solar pond (assuming NaCl as the salinity gradient medium) and linked them via a heat exchanger to the absorption refrigeration system to determine the temperatures supplied to the absorption cycle. The absorption cooling system operates on a lithium bromide-water pair and contains an internal heat exchanger between the generator and absorber with an assumed efficiency of 80%. The simulation was conducted over several months of the year, from March to October, and daily climatic variables such as solar radiation and ambient temperature specific to Basra were considered, allowing the system's performance to be evaluated under realistic climatic conditions. The objective was to evaluate the coefficient of performance (COP) of absorption refrigeration systems and demonstrate the feasibility of using solar ponds as a sustainable heat source for cooling in hot regions. The study demonstrated the feasibility of operating an absorption refrigeration system using the thermal energy stored in the lower layer of the solar pond, while maintaining good thermal stability in that layer throughout the day, especially in areas with high solar radiation, such as Basra. The simulation model was developed entirely in MATLAB using fundamental physical equations that describe each component of the solar pond and absorption refrigeration system, without relying on pre-existing components or tables. This provides greater modeling flexibility and a deeper understanding of system behavior under hot climate conditions.

Keywords

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