Solar-driven double-effect absorption cooling system with latent heat storage under Jordanian climatic conditions

This study investigates the thermal and economic performance of an integrated parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC), latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES), and double-effect absorption chiller (DEAC) system for solar-driven cooling applications. A numerical model was developed to analyze the thermal behavior and system performance under representative operating conditions. The PTSC field was coupled with a MgCl₂/graphite-foam composite phase change material (PCM) storage unit to enhance heat transfer and ensure a stable thermal supply to the absorption chiller. The model was validated against published data using Therminol VP1 as the heat transfer fluid under a solar irradiance of 800 W/m² and a mass flow rate of 2 kg/s, showing good agreement with maximum deviations of 0.491% in outlet temperature and 2.854% in thermal efficiency. System performance was evaluated for inlet temperatures ranging from 115–220 °C to determine the required collector field size and operational feasibility. The results show that 51 PTSC units are required to maintain the absorption chiller’s minimum generator inlet temperature and ensure reliable system operation throughout the year. The integration of PCM storage improves thermal stability during fluctuating solar conditions. In addition, the techno-economic analysis indicates that the proposed configuration can achieve a simple payback period of approximately 8 years, depending on collector cost and electricity price. These findings demonstrate that the proposed PTSC–PCM–DEAC configuration is a promising solution for medium-scale solar cooling applications, such as commercial and institutional buildings, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions with high solar potential, such as Jordan. • A hybrid solar driven double effect LiBr-H 2 O absorption cooling system wrapped with latent heat storage was modeled and validated under Jordanian climatic conditions. • The parabolic trough solar collector sustained the generator temperatures in the range of 115 to 220 °C with an average COP of 1.3 ± 0.1. • The MgCl₂/graphite-foam composite provided 9% of the annual cooling energy, and it guaranteed continuous running under low irradiance. • The system with optimized configuration of ~ 51 PTSCs was able to reach a solar fraction of 91% and peak outlet temperatures of 220 °C. • Techno-economic analysis showed that the payback period of the system is ~8 years which proved the feasibility of the system for medium-scale solar cooling in arid climates.