I have about 2kw of solar cells on my roof. My housing situation is stationary, but I can limit my insulated space to an 8' cube. I have some batteries, but I don't want to depend on cycling them them to run my A/C unit.
I'm thinking I'll get a standard 120v deep freezer and use it to chill a solution of salt water or glycol/antifreeze to near-freezing temps. I'll then pump the solution through a radiator & fan and bask in the awesomeness of cold air.
My assumptions are that
1) the electricity required to chill the water, pump it through the radiator, and power the fan, is lower than that necessary to run a conventional AC, and
2) most of the chilling required will be done during daylight hours with electricity that would otherwise be dumped, and
3) it may take a few days from initial setup to chill the solution, but I'll be able to maintain the chilled thermal mass through the evening & regenerate daily because it'll pick up less heat during "use" than refrigeration pups out when the sun is up, providing for the dump load.
What I don't know is how to do the math to determine whether this will be feasible. I've seen ice storage systems, but they seem to focus on cheaper night-time generation and daytime chilling. I'm planning on the opposite - daytime freezing for A/C at night, and doing so with consumer-grade components.
Is someone willing to either assist, or confirm that I am indeed bonkers, kookoo, and operating with a sunburned brain?
I'm thinking I'll get a standard 120v deep freezer and use it to chill a solution of salt water or glycol/antifreeze to near-freezing temps. I'll then pump the solution through a radiator & fan and bask in the awesomeness of cold air.
My assumptions are that
1) the electricity required to chill the water, pump it through the radiator, and power the fan, is lower than that necessary to run a conventional AC, and
2) most of the chilling required will be done during daylight hours with electricity that would otherwise be dumped, and
3) it may take a few days from initial setup to chill the solution, but I'll be able to maintain the chilled thermal mass through the evening & regenerate daily because it'll pick up less heat during "use" than refrigeration pups out when the sun is up, providing for the dump load.
What I don't know is how to do the math to determine whether this will be feasible. I've seen ice storage systems, but they seem to focus on cheaper night-time generation and daytime chilling. I'm planning on the opposite - daytime freezing for A/C at night, and doing so with consumer-grade components.
Is someone willing to either assist, or confirm that I am indeed bonkers, kookoo, and operating with a sunburned brain?
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