Potential for Integration of a Renewable Combined Heating and Cooling System in Food Industries Requiring Simultaneous Heat and Cold
Abstract
Night radiative cooling can be combined with solar thermal collection in one single device to produce heat during the day and cold during the night. This device is called RCE (Radiant Collector and Emitter) and could be integrated in processes requiring simultaneous heating and cooling demands, such as the food industry, to save non-renewable primary energy and operating costs. In this paper the temperature levels and amounts of heat and cold of seven food industries are analyzed and compared with the combined heat and cold production of the RCE for three different climates in Spain to assess its potential of integration. Two different sizing of the RCE field are presented, one tracking the heat demand, and the other tracking the cold demand. Results show the natural gas and electricity energy and cost savings associated to the partial replacement of the natural gas boiler (for heating loads) and the electrically-driven chiller (for cooling loads) by the RCE. Keywords: renewable heating and cooling, food industry, radiative cooling, solar thermal collection, simultaneous heating and cooling.