Registrations are now open for the AIRAH Solar Cooling Workshop 2014, which will explore new ideas, technology and innovations in this exciting field.
The one-day workshop will chart various aspects of solar cooling, including case studies, industry applications, policy and industry development, components and mechanisms, and innovations. It will be held at the CSIRO EcoSciences Precinct in Brisbane on March 27, 2014.
“As the interest in solar cooling gains momentum, it’s a crucial time for us to gather and share knowledge, ideas and experience in the field," according to AIRAH COO Neil Cox. “The Solar Cooling Workshop 2014 will do just that, bringing together industry experts to consider where we’re going next with solar cooling.”
Workshop 2014 committee member Dr Stephen White, says the one-day event is being held in response to the recent dramatic increase in interest for solar cooling.
“Solar cooling is a tantalising area of HVAC research that represents pure engineering,” White says.
“It has astonishing potential. After all, as the sun beats down and air conditioners are turned up to the maximum, what could be more logical than solar air conditioning?
“Indeed, solar cooling could be one of the HVAC industry’s answers to reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and electricity infrastructure costs.”
Among the speakers at the workshop will be Professor Paul Cooper of the University of Wollongong.
Cooper has been involved in extensive research covering sustainable buildings, fluid mechanics and energy efficiency. He will present on the design and implementation of a retrofitted residential solar-assisted HVAC system.
Cooper will be joined on the podium by Simon Lovich, M.AIRAH, from Air Engineers. Lovich will call on more than 30 years’ experience in HVAC&R contracting, manufacturing and consultancy in his presentation on an adaptive approach to solar thermal systems.
Professor Ursula Eicker, from the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences, will provide a video presentation on energy and economic performance of solar cooling systems.
Eicker’s research focuses on the development of urban energy concepts, renewable energy supply in urban areas, building automation, and the simulation and development of solar thermal cooling systems.
Jeremy Osborne, Affil.AIRAH, of Solem Consulting, will present on the development of solar collector standards. Osborne has worked on large-scale solar cooling projects, as well being involved in the optimisation of very small packaged systems.
He is heavily involved in the development of national and international standards on solar energy, and is an active participant in IEA SHC Task 48 (Solar Cooling) and Task 43 (Global Certification).
Dr Subbu Sethuvenkatraman of the CSIRO, who has 10 years’ experience working in industrial research and development of thermal/power generation systems, will discuss PV-based solar air conditioning.
For more information about the Solar Cooling Workshop 2014, including the conference program and list of speakers, visit www.airah.org.au/SolarCooling2014