Investigating the performance of a PV-driven VRF system using cold thermal storage in Mediterranean climate

The demand for cooling has surged due to rising global temperatures, prompting interest in solar cooling systems categorized as electrically driven and thermally driven. Thermally driven systems employ solar thermal collectors and absorption chillers for cooling, constrained to a 20-ton minimum capacity and requiring backup heating or electric cooling without solar energy. Electrically driven systems, powered by photovoltaic panels, suit existing air conditioning and smaller cooling setups. This study examines a photovoltaic solar electrical-driven variable refrigerant flow system paired with cold phase change material thermal storage, targeting nearly zero-energy cooling in a 300m² Adana villa. Using the "Design Builder" program, baseline and optimized energy models were built, adhering to Turkish Thermal Insulation Requirements. Models were compared for year-round cooling energy rates. The challenge of storage led to investigating cost-effective cold thermal storage, countering short-lived costly batteries with reduced initial expenses and load-shifting. The research aims to optimize PV panel area and electrical/thermal storage using the "Hooke and Jeeves" technique.