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[j845125]

I've read about an absorption air conditioner that uses heat to power air conditioners. I'd love to cool my house with coal/wood. Can anyone with more knowledge than me tell me about it?? Ever heard of it??

[RSI]

They usually use liquid ammonia. It is very dangerous and can't use and copper or brass fittings with it. At least one company makes a used oil burner air conditioner. I am not sure if they use the ammonia method though. There is also a special type salt they use instead of it and supposedly you can store you "cold" for a long time in the salt. I saw a solar setup that used this method. I am not sure how hard it would be to build.

[oldchenowth]

I think the old RV refridgerators used amonia.  Deadly Dangerous, and massive expensive.  But if anyone gets info I would be interested.  I'd love to try and explain that to the neighbors in August.  "I gotta go fix the fire to make sure it stays cold in here"  They already think I'm a dumbass.

[RSI]

http://www.climatewell.com/index.html#/innovation/how-it-works

[Bull]

LOL @ Oldchenowth

[RSI]

Simple salt and water system

A simple absorption refrigeration system common in large commercial plants uses a solution of lithium bromide salt and water. Water under low pressure is evaporated from the coils that are being chilled. The water is absorbed by a lithium bromide/water solution. The water is driven off the lithium bromide solution using heat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator#Simple_salt_and_water_system

[martyinmi]

Do you know of anyone who might make a kit for us do-it-yourselfers to install? It sure would be nice to break free from those $250/mo. Consumers Energy bills in the summer.

[RSI]

No, none that I am aware of. A couple years ago I was researching it quite a bit and getting ready to try building one till I figured out how dangerous the ammonia is. I just came across the salt type a few months ago but they look like they are probably pretty pricey. I have not had time to figure out if it is possible to easily build one from scratch.

[Bull]

Someone on here said something about running a new line of pex to there heat exchanger and let the ground cool the water. Has anyone tried that?

[dirtryder]

Not using your OWB to cool your house, but I found this a while ago. Very interesting read:

http://mb-soft.com/solar/saving.html

[Bull]

Nice article Dirtryder

[bruey]

will be trying the underground lines with a secondary pump using the same heat exchanger in my furnace this summer. talked to a guy from dublin ohio who did the same thing about 4 years ago and he said he has been cooling his house this way.

[RSI]

will be trying the underground lines with a secondary pump using the same heat exchanger in my furnace this summer. talked to a guy from dublin ohio who did the same thing about 4 years ago and he said he has been cooling his house this way.

Just curious how you are planing on doing it. Will it be a single loop or have multiple branches? How many feet of pipe, pipe diameter and what total distance?

[yoderheating]

 Wouldn't this cause it to sweet a lot? I've always heard you would need a A coil to do it right.

[RSI]

Isn't the only reason for an A coil to get more surface area? I am pretty sure they just use flat heat exchangers in a lot of smaller cooling units. A window AC just has a flat one but it is vertical. I would think the water would just fall onto the A coil and run out the same way as normal. If you have the coil in the return line then there will be a water problem.