Study and evaluation of two innovative waste-heat driven refrigeration systems for fishing vessels applications

In the present paper, a simulation tool in TRNSYS environment is presented, aimed at assessing the feasibility of two sorption chillers, namely an adsorption activated carbon/ethanol chiller and an absorption ammonia/water chiller, for the air conditioning of a fish storage cell on board of fishing vessels. A case study, typical of Italian fishing fleet has been analysed and the results reported in terms of fuel savings and avoided emissions. With both technology, savings of more than 1000 kg of fuel per year have been calculated, avoiding the emission of more than 3 tons of CO2. Energy analysis has proved that only a minimal fraction of exhaust gases is needed to run the systems and therefore freat potentiality for further exploitation exists.