ABSTRACT
Theoretical, evaluations of ammonia - water heat pump systems for various applications and the construction and experimental evaluation of absorption heat pump for cooling is presented. The theoretical evaluations include; (i) theoretical evaluation of the various tracking modes as a means of solar energy augmentation for solar flat plate collectors, (ii) the evaluation of performance of solar fiat plate collectors as a energy source for absorption heat pump systems , (iii) application of Chebyshev polynomials for the evaluation of thermodynamic property data equations for ammonia-water mixtures for absorption heat pump systems and (iv) thermodynamic analysis of ammonia-water absorption heat pump systems operating in the following modes; (a) conventional (heating and cooling) (b) reversed and (c) experimental. A 5 kWatt experimental solar-powered absorption heat pump system was constructed using locally available materials and skills. The simulated performance results and experimental performance data for the absorption heat pump system for cooling showed great potential for solar cooling in Nigeria.