The　composition　and　principle　of　an　air　conditioner　driven　by　a　quasi　grid-connected　photovoltaic　(PV)　system　are　investigated　by　analyzing　the　working　principle　of　quasi　grid-connected　energy-saving　technology.　Various　aspects,　including　the　PV　properties　of　solar　cells,　the　working　principle　of　storage　batteries,　the　working　characteristics　of　direct　current　(DC)　compressors,　and　the　energy　efficiency　and　economy　of　solar-powered　air　conditioners,　are　considered　in　the　analysis.　After　an　experimental　platform　is　set　up,　experimental　tests　are　conducted　using　a　conventional　air　conditioner.　Experimental　results,　as　well　as　the　results　of　the　economic　analysis　based　on　the　experimental　platform,　reveal　that　a　solar-powered　air　conditioner　can　conserve　grid　electricity　by　more　than　67%　and　77%　during　summer　daytime　and　summer　nighttime,　respectively.　The　comprehensive　energy　efficiency　ratio　of　a　solar　powered　air　conditioner　is　4.6　times　higher　than　that　of　a　conventional　air　conditioner.　The　air　conditioner　must　run　for　a　maximum　of　4　h　during　daytime　and　2　h　during　nighttime　to　maximize　its　energy-saving　ability.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.