An adsorptive solar ice-maker dynamic simulation for north Mediterranean climate

This paper presents a model for dynamic simulation of an adsorptive ice-maker. The model describes the different phases of the thermodynamic cycle of the ice-maker components: solar collector, adsorbent bed, condenser and cold chamber (evaporator and water to be frozen). The adsorbent/adsorbate working pair is active carbon/methanol. The simulations were performed for a whole year using measured climatic data of Messina (38° 12' N). The detailed results of a week of June and December 2005 are shown, as representative of typical summer and winter conditions. These simulations showed that the ice-maker is able to freeze 5 kg of water during all days of June, and, if the weather conditions are not too unfavourable, also during December. Further simulations, carried out for the whole year 2005, demonstrated that during the most part of the year (from April to October) a daily ice production (DIP) of 5 kg can be obtained, and an equivalent daily ice production (DIPeq) near to 5.5 kg can be reached. During the months of February and March the average monthly DIP is about 4 kg. Finally, for the coldest months (January, November and December) the DIP was 2.0-3.5 kg. The average monthly solar coefficient of performance (COPs) varies from a minimum of about 0.045 (July) to a maximum of 0.11 (January), with an annual mean of 0.07.