Design, simulation and performance of a waste heat driven adsorption ice maker for fishing boat

An activated carbon–methanol adsorption refrigeration system is tested, in which the performances of a granular bed and a solidified bed are compared. Results are presented and the effects of heat and mass transfer are analyzed. It is proved that the coefficient of performance of refrigeration (COP) is increased by 60% if heat and mass recovery is used for a two-granular-bed system. It is also shown that the heat transfer in a solidified bed is much better than that in a granular bed, but the mass transfer in a solidified bed is critical. Two new adsorbers are designed after analyzing the influence of mass transfer on the performance of the solidified bed, and the arrangement of mass transfer channels is fully taken into account. The simulation of this new designed ice maker shows that the optimal cycle time is about 35 min, and the corresponding specific cooling power (SCP) is SCP=35 W/kg at −10 °C evaporating temperature. The new designed system (two adsorbers, each containing 60 kg activated carbon) is set up and tested; its evaporating temperature is as low as about −15 °C, and its optimal ice production is about 20 kg/h.