Experimental study on an adsorption icemaker driven by parabolic trough solar collector

An adsorption icemaker with energy storage system is proposed for the utilization of medium temperature solar energy. In this system, the solar energy collected by parabolic trough collector (PTC) was used to provide the heat source for the adsorption icemaker. The performance of the icemaker is tested and the experimental results showed that the highest COP reached 0.15 while the COPsr could be 0.08 and the ice making capacity was 50 kg per day with 20 m2 PTC and 30 kg compound adsorbent (calcium chloride + activated carbon) when the desorption temperature, condensing temperature and the direct normal solar radiation were 105 °C, 30 °C and 3 kWh/day·m2, respectively.

► We designed and built an adsorption ice making system driven by Parabolic trough collector.
► The performance of the icemaker is tested by solar energy and electrical heating simulation.
► The highest COP can reach 0.15 while the COPsr is 0.08.
► One adsorption cycle can produce 50 kg ice per day with 20 m2 PTC in summer.
► The system wins the advantages of simple operation, low cost and stable performance.