Simulation of a solid sorption ice-maker based on the novel composite sorbent “lithium chloride in silica gel pores”

In this paper, a novel composite sorbent “lithium chloride in silica gel pores” is proposed for application in solar-powered adsorptive ice makers. A mathematical model was used in order to calculate the performance of an ice-maker using this material as adsorbent and methanol as adsorbate. The results of the model showed that a maximum solar coefficient of performance (COPs) of 0.33 and a maximum daily ice production (DIP) of 20 kg m−2 can be obtained for an ice-maker equipped with a solar collector area of 1.5 m2 and 36 kg of adsorbent material. Such performance are noticeably higher than those obtained using commercial activated carbon, that is the adsorbent mostly proposed till now.