Abstract

Refrigeration is produced by an intermittent absorption cycle. The cycle is driven by solar radiation, and utilizes NH3 as refrigerant and a liquid, preferably H2 O, as absorbent. Referring to FIG. 1, solar radiation is collected during the daytime or in generation mode by a Compound Parabolic Collector 2, which reflects the light onto a cylindrical target vessel 1 containing the absorption working pair. Ammonia is boiled out of the target, the vapor travels to condenser 5 where it is cooled to liquid, and the liquid is stored in receiver vessel 6. During the nighttime, or absorption mode, liquid is released from the receiver vessel into an evaporator coil 8 located in a cold box 9 wherein it vaporizes, thus removing heat from the contents of the cold box. The vaporized ammonia then is absorbed back into the absorbent, in the target vessel. The target vessel contains U-tube 13 of continuous uphill slope which acts as a thermosyphon, in conjunction with condenser 5, thus efficiently cooling the absorbent during the nighttime mode.