Solar Powered Refrigeration

Using the sun or other heat source to charge a system that later provides cooling or refrigeration.

Zeolite Adsorption Refrigeration

Cyclic cooling via the evaporation of desiccant water as sustained by its re-adsorption into zeolite.

Ammonia / Water Absorption Refrigeration

Cyclic cooling via the evaporation of distilled ammonia as sustained by its re-absorption into water.

Also:+

• Solar powered Air Conditioning where the sun cools the air.

See also:

• http://solarcooking.org/funnel.htm Use of a solar cooker (funnel shaped rather than the more common parabolic or box versions) not only during the day, to cook, but also during the night to radiate the heat of the vessel into space. Apparently, shielding the vessel from local sources of radiant heat (buildings, trees, etc...) and reflecting its own heat out into space allows for impressive cooling. 20' F difference from the outside air temp. And on a 50' night, it actually formed ice!+
   
• http://www.avxcel.com 6.6 Gallons of frozen or cold storage at 25Watts for $600. Just add solar panels and battery. Sold in the USA by Coleman:
  http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5726-750&categoryid=8595 Developed by:
  http://www.globalcooling.com/ for
  http://www.sunpower.com/index.php?pg=47
   
• http://mtbest.net/chest_fridge.html Using a chest freezer as a refrigerator turns out to be amazingly effecient. The cost of the freezer, replacement thermostate^, and a PV system to power it may be sustainable.

Comments:

• You're so close to the ultimate solution to solar cooling -- in your link to the "Crosley Icyball." Using a solar collector to provide the heat for an ammonia-absorption cooling system doesn't require any electricity at all, and no intermediate conversions -- the heat-to-cooling process is virtually direct. Refer to, or download, the following article from "Home Power Magazine":
  
  http://www.homepower.com/files/solarice.pdf (cached)
  
  "A Solar Ammonia Absorption Icemaker," Home Power #53, June/July 1996.
  
  David S. Price
  Springfield, IL
  +

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