Adsorption refrigeration is an energy-saving and environmental-friendly refrigerating method

which can utilize low-grade thermal energy. Under air-conditioning working conditions

silica gel-water mass and heat recovery systems are most often used. In order to understand which kind of cycle can improve the performance of the system under specific working conditions

the evaluating indicators of the first and the second laws of thermodynamics were adopted to analyze the COP

the exergetic efficiency and the cycle entropy production of the basic cycle

mass recovery cycle and mass and heat recovery cycle. The analysis showed that only when the heating source temperature was relatively low

the COP of mass recovery cycle was remarkably higher than that of basic cycle. The COP of mass and heat recovery cycle was significantly higher than that of mass recovery cycle only when the heating source temperature was relatively high. Consequently

the mass recovery cycle had its recommended highest heating source temperature and optimum heating source temperature

while the mass and heat recovery cycle had its recommended lowest heating source temperature and optimum heating source temperature. For example

under the typical air-conditioning working condition in summer of 90℃ heating source temperature

10℃ evaporating temperature and 40℃ condensing temperature

the recommended highest heating source temperature of mass recovery cycle was 93℃

which is higher than the heating source temperature of 90℃. As a result

the mass recovery cycle was more suitable under this working condition and should be chosen rather than the mass and heat recovery cycle. Finally

the analysis of a chiller indicated that the given method and recommended working temperature intervals could provide guidance or advice on the scheme selection and system control for real systems.