A theoretical model is established to describe the heat and mass transfer processes in a tubular adsorbent bed for an intermittent solar powered charcoal methanol ice-maker. The model, which is based on the main assumptions: an uniform pressure in the generator (grad p=0), can account for heat and mass transfer within the pellets bed in a two-dimensional transient process. After validation by comparing calculated results with the data obtained from experimental tests on a practical unit, a numerical analysis is presented. Through numerical computation, a coupling temperature and methanol concentration distribution inside the collector tube, the inhomogeneous phenomena of heat and mass transfer inside the collector tube during the whole cycle is presented clearly.
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