A refrigeration apparatus 10 comprises a first refrigerant communicated through a compressor 22, a first condenser 23, a first expansion valve 24, and a first evaporator 25. A second refrigerant is communicated through an adsorption cooler stage 30 comprising a second condenser 33, a second expansion valve 34, and a second evaporator 35. The adsorption cooler stage operates in first mode (fig 1) whereby a first adsorbent bed 32A receives thermal energy from the first refrigerant flowing from the compressor to heat the second refrigerant and drive a desorption process and the adsorption cooler operates in a second mode (fig 2) comprising an adsorption process. The second evaporator may be located between the first condenser and first evaporator, in particular between the first condenser and first expansion valve. In the first mode (desorption) the first adsorbent bed receives thermal energy from the first refrigerant between the compressor and the first condenser. In the second mode (adsorption) the first adsorbent bed releases thermal energy to the first refrigerant between the first evaporator and compressor. A further adsorbent bed 32B may be in parallel with the first bed whereby when one bed is adsorbing the other is regenerating.
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