In this work, a numerical model is presented that describes the transfer of heat and mass inside a cylindrical regenerator of a solar adsorption refrigerator that uses the methanol/activated-carbon refrigerant pair. This model is based on the equations of mass conservation, energy conservation, Darcy's law and the balance model between sorbate and sorbent given by the Dubinin-Astakhov's equation. On the other hand, the linear driving force (LDF) model is used to describe the rate of desorption. In the developed model, the spatial variation of methanol vapor pressure within the activated carbon bed is taken into account and, as one of the boundary conditions, the temperature is used at the external surface of the absorber measured experimentally along the day. Using the developed model, the temperature, pressure and concentration of methanol were calculated; both inside the grains of carbon and in the space between the grains, as a function of time. The algorithm was validated comparing the numerical results with the experimental data, obtaining a satisfactory concordance.

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This work presents an algorithm able to simulate the heating of a solar collector throughout the day. The discussed collector is part of a solar adsorption refrigerator, and is used to regenerate the activated carbon contained inside a cylindrical recipient (absorber), which is located in the focal line of a parabolic trough concentrator. The developed algorithm takes into account all the transfer mechanisms when analyzing the heat transfers taking place between the collector's components and the environment, as well as the transfer mechanisms towards the absorber's interior. The temperature evolution for the collector's elements is obtained, and the model is validated by comparing the experimentally measured surface temperature of the absorber with the one determined by the algorithm. The experimental data were gathered from similar collectors in two different scenarios: Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). The model is satisfactorily validated with experimental data.

(Measurement of the solar radiation in Santo Domingo) RESUMEN Se instaló en el edificio del INTEC de Santo Domingo un solarímetro diseñado y construido por nuestro equipo. Se muestran algunas mediciones utilizando la recta de calibración estimada en Buenos Aires, República Argentina. Por otro lado, se comprueban los parámetros que mejor ajustan para el método de Hottel de día claro en esta región geográfica. Finalmente se exponen los resultados de las mediciones luego de realizar una nueva calibración en Santo Domingo. PALABRAS CLAVESRadiación horaria, método de Hottel, Solarímetro. ABSTRACTWe installed a solar gauge, designed and built by our team, in a building of INTEC University, in Santo Domigo, Dominican Republic. Some measurements were made using the calibration curve estimated in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On the other hand, * Área de Ciencias Básicas, Instituto Tecnológico Santo Domingo. República Dominicana.

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