Method for producing cold and installation therefor

An installation for refrigeration comprising an endothermic component comprised of a device (EC) and an exothermic component comprising a reactor (1) and a reactor (2), wherein:

• the reactors (1) and (2) are in thermal contact so that the reactor (1) constitutes a first active thermal mass for the reactor (2) and the reactor (2) constitutes a second active thermal mass for the reactor (1);
• the reactors (1) and (2) are selectively communicating with the device (EC);
• the reactor (1) and the reactor (2) are provided with a heater and a heat extractor;
• at the start of a cycle the reactor (1) comprises a sorbent S1 and the reactor (2) comprises a sorbent S2, the sorbent S1 participating in a first reversible sorption involving a gas G and the sorbent S2 participating in a second reversible sorption involving the gas G, a first equilibrium temperature of the first reversible sorption in the reactor (1) being higher than a second equilibrium temperature of the second reversible sorption in the reactor (2) at a given pressure;
• and
• the device (EC) is an evaporator, the evaporator being comprised of a cylinder which is closed at its two ends and has a circular cross section, the circular cross section including, in its upper part, a concave circular arc corresponding to the cross section of an ice tray, wherein the evaporator further comprises:
• i) hollow fins comprising a solid/liquid phase change material;
• and
• ii) a tube, connected to a pipe transferring the gas G between the evaporator and the reactor (2), extending into the cylinder of the evaporator via a bore made in one of the ends of the cylinder, the tube being placed directly beneath a wall of the ice tray, and the gas G in the form of a boiling liquid being placed in the bottom of the evaporator.