Different adsorbents, such as physical, chemical and composite adsorbents are analyzed. Three types of working pairs, activated carbon-methanol, chemical adsorbent-ammonia and composite adsorbent-ammonia can be used for adsorption ice makers on fishing boats. The advantages, disadvantages and performances of three types of adsorption ice makers, with activated carbon-methanol, CaCl2-NH3 and compound adsorbent (made by CaCl2 and activated carbon)-NH3 as adsorption pairs, are compared at the condition of two bed systems. The activated carbon-methanol ice maker shows the advantage of reliable safety, and the composite adsorption ice maker shows the best adsorption performance. The cooling power of 20.32 kW can be obtained from the composite adsorption ice maker when the volume for each adsorber is 0.288 m(3), which is about 10 times that of the physical adsorption ice maker and 1.38 times that of the chemical adsorption ice maker. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.