Under　the　solar　heating　condition,　the　performance　of　the　adsorption　refrigeration　system　using　SAPO-34　zeolite　and　water　as　the　working　pair　was　tested　practically.　The　experiment　provided　insights　into　the　dynamic　change　of　the　temperature　and　pressure　in　the　adsorption　bed,　as　well　as　the　effect　of　the　cycle　time　on　the　system　performance.　By　analyzing　the　relationship　between　the　solar　energy　input　and　the　cooling　output,　the　optimal　cycle　time　of　the　system　was　identified.　It　was　revealed　that　both　the　performance　coefficient　COP　and　the　specific　cooling　power　SCP　presented　a　maximum　value　with　respect　to　the　adsorption　time　as　the　system　was　evaluated　by　the　whole　cycle　time.　However,　the　COP　and　the　SCP　did　not　share　the　same　adsorption　time　for　their　maximum　values.　The　characteristic　for　the　bed　to　decrease　the　adsorption　rate　with　the　time　is　considered　to　be　responsible　to　interpret　the　optimal　cycle　time　of　the　system.　The　overlong　time　of　adsorption　did　not　help　to　improve　the　cooling　performance　of　the　system.　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd