This study examines the thermophysical process of a solar driven adsorption cooling system. The data used for the performance study were taken experimentally during the start-up procedure of a solar collector. The generation of high temperatures inside a solar collector adsorption tube is a challenge due to the intermittent nature of solar radiation. In this present study, a solar collector adsorption tube using granular activated carbon (GAC1, GAC2) and methanol is introduced. The proposed system maintains higher adsorption temperatures up to 117.2 degrees C. The evaporator temperature of the solar adsorption cooling system decreased to -12 degrees C (sunny day) and 0 degrees C (sunny-cloudy days), allowing liquid water converted to solid ice. This result showed that a solar collector filled with granular activated carbon and methanol successfully produces ice inside the solar adsorption cooling system throughout the experiment period. A solar-powered pump circulated the melted ice inside the storage chamber during day time and thus decreased the inside temperature of storage chamber to 15 degrees C and 10 degrees C for shorter and longer durations, respectively. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.