The paper explains briefly the operations of a single stage and a two stage ammonia-water intermittent solar refrigeration system with the help of relevant schematic and cycle diagrams. The performances of these two systems are compared based on the results of the thermodynamic analyses of the corresponding cycles. It is inferred that a stage system is capable of producing the required refrigeration with relatively high overall coefficient of performance at even low generation temperatures. Hence, it is a viable refrigeration system, especially when flat collectors are used for the collection of solar energy. © 1989.