A new transient two-dimensional model for the simulation of a combined heat and mass recovery adsorption cooling cycle based on the zeolite NaX/water working pair is proposed in this paper. The model describes the transfer phenomena in the adsorber in detail and is solved by control volume method. Internal and external mass transfer limitations which are neglected by many researchers are considered in the model since they have significant effects on the performance of the adsorption cooling cycle. The numerical results show that the combined heat and mass recovery cycle between two adsorbent beds can increase the coefficient of performance (COP) of an adsorption cooling system by more than 47% compared to the single bed cycle. This numerical model can be used in system optimization and design of adsorption cycles. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.