This study experimentally investigated the performance of a solar driven (by parabolic trough collector) steam jet ejector chiller (SJEC) having a cooling capacity of I kW. The experiments show the particular characteristics of a SJEC with the strong influence of the condenser temperature, T-cond. and evaporator temperature, T-evap, on the coefficient of performance (COP). A decrease in the condenser temperature by 12 degrees C, in case of an evaporator temperature of T-evap = 7 degrees C the COP was increased by 57%, while for T-evap = 13 degrees C the COP was increased by 41% and for T-evap = 17 degrees C the COP was increased by 34.4%, respectively. While at a constant condensation temperature an increase in the evaporator temperature, T-evap, from 7 to 13 degrees C, leads to increased COP values ranging from 14% to 56.7%, and increases Tevap from 7 to 17 degrees C, lead to increases in COP values ranging from 53% to 132%, respectively. These results in general indicate that the COP increases with decreasing condenser temperature, which is determined by the source temperature of the cooling medium and it has the limiting factors controlling the operation of the solar steam ejector refrigeration system. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.