In this paper, with water-LiCl-$CaCl_2-Zn(NO_3)_2$ mixture which utilizes solar energy at the evaporator heat source, a thermodynamic analysis was performed to provide design data for a double-effect absorption heating system. A comparative study of the water-LiCl-$CaCl_2-Zn(NO_3)_2$ mixture against the water-LiBr pair was conducted by a computer simulation. The computer simulation is based on mass, material and heat balance equations for each part of the system. Coefficients of performance and flow ratios for effects of different operating temperatures are investigated. It is found that the heating COP is higher for the water-LiCl-$CaCl_2-Zn(NO_3)_2$ mixture than for the water-LiBr pair, and FR is lower for the former.