Absorption refrigerators use alternative heat sources like solar energy or kerosene to create energy for cooling. They are practical for personal use in RVs and remote cabins, and for commercial use in areas without electricity. Ammonia is used as fuel, making fuel consumption efficient. The concept dates back to the mid-19th century.
An absorption refrigerator is a type of cooling unit that uses some type of heat source to create the energy that ultimately makes the cooling system in the device work. Refrigerators of this type can use any number of alternative sources to create the energy needed to operate the unit, including solar energy or even a type of fuel such as kerosene. An absorption refrigerator is an ideal alternative in locations that cannot support the use of the more common compressor refrigerator, usually due to the lack of constant availability of electrical current from a mains power supply.
The use of absorption refrigerators includes both residential and commercial applications. In terms of personal use, this type of refrigeration unit is very practical when you need to keep food fresh on a long journey. Smaller units can fit neatly into a recreational vehicle and use the fuel source to maintain a constant temperature that keeps food from spoiling. The larger models are ideal for use in remote cabins that are not connected to a mains power supply. When not in use, the units can be switched off and stored away with relative ease.
A commercial absorption refrigerator is often practical for storing large quantities of perishable items in sites without access to a constant source of electricity. One benefit of this design is that unlike traditional refrigeration units which use compressors and various components to create the cooling effect, absorption refrigerators often use ammonia as the fuel of choice. The liquid is converted to gas without needing much in the way of internal components. The gas eventually cools and creates the freezing effect. Fuel consumption is generally very efficient, making it possible to operate the system for a long period of time on a relatively small amount of fuel.
The concept behind an absorption refrigerator has been around since the mid-19th century, when French scientist Ferdinand Carre invented the first version using a fuel consisting of water combined with sulfuric acid. The stripped-down design was refined in the early 20th century, leading to the commercial production of the first refrigerators in the 19th. While this type of refrigerator is rarely used in residential or commercial settings with access to electricity, the absorption refrigerator remains a useful device. to keep food fresh on the go or when access to electricity is limited or non-existent.
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