How does a propane refrigerator work
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gatchel
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Milton Shaw
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Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
A neighbor has one in a RV. The RV was tripping the GCFI for the RV. Traced it to the electric heater for the propane Refig. Unhooked the heater from the control board and it quits tripping. He ordered new heater from mfg and its working great now. Heater was slightly shorted to case, but still working on genset in RV, and would work on propane also. Strange cooling system compared to usual r12, r22, 134a systems.
A neighbor has one in a RV. The RV was tripping the GCFI for the RV. Traced it to the electric heater for the propane Refig. Unhooked the heater from the control board and it quits tripping. He ordered new heater from mfg and its working great now. Heater was slightly shorted to case, but still working on genset in RV, and would work on propane also. Strange cooling system compared to usual r12, r22, 134a systems.
rvr6000
Well-known member
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
This is how it worked in my buddies camper a couple months ago....hahaha
This is how it worked in my buddies camper a couple months ago....hahaha
Drew_flux
Well-known member
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
did he save the van ?
did he save the van ?
Highbeam
Well-known member
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
A propane fridge is a freaking owonderful piece of magic. The tiny flame of fuel makes the huge fridge cold with no motors, electric, or moving parts. It is amazing and those guys deserve a pat on the back for inventing it.
A propane fridge is a freaking owonderful piece of magic. The tiny flame of fuel makes the huge fridge cold with no motors, electric, or moving parts. It is amazing and those guys deserve a pat on the back for inventing it.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
Their only down side is they don't work real well when the weather is hot (>90°). Forget getting a 40° beer !!
chevelle67
Well-known member
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
They are mini absorption chillers, actually more chemistry that anything. There is still several large 500-1000 Tons chillers in municipalities in Wi.
They are mini absorption chillers, actually more chemistry that anything. There is still several large 500-1000 Tons chillers in municipalities in Wi.
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
Someone needs to have a few words with this fire department. Oh my, where to begin?
That said, I've BTDT myself. Got my picture in the local paper digging through a pile of burned-out rubble with a pike pole wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Hey, at least I had shoes on, not like this guy in flip flops!
Anyway, I shouldn't be hijacking the thread. Sorry.
This is how it worked in my buddies camper a couple months ago....hahaha
Someone needs to have a few words with this fire department. Oh my, where to begin?
That said, I've BTDT myself. Got my picture in the local paper digging through a pile of burned-out rubble with a pike pole wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Hey, at least I had shoes on, not like this guy in flip flops!
Anyway, I shouldn't be hijacking the thread. Sorry.
6768rogues
Banned
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
As stated, it is an absorptive chiller. Absorptive chillers work well but use 3 to 4 times the energy per unit of cooling as compared to an electric powered direct expansion system. When there is no electricity, it is one of the only options remaining. Absorptive chillers are used economically to provide air conditioning in places that have lots of free waste steam.
As stated, it is an absorptive chiller. Absorptive chillers work well but use 3 to 4 times the energy per unit of cooling as compared to an electric powered direct expansion system. When there is no electricity, it is one of the only options remaining. Absorptive chillers are used economically to provide air conditioning in places that have lots of free waste steam.
HoosierBuddy
Well-known member
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
I used to have a copy of an old patent that applied to the absorbtion cycle used in the old Servel line of gas refrigerators. It was granted to...drum roll please.....
Albert Einstein
From memory...the key thing he realized was the need to add helium to the ammonia used in the fridge's cooling cycle. Why that was important escapes me. I think it might have had something to do with keeping the cooling cycle going and not allowing the liquid ammonia to block the evaporator.
Why it cools would be better answered in a 4-hour college level thermodynamics class than this post. I took that class, but it's been over 25 years ago so my appoligies if I bungle this. In short, instead of compressing freon and allowing it to expand, like a conventional AC unit, a propane unit heats ammonia and then allows it to expand. In both cases since PV=mRT (yes I know neither ammonia or freon are a perfect gas...but cut me some slack here!), the increase in volume and decrease in pressure causes a decrease in temperature of the cooling medium. This is harnessed by the appliance to cool the interior space of the refrigerator.
Phil
I used to have a copy of an old patent that applied to the absorbtion cycle used in the old Servel line of gas refrigerators. It was granted to...drum roll please.....
Albert Einstein
From memory...the key thing he realized was the need to add helium to the ammonia used in the fridge's cooling cycle. Why that was important escapes me. I think it might have had something to do with keeping the cooling cycle going and not allowing the liquid ammonia to block the evaporator.
Why it cools would be better answered in a 4-hour college level thermodynamics class than this post. I took that class, but it's been over 25 years ago so my appoligies if I bungle this. In short, instead of compressing freon and allowing it to expand, like a conventional AC unit, a propane unit heats ammonia and then allows it to expand. In both cases since PV=mRT (yes I know neither ammonia or freon are a perfect gas...but cut me some slack here!), the increase in volume and decrease in pressure causes a decrease in temperature of the cooling medium. This is harnessed by the appliance to cool the interior space of the refrigerator.
Phil
Last edited:
ishiboo
Well-known member
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
+1. Much more efficient to use a 12/120 fridge or even a 120 fridge on a 12v inverter, if sufficient battery power is available.
+1. Much more efficient to use a 12/120 fridge or even a 120 fridge on a 12v inverter, if sufficient battery power is available.
Capt Chrysler
Well-known member
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
Were there some early rural home fridges that were gas??? Kinda remember my folks talking about them, I think?
Capt. Chrysler
Were there some early rural home fridges that were gas??? Kinda remember my folks talking about them, I think?
Capt. Chrysler
HoosierBuddy
Well-known member
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
Yes. I still own one. Servel brand. The only power it uses is for the light bulb that comes on when the door opens.
Phil
Yes. I still own one. Servel brand. The only power it uses is for the light bulb that comes on when the door opens.
Phil
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
You sure this was a propane fire?
I don't see any propane tanks on the front of the trailer.
This is how it worked in my buddies camper a couple months ago....hahaha
You sure this was a propane fire?
I don't see any propane tanks on the front of the trailer.
redsky49
Well-known member
Re: How does a propane refridgerator work
Gas, or propane, refrigeration had a small but important market share through about the late 1930's, primarily for rural and remote applications. In 1935 the Rural Electrification Act was passed, and both wind-powered and alternative energy devices were quick to disappear from the scene. Removal of competing technologies was a requirement for the new and convenient electrical service hookup.
I can't recall the exact history, but (I believe) that Arkla and Servel combined in the 1950's, marketing both residential cooling and refrigerators, and continued up until the late '70's(?).
In my prior home I had a Servel forced air AC unit, in conjunction with HW baseboard, for one of the HVAC arrangements I tested. Because the AC unit was located outdoors, the unit suffered from the elements (rust), and eventually became too much of a nuisance. Maintenance was relatively straight forward, but far more frequent that the typical condensing unit, and I spent a lot of time just looking at the innards trying to figure out what had gone wrong. As the cost of natural gas rose in my area, the case could no longer be made for the device and it was replaced with a conventional unit.
The theory behind the unit is as Hoosier Buddy describes, using ammonia as the medium. As the use of chlorofluorocarbons is reduced or phased out, these systems are getting renewed attention - especially for larger applications. In fact, they are still in use today for many large meat, ice cream or frozen food processors. Ammonia is indeed the refrigerant of choice for many pharmaceutical or industrial users.
Ammonia is referred to as refrigerant R-717 and should be handled with some care:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ammoniarefrigeration/index.html
Here is a nice schematic illustrating the refrigeration process. It is the same compression/expansion as a standard condensing unit:
http://www.nhtres.com/differs.php
I fear that these devices are becoming very scarce, as is the knowledge to maintain them - precisely as much of the knowledge of steam systems have been lost over the last century.
Gas, or propane, refrigeration had a small but important market share through about the late 1930's, primarily for rural and remote applications. In 1935 the Rural Electrification Act was passed, and both wind-powered and alternative energy devices were quick to disappear from the scene. Removal of competing technologies was a requirement for the new and convenient electrical service hookup.
I can't recall the exact history, but (I believe) that Arkla and Servel combined in the 1950's, marketing both residential cooling and refrigerators, and continued up until the late '70's(?).
In my prior home I had a Servel forced air AC unit, in conjunction with HW baseboard, for one of the HVAC arrangements I tested. Because the AC unit was located outdoors, the unit suffered from the elements (rust), and eventually became too much of a nuisance. Maintenance was relatively straight forward, but far more frequent that the typical condensing unit, and I spent a lot of time just looking at the innards trying to figure out what had gone wrong. As the cost of natural gas rose in my area, the case could no longer be made for the device and it was replaced with a conventional unit.
The theory behind the unit is as Hoosier Buddy describes, using ammonia as the medium. As the use of chlorofluorocarbons is reduced or phased out, these systems are getting renewed attention - especially for larger applications. In fact, they are still in use today for many large meat, ice cream or frozen food processors. Ammonia is indeed the refrigerant of choice for many pharmaceutical or industrial users.
Ammonia is referred to as refrigerant R-717 and should be handled with some care:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ammoniarefrigeration/index.html
Here is a nice schematic illustrating the refrigeration process. It is the same compression/expansion as a standard condensing unit:
http://www.nhtres.com/differs.php
I fear that these devices are becoming very scarce, as is the knowledge to maintain them - precisely as much of the knowledge of steam systems have been lost over the last century.
6768rogues
Banned
I don't think we have to be concerned about obsolescence of absorptive chillers. They are still available commercially and work well in certain applications. I have seen them used with cogen units. A big engine runs an alternator for electricity and the heat of the exhaust and cooling system are used to power absorptive chillers. Electricity generation plants are another good place for absorptive chillers; high pressure steam drives a turbine and medium pressure steam is a byproduct. Medium pressure steam can power an absorptive chiller. I also saw a hospital with absorptive chillers. They have a large hot water load (laundry) so they run boilers year-round. Extra steam powers the chillers.