Eco Fridge That Uses Zero Electricity
Technology that is kept from consumers by greed.
Could we have a refrigerator with no moving parts and works off of heat only? Well, actually we already have the idea and it works. It was invented in 1926, by Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard. Einstein was motivated to revolutionize the refrigerator, when he heard of a family dying from toxic fumes being released after a fridge seal went bad. The duos three patents were bought by AB Electrolux. However, they were short lived. The invention of Freon refrigerators caused Einstein’s refrigerator to become obsolete technology.
The invention required nothing more than ammonia, butane, water, and a small heat source… like a gas burner. It does not have one moving part and requires absolutely no electricity. Proponents describe the refrigerator as “noiseless, inexpensive to produce, and durable.” Imagine what this could do for the eco friendly movement. Further, think about what this would mean for underdeveloped countries, without electricity.
I have to wonder if energy free refrigerators were buried because they were inexpensive, and lack the need for part replacement, etc.. It wouldn’t be anything new. Oil companies have long buried free energy ideas, like the H20 & cooking oil fueled cars.
Just when I was about to loose hope of ever seeing this refrigerator in Lowe’s, I came across a PSYSORG article. Apparently, Malcolm McCulloch, an electrical engineer at Oxford, has been working to bring Einstein’s refrigerator to life. Einstein’s Frankenstein…so to speak. His team has already built a working prototype of Einstein and Szilard’s refrigerator. This would mean no more greenhouse gasses from refrigerators. Instead, pressurized gas will keep cool the refrigerator. McCulloch has been developing a solar energy system to act as the “heat source,” and working to make it as cooling efficient as modern products.
So, keep your fingers crossed. Hopefully, in about three years we may see these at Lowe’s.
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Published in: Consumer Information
Bozsi Rose | Oct 5, 2008 | Reply
Imagine if all those free energy ideas hadn’t been buried? Not only would the environment be better, so would the economy. Just an opinion.
David A | Oct 5, 2008 | Reply
When I was a kid all refrigerators that I knew of were gas powered. The Ammonia fridge wasn’t buried. It’s all down to convenience piping a gas pipe to a fridge is a tad more difficult than pluging in a plug.
Just because it uses zero electricity doesn’t mean it’s green. It’s not using zero power it’s using the heat from burning gas instead.
In the good old days (maybe 30 years ago now) you could be burnt by a fridge if you placed you hand over the very hot flue. This is probably the reason you don’t see them anymore – they were a fire hazard
It’s not a zero power fridge as you don’t get something for nothing it’s an alternative fuel fridge
Keep bringing this ideas forward though who knows they may help to raise the efficiency of new appliances based on old idea’s that went out of vogue in our recent energy over rich times
Keep Greening
Dave
Uncle B | Oct 5, 2008 | Reply
I have a dream home in my plans that is “Zero running cost – Zero upkeep” and survival oriented for the depression we are entering. This fridge and a solar model at http://www.geekologie.com/2008/08/zero_carbon_footprint_the_sola.php are of great interest. I currently feed my wife and myself from a backyard garden, use free “Ubuntu” software from the net, use CFL lights and am waiting for LED lights to go down in price, use .jpgs and a digital camera in place of my beloved 35mm film camera and buy all my clothing second hand to save the environment. I hope to live an altered, but comfortable off grid lifestyle in my lifetime.
Lauren Axelrod | Oct 5, 2008 | Reply
This is bizarre. There are so many inventions that I have never heard of that that were buried. I’m sure, given the time, these inventors could have made it work. We would be better off I’m sure.
jo oliver | Oct 5, 2008 | Reply
Thank you all for the comments!
David A- You wisely bring up the safety issue with burns- however, in the last paragraph of my article, you will see that McCulloch is trying to use solar power instead of gas power!
An eco friendly product “does as little harm to the planet as possible.” The orginal model does less harm to the planet, but the fridge they are working on now will do even less harm because it will be totally energy free (via solar power.)
Thank you all for adding to my article.
Liane Schmidt | Oct 5, 2008 | Reply
I have heard of such innovative technologies that are eco friendly like the one you’ve written about – I believe that its only a matter of time before more of these inventions will be utilized on a worldwide scale – nice article!
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
goodselfme | Oct 5, 2008 | Reply
Well written with much info.
Gruntie | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
Do you actually believe cars can run off of H2O? How stupid are you?
valli | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
Hope to see this great Fridge.
jo oliver | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
Gruntie- I guess I am as stupid as the people who believed that computers, phones,fax, TV, etc… were real…before they were proven.
I am sure that there were people just like you who said having indoor plumbing or talking to someone across the ocean would never happen. But, then it did!
People laughed at famous inventors and even called them mentally retarded. Yet, now their offspring {maybe you} are sitting on a computer, under a light bulb, watching TV, etc still calling people that think beyond the inners of a box stupid. Obviously, history of unimaginable invention has not taught you anything- even as you use one of them!
NA Staffieri | Oct 7, 2008 | Reply
Trust Einstein. That’s what I’ve always learned.
CHAN LEE PENG | Oct 7, 2008 | Reply
I learnt new thing here…take care!
Old Rubberlegs | Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
Buried where, in the patent office? If you’re going to believe in conspiracy theories, at least limit yourself to the remotely plausible ones. (…or, maybe I’m part of the conspiracy.)
And if they were trying to save the world (or keep someone from being poisoned to death), why did they patent the idea?! Wouldn’t that just inhibit adoption?
Bongo | Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
The best thing is to make a pipeline to the north pole then cold air to were your at the same time pipe hot air to the north pole. At the north pole use the heat differential to produce the power to pump the hot/cold air.
ANOTHER BONGO THOUGHT BROUGHT TO YOU BY BONGO!
Steve | Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
I remember gas refrigerators and even gas air conditioners from the fifties. One of the reasons they were abandoned was that if the burner intake or exhaust got obstructed, incomplete combustion would generate carbon monoxide. Inexpensive detectors weren’t available then, so you had to remember to inspect your gas fridge regularly to make sure you wouldn’t be poisoned. BTW, the ammonia-absorption chiller is still used in industry, where there is often a large source of waste heat near something that needs cooling.
bb | Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
I’m fairly sure the poisonous gas that was used in old compression expansion fridges was ammonia, so i’m not sure what the advantage of this technology would have been, except to add fire, explosion and carbon monoxide poisoning risks to ammonia poisoning. Ironically the gases used to replace the poisonous ammonia were CFCs.
This type of fridge wasn’t widely adopted because electric (compression expansion cycle) fridges were more convenient, arguably safer (especially after the CFC switch over).
Adsorption type heat pumps are still used in places where there is waste heat for example off shore rigs and telecom remote generator sets (they need to provide power and AC for remote server locations)
So that’s right, a great conspiracy buried this technology. Nothing to do with using the right technology for the job.
Now i’m off to drive my water powered car.
bb | Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
damn!
Ryan | Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
@joe oliver
I don’t think he’s calling people who see new things in the future retarded, but there is a great deal of ignorance involved with thinking cars can run on pure water. It violates the laws of thermodynamics. Look it up before you make yourself appear more ignorant.
@Gruntie
Stupidity and ignorance are different things. Ignorance is often far more excusable. Name calling doesn’t get your point across very well, and I consider educating people about the laws of thermodynamics very important to prevent the kind of ignorance displayed by people who- for example – think that water is a good energy source.
junior | Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
you still need a heat source, and I don’t know what planet you live on, but here on earth, where I live, gas costs a hell of a lot more per month than electricity. Oh, and I’m pretty sure that people in 3rd world countries don’t have a way to heat this thing… For anyone that want’s to insult me for my comment, don’t bother… I won’t be back here to see it anyway!
Botter | Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
Free energy? From where? This refrigerating cycle has heat as an input. That is energy. Electrolux refrigerators from the 1930’s ran on Kerosene, natural gas, or LPG. There was actually one moving part: a bimetallic, domed disc that opened the gas valve when it was hot and closed it when it was cold. This made sure the pilot light was on before gas would flow. Just a safety feature. Other than that, no mechanical movement at all. If you listened closely, sometimes you might hear a little gurgling noise.
Me | Mar 11, 2009 | Reply
Cool
If you like this, you will probably like my article about the incredible discovery of energy from sea water!
The link is: http://www.gomestic.com/Consumer-Information/Eco-Fridge-That-Uses-Zero-Electricity.285375
al | Jun 13, 2010 | Reply
Whats wrong with you people..Skeptics..I guess the guy thats doing the slamming here has never been in an RV. All RV refrigerators are Tri powered 110v/12v and propane and yes they will burn you if you touch the chimney on the roof. All RV fridges are built in to allow for a chimney..In our disposable society that wont work who would ever think of having the same fridge for 20 years. We always want to upgrade first it was an ice maker then water in the door then ice in the door. each time we just throw the old away and get a new one..We have created a society of wastful people.thats why we are in the situation we are in…Al
Al | Jun 13, 2010 | Reply
And Cars can and do run off of H2o pea brain..get your head out of the sand..Keep supporting BP..LOL