Refrigeration

Refrigeration (from the Latin frigus, frost) is generally the cooling of a body by the transfer of a portion of its heat away from it. Applications include conservation, especially of food, and lowering the temperature of drinks to one that is more agreeable for consumption. Domestic refrigerators are common in kitchens, with separate sections or separate machines for cooling and freezing.

History of refrigeration

• Ice houses
• Making of ice cream
• Refrigeration by well water

Development of the first refrigerators

Many countries can claim to be the home of the inventor of the refrigerator, as the technology was developed over a period of time all over the world using different types of technology and for different purposes. Claimants to the name of inventor include Oliver Evans (USA), Jacob Perkins (USA and England), John Gorrie (USA), Alexander Catlin Twining (USA), James Harrison and Thomas Mort (Australia) and Carl von Linde (Germany). One of the first uses of "home" refrigeration was at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, USA, installed around 1895 http://www.biltmore.com, while in commercial refrigeration the Vestey Brothers opened one of the first refrigerated cold stores in London the same year.

Related Topics:
Oliver Evans - Jacob Perkins - John Gorrie - Alexander Catlin Twining - James Harrison - Thomas Mort - Carl von Linde - Biltmore Estate - Asheville - North Carolina - USA - Install - 1895 - Vestey Brothers - London

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The gas absorption refrigerator, which cools by the use of a source of heat, was invented in Sweden by Baltzar von Platen in 1922. http://otal.umd.edu/~vg/amst205.F97/vj09/project5.html It was later manufactured by Electrolux and Servel. Today it is used in homes that are not connected to the electrical grid, and in recreational vehicles.

Related Topics:
Heat - Sweden - Baltzar von Platen - 1922 - Electrolux - Servel - Electrical grid - Recreational vehicle

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Technology

• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) (Freon)
• Liquefied gases
• Heat pump
• Heat pipe
• Thermoelectric cooling
• Sonic refrigeration
• Magnetic refrigeration

Culture and commerce

• Refrigerated transport

Refrigerated trucks (or simply refrigerators) are used to transport perishable goods, such as, for instance, frozen foods, fruit and vegetables, and temperature-sensitive chemicals. Most modern refrigerators keep temperature -40...+20 °C and have a maximum payload of around 24 000 kg. gross weight (in Europe).

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Surprisingly, refrigerated trucks are most wanted in winter, when there is a significant demand to transport chemicals under relatively high (+10...+20 °C) temperature.

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• Food hygiene
• Ready meals
• Cook/chill
• Ice cream vans
• Air conditioning
• HVAC

Science

• approaching absolute zero
• Cryogenics and cryocoolers
• Superconductivity
• Superfluidity

Speculative uses of refrigeration

• Cryonics