A refrigerator without electricity can be thought of as a contradiction, something impossible or a crazy idea. But, contrary to what it seems, this environmentally friendly invention is possible, and it has been developing for a few years in India.
The refrigerator without electricity was designed by Mansukhbhai Prajapati for Mitticool, a line of environmentally friendly appliances. In addition to being ecological, this refrigerator can be used by those who do not have access to electricity.
The fridge is made of clay, and is capable of cooling food through an evaporation mechanism. To make it work, the water from the upper chamber drips down the sides and when it evaporates it absorbs the heat from within, reducing the temperature.
The fridge can keep fruits and vegetables fresh for up to three days, and can help keep other foods, such as cooked foods, much longer.
Since it was designed in India with the aim that it could be used even in communities that do not have access to electricity, it is known as “The Poor Man’s Fridge”. Not only is there no electricity to pay for, but it is considerably less expensive than a regular fridge.
Evaporative cooling only works in hot and dry climates, but it is still suitable for many regions of India, Africa and any desert area.
Here you can see how it works:
The refrigerator is the appliance that consumes the most electricity in the home, in addition to being disconnected very rarely. This means that its consumption covers about 20% of the total electricity in the house, although its power is relatively low (around 200 W, when a hair dryer, for example, consumes 2000 W).
Although you are not going to adopt this refrigerator that does not consume electricity, you can implement some measures in your home so that your refrigerator is more efficient and does not consume more electricity:
– Constantly check the insulating rubber of the refrigerator and replace it frequently. The greatest loss of cold is due to failures in the insulation.
– Do not place the refrigerator against the wall, it must have a space in between that allows ventilation from the back.
– Move the refrigerator away from sources of heat (such as stoves or ovens) and from direct solar radiation.
– Do not use the refrigerator at its maximum power when you do not need it: adjust the temperature when the summer ends, since you will not need the refrigeration to be so strong.
– Do not keep food in its plastic bags: that causes the motor to have to work harder.