Todd Nesnick
From the beginning of human history, we have always had to eat and drink for survival. And more importantly, we have needed to keep such food and drink preserved. Food storage and preservation has been an intricate piece of human history, and there have been many methods over the years to do so.
For one, we have had natural cooling methods. Bodies of water such as rivers and lakes have cold temperatures to help keep food cool. Even more so, we have also had ice and snow, cutting such and making storage pits from that, straw, or sawdust to keep preserves insulated. The list goes on and on, from resourceful uses of nature to the climate itself. But the most valuable tool for food preservation was the creation of the refrigerator.
The refrigerator, or fridge for short, is a commercial and home appliance created for the purpose of storing food and drink while also regulating their temperature. It is a popular creation, having uses all over the world from North America to Asia, and everywhere in between. Its use and function are just as well-known as its importance, though maybe not entirely. So, for this article, let us go over the history of this staple household appliance, as well as its functions and services.
When Was the Fridge Created?
Since the dawn of humanity, there have been notable methods of refrigeration throughout our history. We have had ice boxes and icehouses, storage spaces lined in aqueducts and wind-catchers, and even natural runoff from ice caps and mountaintops. But the first note of artificial refrigeration goes so far back as the mid-18th century.
In 1755, a Scottish professor by the name of William Cullen designed a small refrigeration machine consisting of a pump, diethyl ether, and boiling water, though it had little to no real form of application at the time. Then there was Oliver Evans, an American inventor who described the process of artificial cooling by using ether under a vacuum. Ideas and blueprints continued, but the first true actual construction of a refrigeration unit was in 1856 when James Harrison, a Scottish Australian, created an ice-making machine. This was used by over a dozen others during that time.
There are other instances of course, but for simplicity’s sake, and for the sake of the length of this article, we will fast forward to the first actual creation of the electric refrigerator. It was in the year 1894, when one Hungarian inventor and industrialist named Istvan Rock created a massive industrial ammonia refrigerator. A popular innovation, it became the blueprint for smaller, though no less effective, methods of refrigeration.
In 1913, we had the first electric refrigerator that was for domestic and home use, produced by Fred W. Wolf. Then in 1920s and 1930s, the use expanded exponentially, skyrocketing the market and production. By the early 1950s, every home had a refrigerator. And a century later, they have only grown that much more in fame.
What Are They Used for?
As we stated earlier, before, the fridge is used for the sole purpose of storing and cooling food and drink. This was their primary use at the time of their creation, but since then, they have been innovated for other uses and functions as well. This includes making ice, storing, and dispersing water, temperature regulation, and more. There has even been the creation of its sibling design, the freezer. A creation that brings temperatures to extremely low levels.
How Do They Work?
A refrigerator functions by using a refrigeration cycle to get rid of heat from inside the refrigerator and transfer it outside. By moving the heat outside, it helps to keep its contents cool and insulated. To go through this process in more detail, it involves these complex steps: compression, heat dissipation, expansion, cooling the interior, and returning to the compressor.
- Compression – This is started by the compressor (the pump driven by a motor). It compresses the refrigerated gas and in turn increases the temperature and pressure inside.
- Heat Dissipation – Heated, high-pressure gas leaves the compressor and enters the condenser, which is a number of coils in the back of the refrigerator (sometimes underneath depending on model). The gas releases heat to the environment through conduction and convection and as the gas cools, it condenses into a high-pressure liquid which releases instant heat through vaporization.
- Expansion – High-pressure and warm refrigerant flows through an expansion valve. This allows expansion on the evaporator’s side, which causes a massive decrease in pressure. As that continues to drop, the refrigerant expands, undergoing a change from a liquid into a vapor, becoming a low-temperature and low-pressure gas and liquid mixture.
- Cooling the Interior – The cold and low pressured liquid and gas enters the evaporator and absorbs heat from air inside the fridge which causes it to cool. This process goes on and on until the desired temperature of the fridge is reached.
- Returning to the Compressor – The refrigerant is returned to the compressor, where the whole cycle begins anew.
This entire method is a feedback control system.
Where to Buy Them?
Unlike in the past, in present times, getting a fridge is not as difficult; on the contrary, it is as simple as going to your nearest home appliances or electronics store and shopping for one. You can go to places like Costco, Lowes, Staples, Best Buy, Home Depot, and many more. Some of these places even deliver the refrigerator to your own doorstep.
If there was to be any difficulty in getting one, it would be the price. Though the prices may vary, refrigerators can cost anywhere from 600 to 10,000 dollars. That does not include taxes, insurance, and delivery fees.
What to Do if One Breaks Down
Just like buying one, having a refrigerator repaired, serviced, or removed is also simple, minus the cost of course. There are plenty of companies who deal in fridge repair or fridge removal like this site here ridlyrubbishremoval.com.au. You should always try and repair before removing first, however, as a home appliance like the fridge is a necessity more than a commodity.
Conclusion
From prehistoric times to the present day, the cooling of food and drinks have always been a necessity. A necessity that thankfully has been more simplified in recent times. Through its function, its design, and overall popularity, the refrigerator is a tool that has stood the test of time and will continue to do so for many years more. So, if you have not yet, please, get yourself one today, and see what they can do for you.