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food:refrigeration [2022/01/14 20:52] princess_fluffypants [compressor refrigeration] |
food:refrigeration [2023/12/09 11:22] frater_secessus [Methods of refrigeration] three way |
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Note that many ' | Note that many ' | ||
- | ===== upright vs chest ===== | ||
- | **Upright fridges** stand up and have a door that opens off the side. | ||
- | * **Pro** - easier to load and unload for many people. | ||
- | * **Con** - items may shift and fall out when the door is opened. Cold air " | ||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ===== Coolers ===== | ||
- | **Chest fridges** lay down like a beer cooler. | + | |
- | * **Pro** - Can be filled to capacity. | + | * **Con** - constant need to add frozen material and the requirement to dispose of any melted ice. You lose significant amounts of interior volume due to the space taken up by the cooling material. |
- | * **Con** - May have to dig for food. Space above top door unusable unless placed in a slide-out or similar. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ===== using a cooler ===== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | * **Pro** - low cost, low empty weight, zero power consumption and widespread availability. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | * **Con** - constant need to add frozen material and the requirement to dispose of any melted ice. | + | |
Tips to make cooler use more effective and simple: | Tips to make cooler use more effective and simple: | ||
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* if you have regular access to a freezer at work or elsewhere rotate blue freezer packs in/out of the freezer and into your cooler. | * if you have regular access to a freezer at work or elsewhere rotate blue freezer packs in/out of the freezer and into your cooler. | ||
* nearly-filled bottles of water((leaves room for expansion)) are free and work much like the freezer packs above. | * nearly-filled bottles of water((leaves room for expansion)) are free and work much like the freezer packs above. | ||
+ | * in any case, having //three// sets in rotation allows each set to be in the freezer for 32 hours (24hrs + 8hr shift) rather than just an 8hr shift. | ||
* if using ice | * if using ice | ||
* block ice will last longer than cubed ice | * block ice will last longer than cubed ice | ||
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* use cold weather to your advantage | * use cold weather to your advantage | ||
- | ===== using a refrigerator | + | ---- |
+ | ===== Refrigerators | ||
A refrigerator (//refer// or //reefer//) is used to keep items at a given cool temperature, | A refrigerator (//refer// or //reefer//) is used to keep items at a given cool temperature, | ||
- | |||
Refrigerators give off heat and must be ventilated; ensure any vents exhaust into open area. Cooling performance may be enhanced by adding fans to move more air across the condenser((http:// | Refrigerators give off heat and must be ventilated; ensure any vents exhaust into open area. Cooling performance may be enhanced by adding fans to move more air across the condenser((http:// | ||
- | ==== front vs. top loading ==== | + | ==== Front vs. top loading ==== |
- | **Front loading** refrigerators are square or tall rectangles shaped like residential refrigerators. | + | **Front loading** |
- | * direct | + | * **Pros** |
- | * can use vertical space over the unit without have to build a slide-out | + | * Direct |
+ | * Space above unit remains usable | ||
+ | * Easier to load and unload for many people. | ||
+ | * **Con** | ||
+ | * Doors can sometimes swing open in transit. | ||
+ | * Items may shift and fall out when the door is opened. | ||
+ | * Cold air " | ||
**Top loading** refrigerators are usually low rectangles shaped like insulated coolers. | **Top loading** refrigerators are usually low rectangles shaped like insulated coolers. | ||
- | Advantages include: | + | * **Pros** |
- | * items don't fall out when vehicle moves | + | * Can be filled to capacity more easily. |
- | * space can be filled more completely | + | * No worries about doors swinging open and items falling |
- | * cold air doesn' | + | * More efficient. Better cold retention due to a lack of a bottom seal, and cold air doesn' |
+ | * **Cons** | ||
+ | * May have to dig for food. Easier for things to get lost/ | ||
+ | * Space above top door unusable unless placed in a slide-out or similar. | ||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ==== Methods of refrigeration ==== | ||
+ | [[electrical: | ||
+ | === Absorption refrigeration === | ||
+ | Absorption (ie, propane-powered ammonia cycle) fridges were popular in RVs because they used minimal power to run the ignitor, control board, fans if any. This type of fridge had to to be quite level so the ammonia cycle cooling would work by gravity; | ||
- | ==== absorption refrigeration ==== | + | These fridges are often called //three way fridges// because they run on propane in the field, provide heat for the absorption cycle from 12v while driving, and from shore power when available. |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | Absorption (ie, propane-powered ammonia cycle) | + | |
Absorption units are rare in vandwelling setups due to size, expense, and need for exterior venting. | Absorption units are rare in vandwelling setups due to size, expense, and need for exterior venting. | ||
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Over the last few years RV refrigerators have been going to 12v or, more commonly, 110v residential style units. | Over the last few years RV refrigerators have been going to 12v or, more commonly, 110v residential style units. | ||
- | ==== compressor | + | === Compressor |
[[lifestyle: | [[lifestyle: | ||
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* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
- | * [[https:// | + | * [[https:// |
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> I store leftovers in pint and quart mason jars, which stand up fine in the [Alpicool] 15L. Longneck beers are slightly too tall. Since glass is heavy and harder to compact for trash removal I buy beer in cans anyhow. 16oz tallboys do fit. <-- the info discerning gentlemen need to know((https:// | > I store leftovers in pint and quart mason jars, which stand up fine in the [Alpicool] 15L. Longneck beers are slightly too tall. Since glass is heavy and harder to compact for trash removal I buy beer in cans anyhow. 16oz tallboys do fit. <-- the info discerning gentlemen need to know((https:// | ||
- | ==== Peltier refrigeration | + | |
+ | === 120vac Mini-fridge === | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some have reported good results with inexpensive " | ||
+ | |||
+ | PRO | ||
+ | |||
+ | * inexpensive | ||
+ | * widely available | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | CON | ||
+ | |||
+ | * not designed for mobile use | ||
+ | * typically only available in front-loading | ||
+ | * typically not optimized for power use | ||
+ | * typically not well-insulated | ||
+ | * requires 24/7 [[electrical: | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Further reading: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | === Peltier refrigeration === | ||
Peltier cooling doesn' | Peltier cooling doesn' | ||
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- | === possible | + | === Possible |
* you have a surplus of power: you are hooked up to [[electrical: | * you have a surplus of power: you are hooked up to [[electrical: | ||
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- | ===== using nature ===== | + | ===== Using nature ===== |
In low humidity areas with a significant day/night temperature differential you may be able to cool or even freeze cooler packs and water bottles. | In low humidity areas with a significant day/night temperature differential you may be able to cool or even freeze cooler packs and water bottles. | ||