The fridge is one of the greatest guzzlers of energy in your home. Lots of electrical energy is used every year in the average household in preserving foodstuff. You might shrug this information off and say it is a sorry situation but it cannot be avoided; after all, you dare not try surviving without a fridge.
Well, a solution exists that does not require you to abandon the use of your fridge. It is as simple as understanding the key components of your refrigerator’s system and devising a way to make them more efficient.
Here are the top three:
1. The Refrigerant
Man has over the years devised many ways of food preservation. At the baseline of all these methods has been the choice of a substance that can be used as a refrigerant. Many substances have been tested and abandoned along the way, while others such as air have somehow survived the test of time.
While there really is no refrigerant that meets all the desired characteristics, some come pretty close to doing so. Look for a refrigerant that is non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-inflammable and of course cost effective. The most important characteristic of the refrigerant when it comes to efficiency is its thermodynamic properties. The refrigerant should demonstrate heat transfer and transport properties that are good. Generally, the refrigerants with lower molecular weights and viscosity will tend to have these desired properties.
Refrigeration System – flickr photo by axeldeviaje
2. The Compressor
This is one of the largest consumers of energy during the refrigeration process thus making it efficient will go a long way in reducing your energy consumption. To make your compressor more efficient, you first have to know which factors affect its efficiency. Two main things will make your compressor inefficient – when temperature lifts are much higher than they ought to be and when there are traces of the refrigerant in the suction vapor.
Constantly maintaining your compressor will help reduce chances of this happening. You should also make sure the quality of lubricator you use is the best. Understanding the type of compressor you have can give you tips on how to make it more efficient as well. The screw compressor for instance, is more energy efficient when at full load than when at part load operation. Avoid this and you will see much better energy efficiency.
3. The Condenser
When it comes to condenser types, the evaporative condenser proves in most instances to be most effective in terms of energy efficiency while the air condenser is least efficient. You have to take special care if you get an evaporative condenser to avoid contamination though.
Keep your condenser clean at all times and free from any instances of fouling. If it is ejecting heat into the atmosphere then make sure it is not covered but has access to plenty of fresh air. Guard against tendencies of the ejected air to circulate back to the condenser inlet. Maintaining the essential elements of your refrigerator should not only make the cooling system more efficient but will ultimately reduce your energy consumption.
The author of this article, Henry Stuart is an interior designer expert.
