Donkey's Solar Refridgerator

[triffid]

I saw a design years ago for a smaller icebox.Pan of water on top of the  metal box .Burlap bag in the pan of water and burlap bag pulled down on all sides of the  metal box.As the water seeped down the  burlap sides the water would evaporate pulling heat away and cool down whatever was stored inside.I thoght I saw it in boy scouts or some camping magazine I guess.The Donkey design adds a solar tower to the design so I guess more air equals more cooling.Triffid

[triffid]

A little known fact is that hydrogen gas draws heat away quickly.Inside the blimps of yesteryear.People would freeze because the bags of hydrogen gas would suck the heat out of the guys who worked inside the blimps .Hydrogen might be used in some kind of cooling system.I read this in a book about the old gasbags people used to travel in before the hendenburg fire.Triffid

[retroworm]

I wouldn't call it a little known fact, any expanding gas readily absorbs heat from the surroundings. That's the most common method of refridgeration, but hydrogen in particular has somewhat nasty habit to permeate through metals, which makes it less ideal for that purpose. It has excellent heat conductivity though.

[jeanna]

I think the only real issue with this design is the regulation.

On a sunny day the air being drawn in from the hillside through the underground pipe will go up and out the black painted chimney very fast and cause major cooling.

On a foggy or cloudy day the ambient air outside of the house may be cooler, but the upward force will be much slower.

Donkey put in the chimney flu to help regulate this. If you go away for 2 weeks, and there is a major change in sun from the day you left, you could have a big change in the ice compartment.

Having the frige be underground in the side of the hill will, of course help regulate and maybe there would be no problem.

I have never been to the ice caves in Idaho, and I don't know if the ice is still around in the spring and fall as the heat outside changes. I imagine it is.

So, Triffid,
You gonna build one?

jeanna

[Pirate88179]

@ Jeanna:

This is a fascinating topic here.  I am glad you started it.

Bill