Musing: An externalized Fridge
 

I should first admit that I do not have the skills to realize this idea, so it is hot air in the ether. Still, I'd like to hear opinions whether the logic is valid; and who knows, maybe it will be built some day if it has merit :)

I estimate that, all else being equal, the average power consumption of my fridge/freezer is proportional to the average ambient temperature. In my house that is about 60F in the winter and 75F in the summer. Average nadir at night outside is about 20F in the winter and 60F in the summer.

Starting from the fridge, it currently operates against a temperature delta inside the home of 25F in the winter and 40F in the summer. If outside air was used, the deltas would be 0 in the winter and 25f in the summer. Annualized, this implies a decrease in workload to 25/65 = 38% of present power consumption by using outside air.

In order to use nadir nightime temperatures yet still keep the fridge at fairly stable temperatures through the day, I thought about adding a very high heat capacity element. Some volume inside the fridge would be sacrificed.

So there it is:
Piping to draw outside air to the compressor
Piping to exhaust air in the summer outside, inside in the Winter
Electronics to run the fridge when optimal
A heat sink

Build it... and take lots of photos as you go. It really helps.

-AC

Thanks for the encouragement -- I like to think that I will someday.

First task will be to learn some electronics. Then welding. Then some practice scripting ..

No doubt, building stuff is the spice of life.

I did most of that stuff during the 'Manifesto' project.

Action makes the mind grow stronger.

-AC

I saved your link for future reading. Thanks!