What is fridge: Definition and 58 Discussions

A refrigerator, colloquially fridge, is a commercial and home appliance consisting of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump (mechanical, electronic or chemical) that transfers heat from its inside to its external environment so that its inside is cooled to a temperature below the room temperature. Refrigeration is an essential food storage technique around the world. The lower temperature lowers the reproduction rate of bacteria, so the refrigerator reduces the rate of spoilage. A refrigerator maintains a temperature a few degrees above the freezing point of water. The optimal temperature range for perishable food storage is 3 to 5 °C (37 to 41 °F). A similar device that maintains a temperature below the freezing point of water is called a freezer. The refrigerator replaced the icebox, which had been a common household appliance for almost a century and a half. The United States Food and Drug Administration recommends that the refrigerator be kept at or below 4 °C (40 °F) and that the freezer be regulated at −18 °C (0 °F).The first cooling systems for food involved ice. Artificial refrigeration began in the mid-1750s, and developed in the early 1800s. In 1834, the first working vapor-compression refrigeration system was built. The first commercial ice-making machine was invented in 1854. In 1913, refrigerators for home use were invented. In 1923 Frigidaire introduced the first self-contained unit. The introduction of Freon in the 1920s expanded the refrigerator market during the 1930s. Home freezers as separate compartments (larger than necessary just for ice cubes) were introduced in 1940. Frozen foods, previously a luxury item, became commonplace.
Freezer units are used in households as well as in industry and commerce. Commercial refrigerator and freezer units were in use for almost 40 years prior to the common home models. The freezer-over-refrigerator style had been the basic style since the 1940s, until modern, side-by-side refrigerators broke the trend. A vapor compression cycle is used in most household refrigerators, refrigerator–freezers and freezers. Newer refrigerators may include automatic defrosting, chilled water, and ice from a dispenser in the door.
Domestic refrigerators and freezers for food storage are made in a range of sizes. Among the smallest are Peltier-type refrigerators designed to chill beverages. A large domestic refrigerator stands as tall as a person and may be about one metre (3 ft 3 in) wide with a capacity of 0.6 m3 (21 cu ft). Refrigerators and freezers may be free-standing, or built into a kitchen. The refrigerator allows the modern household to keep food fresh for longer than before. Freezers allow people to buy perishable food in bulk and eat it at leisure, and make bulk purchases.

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  1. S

    I have a few questions about refrigeration and AC units

    I have a few questions about how fridge and AC work, i didn't know where to open this thread, i hope this is ok. So from what i learned so far, both work in a similar way, effectively moving heat from place #1 to place #2, in effect, "cooling" #1 and heating #2. The main difference (apart from...
  2. R

    Possible to change a thermistor resistance curve?

    Currently when set to 1C, the fridge cools to and maintains 4-5C(As a conversion when set to 34f it cools and maintains approx. 40f. ), all functions like fan/defrost are working correctly. Potentially the main board has an issue but all other zones are working correctly so I would prefer to not...
  3. anorlunda

    Could we make a practical solar fridge?

    In another thread, @Grinkle asked about a solar fridge project. In the end, he decided against it, but it set me to wondering if it could be done for people living off grid. At this point, I really miss our beloved Jim Hardy. Jim would have brainstormed with me, then he might have gone in...
  4. C

    Does a full fridge cost less money to run than an empty fridge?

    With the cost of living crisis. my fridge has a bottle of milk in it by itself most of the time. Would it cost less in energy if i fill the fridge with bottles of water to fill the gaps? hope this makes sense.
  5. B

    Net efficiency of a cascaded Carnot Engine and Fridge

    Here is a diagram of my interpretation of the problem: Where I'm thinking that the engine originally takes heat from ##T_h## to ##T_l##, in which case ## \frac { Q_{h} } { T_{h} } = \frac { Q_{l} } { T_{l} } ## and ## W_{out} = Q_{in} - Q_{out} = Q_h \left( 1 - \frac {T_l} {T_h} \right) ##...
  6. R

    I Estimating a thermal equilibrium on a custom made fridge

    Hello, I'm trying to build a custom made fridge made by a cube by 120cm on each side. The material used to isolate the cube will be some polystyrene panels, with thickness s=4cm. Let's imagine to cool the dry air inside in order to reach the internal temperature of 8 degree Celsius, while the...
  7. V

    Samsung double door fridge overload relay changed 3 times in 2 weeks

    Hi Guys, I am new to this forum. I request an expert opinion cause I've not found anything relevant on the web search. I have a Samsung double door refrigerator. Two weeks ago, it stopped cooling and clicking noise coming from the overload relay box plugged into the compressor. I took out...
  8. K

    What is the surface of fridge door made from?

    I think most refrigerators have their cases and doors attracting to magnet, but their surface look like plastic plate. what are they actually made of?
  9. W

    I Unplug Fridge During Below-30 Days?

    Hi All, There have been a few below-30 days recently in many places in the upper hemisphere. Essentially, those days,we are putting food in the refrigerator to warm it up. If/when , say, 3+ days of below- 30 days are predicted, does it make sense to keep freezers on?
  10. G

    Appliances Daewoo FRS 2021 fridge shutdown fault

    Symptoms: Random shutdown of entire fridge/freezer, blank display. Restarts after a variable interval. Power cycling doesn’t seem to help. Forums etc., suggest ‘replacing motherboard’ (on top) but this is often expensive and may not be available. I managed to catch it in shutdown, and found...
  11. Z

    Electrical Create an electromagnet stronger than a fridge magnet

    Hello, I have a question. I would like to create an electromagnet that is generally stronger than a standard fridge magnet... Right now I have this set up, (please tell me if what I am doing is wrong or unpractical). I have 10 AA batteries ligned in parallel to a 3 inch iron nail. I spliced a...
  12. bpcaddy

    Venting a Propane Fridge in a Truck Campershell

    Just throwing some ideas togethor if anyone ones to comment! Setup: Propane fridge by truck campershell window Problem: Needs to vent Drive on the road at 70 mph without blowing out Not let propane into the cabin Solution: Several completely flat cookie baking pans with holes size of a pencil...
  13. R

    Power consumption costs of a fridge with bad lights

    Homework Statement Note - I've asked a very similar problem to this before but I'm redoing it for practice, and this one asks a new question which just ruins everything. I also don't know if I was right the first time yet because I haven't gotten the paper back. Consider a refrigerator whose...
  14. faradayscat

    Maximizing Fridge Stability: Determining the Optimal Height for Pushing Force

    Homework Statement say a fridge of width "w" and height "L" is being pushed on by a force F at an angle θ to the horizontal. This force is applied at a height of "h" above the ground. I want to know what the max value of h can be such that the fridge doesn't tip and the coefficient of...
  15. xunxine

    Cigarette lighter in the fridge?

    Recently I had a fallout with a close colleague of mine at work that sort of escalated into a grave situation. In retaliation (which is pretty minor compared to what he did), I took his cigarette lighter and hid it from him. We've been telling him to quit smoking anyway. He threw a fit upon...
  16. A

    Energy consumption of Fridge with faulty light

    1. Homework Statement Coefficient of performance of a refrigerator is 1.4 A faulty 20w bulb remains on when the fridge is closed. Under normal circumstances, the bulb turns on when the fridge is open. The door is opened 20 times a day for 30 seconds. Calculate the increase in energy...
  17. E

    Scientists make nanofibers using fridge magnet & ferrofluid

    Researches from the University of Georgia, Princeton University and Oxford University report a new method for nanofiber production using a permanent magnet and ferrofluid – magnetospinning. Results of this research are published in Advanced Materials journal -...
  18. varun atri

    Effect on room temperature of a fridge

    When in a room a fridge is kept in such a manner that room is closed and door of fridge is on. Fridge is connected to supply what will be the effect on the room temp and why. The percentage in change of temp??
  19. C

    Heat Exchange and Efficiency in a Fridge

    Homework Statement In a 30% efficient, -16°C fridge, how much electrical energy will be used up to lower the temperature of 250 mL of 75°C water? If the fridge is rated at 150 W, how long will this process take? Specific Heat Capacity of Water = 4200 J/Kg×K Specific Heat Capacity of Ice = 2000...
  20. J

    Calculate Time for Fridge to Cool 1m3 Air from 20°C to 3°C

    Hi Guys I have a relatively simple question (I think!), I am trying to calculate the amount of time it takes for a fridge to cool 1m3 of air from 20°C to 3°C while running a fridge's compressor at 200 watts I have calculated this using T = E/P From this I am trying to work out the time...
  21. M

    Thermodynamics heat loss fridge

    Hello To calculate the heat loss of a fridge, do I need to take the surface area of the in- or outside of the fridge? Heat loss formula = k * delta T * A k = heat transmission coefficient A = surface area
  22. F

    What is the effect of a fridge on the temperature of a well-isolated house?

    Hi there, i have some problems with the following homework. It would be nice, if you help me :) Homework Statement A well isolated house is located in a region where the sun does not shine and the temperature is constantly about 5°C outside. The house is empty except a full fridge with the...
  23. R

    Volume of a helium baloon inside a fridge

    If a helium-filled balloon initially at room temperature is placed in a freezer, will its volume increase, decrease, or remain the same? The Attempt at a Solution If you decrease the T of a vessel filled with gas, its molecules will have less kinetic energy, and the pressure inside the...
  24. 9

    Fridge Power/Heat: A 300 Watt Heater?

    I've got a few things I want to make sure I have right about refrigerators. When the fridge operates, it removes heat from inside, and moves it to the outside. The outside of the fridge is warm. This is one source of heat from the fridge. Unfortunately, this process is not 100% efficient, so...
  25. D

    Unusual movement of square fridge magnets

    At home I have a series of small square fridge magnets (about 25mm by 25mm and about 1mm thick). If I select two of these fridge magnets and place them together then, as you would expect, they attract one another. However the interesting observation is that sometimes the fridge magnets are only...
  26. E

    Fridge stocked or unstocked - which uses less energy?

    Hi all, Bit of a random question but the answer is killing me. Does a fridge use less energy when it is stocked or unstocked? For example, you have one fridge full of produce and another fridge completely empty. You open and close the door of both fridges the same amount of times over the...
  27. L

    Can a CO2 and Alcohol Meter Detect Harmful Bacteria in a Fridge?

    Hi, I'm looking into making a meter that gives an indication of bacterial load present in ones fridge. Currently I am thinking a device that measures CO2 and alcohol levels once the fridge is in a steady state (ie the door not open for some amount of time). I have a rough concept that...
  28. P

    Fridge Thermodynamics: Why Does Room Heat?

    when we leave the door of a fridge open,the room heats(according to what i read).how does this happen?pls explain?
  29. R

    Does a Magnet on a Fridge Affect Electricity?

    Dear Experts Could you tell me does putting magnets on fridge doors consume more electricity or no effect? Thanks. Regards Ramone
  30. G

    Static magnet attached to a fridge

    Hi all, I had a thought earlier about magnetic forces. If there's a magnet attached (at rest) to my fridge, then there is a magnetic force on the magnet towards the fridge and vice-versa. This force stops the magnet from falling because of the frictional force between the magnet and the...
  31. M

    I have an idea for a gasoline powerd fridge, need input.

    So last night, a bit on the tipsy side, I drew this on paper(then in paint) and I don't see why It would not work. I'm not really an engineer so I'm not sure if there's some flaw in my logic. The idea is based on a 5HP engine with an electric starter. It automatically starts the engine using a...
  32. M

    Indiana Jones and nuking the fridge survival

    I know it's just a movie, but I had a question about "Indiana jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." I'm writing a blog post and infographic about the scene where he hides in a refridgerator to protect him from a nuclear blast. I was hoping for some help from physics experts instead of...
  33. C

    Why cooling circuits, in a fridge for example, need a dryer?

    Since they are closed systems, and do not contain water, why do they use a dryer? And how does that dryer works? It uses a dissecant? If so does it need to be changed?
  34. A

    Calculating Kinetic Energy of Fridge Pushed 5m

    Q: A young Mr. Watford applies a force of 180N to a refrigerator on. kitchen floor. Part (A):Find the net force on the refrigerator if the floor has a constant frictional force of 35N. Ans:145N Part (B): Calculate the acceleration of the refrigerator if it has a mass of 70kg. Ans: 2.57 ms-2...
  35. L

    Fridge on Truck Homework: Find Normal Force, Forces Exerted & Rope Tension

    Homework Statement A refrigerator is approximately a uniform parallelepiped h = 8 ft tall, w = 3 ft wide, and d = 2 ft deep. It sits upright on a truck with its 3 ft dimension in the direction of travel. Assume that the refrigerator cannot slide on the truck and that its mass is 130 kg. For...
  36. C

    Calculating Fridge Suction Force: Ideal Gas and Hermetic Door

    Homework Statement Consider a fridge with a volume of 120L whose door has 0.8m of height and 0.5m of length. When the door is open there isn't a relevant change in the air quantity inside the fridge. However the temperature increases slightly. Suppose that when the door is opened, the air...
  37. T

    Fridge interfering with home theater

    Hello, I've been noticing a weird issue lately that I think my fridge is the cause of. Whenever my fridge turns off (thermostat kicks out and stuff) by AV receiver reboots itself. If the receiver does not reboot, my HDMI video signal from the amp to the tv will start flickering until I...
  38. R

    Using an inverter to run a camping fridge

    Take an average portable fridge that one would use for camping. It can run off 12Vdc/220Vac. Would it be wise to run an inverter off a battery and the fridge at 220vac off the car battery or would it be better to just run it straight off the 12V( Assuming all wiring, fuses and etc have been made...
  39. T

    Fridge = ac? buffer roof?

    good / bad ideas: 1. have an extra fridge. small 170 litres. can i use it like an ac - cool the room? switch it on and leave the door ajar? 2. buy five-six 15x15 feet white canvas, put it on my roof. put 2-3 buckets of water on roof. canvas acts as a buffer between main roof and sun. water...
  40. E

    Solving Fridge Water Line Leaks - Tips & Advice

    I just bought a new fridge and sold my previous fridge, so I disconnected the copper line to the old fridge. I turned the valve to the fridge line off but there still is a slow drip. I haven't connected it to the new fridge yet since we are putting new cabinets and placing the fridge in a new...
  41. S

    If I had two cups of hot water and put one in the fridge and left one

    If I had two cups of hot water and put one in the fridge and left one on the table which one after 10 minutes would be cooler ? I have no idea and have been asked this question, thanks in advance for the answer.
  42. G

    Two different people push a fridge at two different times. Find Ffric and mass.

    I honestly can't figure out what to do. 3. Paul and Mintu are attempting to push a heavy fridge across the kitchen floor. When Paul pushes it with a muscular force of 550N, the fridge accelerates from rest to 28.0 cm/s in 3.5 s. When Mintu pushes it with a muscular force of 560N, the fridge...
  43. F

    Finding the polarity of fridge magnets

    Hi guys. Im reading on some magnetism and I thought, what is the polarity of a fridge magnet? Does anyone have any ideas on how I might find out what the polarity of a fridge magnet is, ie what the field direction is?
  44. J

    How can Bright Zinc plated Steel Shelves go rusty in a Fridge?

    Hi, I have some Bright Zinc plated shelves which are currently being stored at 0-1'c. Over a period of 6 months they have become extremely rusty. How has this happened? Please help...
  45. P

    How long can eggs stored in the fridge?

    How long can eggs be stored in the fridge? Normally, I store eggs in my fridge for about less than 2 weeks. So how long at max eggs can be stored that still be eatenable?
  46. P

    The "Lifting Your Fridge with a Pulley System

    Homework Statement You wish to put your fridge on the second floor of your house (again). You decide to rig up a pulley system so as to not overexert yourself. Your maximum force is 250N and the fridge weighs 950N. a) diagram a pulley system using the fewest number of pulleys, which can...
  47. G

    Please explain why the freezer is the top compartment in a fridge

    Can somebody give me a detailed explanation of why the top compartment of a fridge is usually lower than that of the lower compartment? I am thinking that because heat rises, so the heat flows from high energy (lower compartment) to low energy (top compartment)?
  48. J

    Rotation Kinematics and a stupid fridge

    Problem as stated: -A refrigerator is approximately a uniform parallelepiped h = 7 ft tall, w = 4 ft wide, and d = 2 ft deep. It sits upright on a truck with its 4 ft dimension in the direction of travel. Assume that the refrigerator cannot slide on the truck and that its mass is 110 kg. For the...
  49. J

    Thermo Question - Fridge cycles

    Consider a 300 kJ/min refrigeration system that operates on an ideal vapor-compression cycle with refrigerant-134a as the working fluid. The refrigerant enters the compressor as saturated vapor at 140 kPa and is compressed to 800 kPa. Determine the (a) quality of the refrigerant at the end of...
  50. P

    Spread of energy in fridge?

    Homework Statement A measure of 0.5kg of water is placed in a 0.2kg aluminium tray, both initially at 288k and placed in a fridge that is kept at 268k. How long will it take to freeze the water and lower the temperature to –5celcius if the rate of removal of heat energy by the fridge is 2kJ...
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