Refrigeration History: Discover Revolutionary Milestones in 2024

 

An overview of the evolution of refrigeration: from ancient ice preservation methods to modern mechanical refrigeration technologies and their widespread applications.

Is there any history of the beginning of refrigeration?

The history of refrigeration is quite ancient. People in those times felt the cold through ice and snow and understood its effects on various objects.

Early Development of Refrigeration: 

Evidence of natural refrigeration methods can be found in ancient Chinese history, where they knew how to preserve ice to keep beverages cold. As a civilized nation, they collected and stored ice for summer use. Many other countries also used ice and snow as the sole cooling system source.

Introduction of Evaporation Method in Refrigeration History:

Ancient Egyptians discovered the evaporation method. They stored wine and beverages in porous clay pots and kept them on the roof at night. In contact with cold air, the evaporation caused the wine and beverages to lose their heat and become cold. In ancient times, many colonies discovered methods to preserve perishable items using ice and snow. Insulated buildings were constructed to store ice for the summer.

The Beginning of Mechanical Cooling Systems:

From 1820 to 1834, cooling systems industries invented the "mechanical refrigeration cycle," leading to the decline of natural ice collection methods. With the expansion of electrical industries, domestic cooling systems became popular. During this time, compressors could be operated using small horsepower motors.

Advancements in Mechanical Refrigeration:

German scientist Dr. H. Sidin developed an absorption system cooling machine using thermal energy in 1876. In 1881, American scientist Dr. John Gorrie created the first ice machine, which used air as a coolant. Dr. Carrier invented a spray-type air conditioning machine known as steam jet refrigeration in 1905. By the early 1920s, it was widely used as a luxury item in homes and later expanded to residential, industrial, and commercial use. It is known that storing food at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or 4.4 degrees Celsius slows the growth of pathogens, keeping food fresh and cool for longer. This process initiated the storage of food at such temperatures.

Golden Era of Cooling Systems Development:

Mechanical refrigeration emerged in 1910. In 1913, J. M. Larsen invented a hand-operated machine for home use. In 1918, Kelvinator became the first to sell automatic refrigerators in the American market, and General Electric improved mechanical units and marketed them as 'Monitor Top.' In 1926, Kelvinator developed refrigerator units; in 1927, Electrolux introduced automatic domestic absorption units.

The 1920s saw the addition of heating units to mechanical cooling systems, leading to the invention of summer coolers. By 1940, home-use units were transformed into hermetic types used commercially for food preservation and in large comfort cooling plants. By the late 1930s, automobile air conditioning was gaining some traction, and new products in solar heating and Cooling systems were anticipated for the future.

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