Low-Cost, Electric-Free Refrigeration Drops in Temperature and Price
July 10 2008 / by Marisa Vitols
Category: Technology Year: 2008 Rating: 2
Empowered by computational fluid dynamics Adam Grosser of Foundation Capital has spearheaded an effort to build a refrigeration device for the billion+ people who currently have no access to electricity. The break-through approach combines water, ammonia, heat and a little bit of know-how to create a low-pressure, non-toxic refrigerator capable of cooling a 3 gallon container an entire day in temperatures up to 30C.
Here’s the video of his short and sweet TED presentation:
Grosser expects that such units can be manufactured “at high volumes for about $25”, a feat that would enable the better transport of sensitive medicines, foods and materials through developing regions to the people that desperately need them. Such a device could play an important role in the betterment of countless lives as it gives people some more low-cost control over their immediate environment… not to mention keeping beer cold on extended camping trips (a win-win proposition that will hopefully help foot the development bill)...
Comment Thread (1 Response)
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Guy reminds me of Steve Jobs a little bit.
The disadvantage would be that you would have to prep it for an hour and a half each day to keep your foods frozen. However, I can’t complain about something that’s untethered so it’s a pretty wicked idea to cool things like daily and meats in the desert without electricity.
Posted by: dvorak July 10, 2008
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