Refrigerator

The Refrigerator

by Bita

Before the invention of the refrigerators, icehouses were used. Avicenna, the Persian chemist and physicist, invented the refrigerator coil in the 11^th century. However, the first artificial refrigerator design was given by William Callet at the University of Glascow in 1748. Vapour compression fridge was invented by Oliver Evans in 1805. Later in 1834 Jacob Perkins modified Evan’s model and thus made the first fridge. Fred W. Wolf of Fort Wayne, Indiana invented the home fridge in 1913. General Electric started the mass production of the refrigerators in 1927   ( www.wikipedia.org 25 Mar2012).

In 1841 the first mechanical refrigerator was invented by Dr. John Gorrie based on Evan’s invention. The basic of this fridge was very similar to today’s models, since it was working based on the expansion of gas which created coolness. However, the appearance of this model is very different from today’s models. In fact Gorri’s fridge was invented to make ice in order to keep the Malaria infected people cool (www. phys.ufl.edu  25 Mar2012).

The “Monitor Top” fridge, produced by General Electric, was the one which captured the market in 1927. This model is very close to today’s fridges and included a wooden cold box, with a water cooled compressor on the top and ice-cube trays. However, sulfur dioxide or methyl formate was used as the refrigerant which was dangerous in case of any leaking. Besides, the compressor emitted too much heat. Today we can find some of these fridges still working (www.industrialdesignhistory.com 25Mar2012).