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Fridges have a need to be cool 24/7, but not run 24/7. It's quite remarkable how sparsely insulated they are compared to 1980s kit. It's very clear that insulat
by NeedMoreTea 7y ago
Fridges have a need to be cool 24/7, but not run 24/7. It's quite remarkable how sparsely insulated they are compared to 1980s kit. It's very clear that insulation depth has undergone the same transition to "as little as we can get away with" as shown with the motor in the video.
Efficiency gains have come from better compressors, and to a lesser extent increasing use of built in drawers and compartments, to stop all the cold pouring out the moment you open the door. Were they still insulated well, particularly as we have better materials to choose from, running costs could be reduced far more...
The real aim of modern appliance production seems to be to sell you the extended warranty/service contract.
- makomk 7y agoThe better fridges use technology like vacuum insulation panels to make the walls thinner whilst still providing the same level of insulation. This gives more interior space for a given appliance size whilst still keeping it efficient. I think there's diminishing returns from adding more insulation, partly because heat loss from things like the door seal and opening the fridge starts to become more important than loss through the walls themselves.
- NeedMoreTea 7y agoAll I can say is the time that a fridge or freezer takes to warm in the event of fault or power outage has decreased markedly. Even trying to stick to best manufacturers and top end of ranges. There may well be more space, but that seems at the expense of at least some of the insulation ability.