Today a refrigerator is an indispensable assistant in any kitchen, but few people wonder how people managed without it for a century back. The first refrigeration devices appeared long before electricity and looked completely different from modern units. Their operating principle was based on physical laws, available materials and the ingenuity of engineers.
In this article we will look at exactly how the first refrigerators functioned: from primitive glaciers to the first electric models. You'll learn what technologies were used for cooling, what materials were used for insulation, and why some solutions that seemed revolutionary in the 19th century seem ridiculous today. And also how these devices influenced people’s daily lives and why their appearance became a real breakthrough for medicine and the food industry.
Glaciers: the first “refrigerators” without electricity
For a long time, the only way to keep food fresh was to use natural cold. Glaciers special rooms or pits filled with ice and snow appeared back in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Their principle of operation was simple: ice mined in winter was stored in insulated basements or trenches, lined with straw or sawdust, and slowly melted, maintaining a low temperature.
In Russia, glaciers were especially popular in the 19th century. They were built from brick or wood, and for better insulation they used double walls with a layer of peat or moss. Ice was harvested in winter from frozen rivers and lakes, and then delivered to cities on sleighs. It is interesting that in St. Petersburg there was a whole profession - ice workerswho were engaged in the extraction, transportation and sale of ice.
- ❄️ Ice was stored for up to 6-8 months with proper insulation
- 🏠 Glaciers were built underground or in the northern part of buildings
- 💰 The cost of ice depended on the season: in the summer the price increased 3-4 times
However, glaciers had serious drawbacks: they required constant replenishment with ice, took up a lot of space and could not maintain a stable temperature. In addition, melt water often led to mold and spoilage of food. This prompted inventors to search for more effective solutions.
Absorption refrigerators: revolution of the 19th century
The first refrigerators operating without ice appeared at the beginning of the 19th century thanks to discoveries in the field of thermodynamics. Absorption refrigerators they used the principle of heat absorption during the evaporation of liquid. In 1859, a French engineer Ferdinand Carré created the first working model, which operated on a mixture of water and ammonia.
The principle of operation was as follows:
- Ammonia evaporated in the evaporator, taking heat from the environment.
- Ammonia vapor was absorbed by water in the absorber.
- The heated mixture entered the generator, where the ammonia was again separated from the water.
- The cycle was repeated, ensuring continuous cooling.
Such refrigerators were bulky and required a constant source of heat (most often a gas burner or kerosene lamp). But they could work without electricity, which made them popular in rural areas and on ships. In the 1920s, absorption refrigerators Electrolux and Servel became the first mass-produced models available to ordinary consumers.
⚠️ Attention: Absorption refrigerators running on ammonia were dangerous if they leaked - the gas could cause poisoning or an explosion. Therefore, they were installed only in well-ventilated areas.
| Characteristics | Glaciers | Absorption refrigerators |
|---|---|---|
| Energy source | Natural ice | Heat (gas, kerosene) |
| Temperature, °C | 0...+5 | -5...+5 |
| Maintenance | Regular loading of ice | Refilling with refrigerant every 2-3 year |
| Safety | Low (mold, dirt) | Medium (risk of ammonia leakage) |
Compression refrigerators: the beginning of the era of electricity
A real breakthrough has occurred in 1913, when an American engineer patented the first household appliance. Unlike absorption models, it used an electric compressor to compress the refrigerant (originally sulfur dioxide, later freon). Fred W. Wolf patented the first household compression refrigerator. Unlike absorption models, it used an electric compressor to compress the refrigerant (originally sulfur dioxide, later freon).
The principle of operation of a compression refrigerator refrigerator:
- 🔄 The compressor compresses the gaseous refrigerant, raising its temperature.
- 🔥 The hot gas enters the condenser (radiator on the back wall), where it cools and condenses into liquid.
- ❄️ The liquid refrigerant passes through capillary tube, expands sharply and evaporates in the evaporator, taking away heat.
- 🔄 The cycle repeats automatically.
The first production model - Domelre (1918) - cost more than $900 (about $15,000 in terms of for today's money) and was available only to wealthy families. However, by the 1930s, prices had fallen and refrigerators became a mass commodity. The key advantage of compression models was their autonomy: they did not require manual refrigerant charging and could operate for years without maintenance..
Refrigerants: from poisonous gases to freon
One of the most difficult issues in the history of refrigerators is the choice of refrigerant. The first models used toxic and explosive substances:
- 💀 Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) caused suffocation during leaks.
- 🔥 Ammonia (NH₃) - effective, but corrosive and toxic.
- 💣 Methyl chloride (CH₃Cl) —explosive when mixed with air.
The situation changed in 1928, when the company DuPont released freon-12 (CCl₂F₂) —non-toxic, non-flammable and chemically stable refrigerant. This revolutionary invention made refrigerators safe for home use. However, it later turned out that freons destroy the ozone layer, and in 1987 their production was banned by the Montreal Protocol.
⚠️ Attention: If you have an old refrigerator (manufactured before 2000), it may contain freon R-12 or R-22. If there is a leak, do not inhale the vapors - they may cause dizziness. For refilling, use only modern refrigerants (R-134a, R-600a).
Why was freon banned?
Freons (especially R-12 and R-22) when released into the atmosphere destroy the ozone layer, which leads to an increase in ultraviolet radiation on Earth. In 1985, an ozone hole was discovered over Antarctica, which became the reason for a global ban on these substances.
Thermostats and automation: how refrigerators learned to “think”
Early refrigerators required manual control: the user had to manually turn the compressor on and off or regulate the gas supply in absorption refrigerators models. The situation was changed by the invention of thermostat a device that automatically maintains a set temperature.
The first mechanical thermostats appeared in the 1920s. They worked on the basis of a bimetallic plate, which bent when the temperature changed and opened the electrical circuit. This allowed the refrigerator to turn itself off when the desired level of cooling was reached and turn on again when it warmed up.
By the 1940s, thermostats became a standard feature, and in the 1950s, models with several temperature zones (for example, separate regulators for the freezer and refrigerator compartments). This made it possible to optimize energy consumption and increase the shelf life of products.
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Design and materials: from wooden cabinets to metal cases
The first mass-produced refrigerators looked like massive wooden cabinets with metal internal chambers. For example, the model Monitor-Top from General Electric (1927) had a compressor installed on top in a separate compartment resembling a turret. This design was dictated by the need to remove heat from the engine.
By the 1930s, manufacturers began to use:
- 🪵 Wood — for cases (oak, ash, later - plywood).
- 🛡️ Enameled metal — for internal chambers (easily washed, did not rust).
- 🧊 Glass wool as insulation (later it was replaced with polyurethane foam).
The first models appeared in the 1940s s all-metal cases (for example, Frigidaire 1947), which were stronger and more hygienic than wooden ones. And in the 1950s, designers began to experiment with colors: instead of the standard white, pastel shades (blue, pink, yellow) appeared, which made refrigerators not only functional, but also a stylish element of the kitchen.
How the first refrigerators changed the world
The advent of refrigerators had a tremendous impact on everyday life:
- 🍗 Food industry: it became possible to mass produce and transport perishable products (meat, milk, fish).
- 💊 Medicine: vaccines, medicines and donated blood could be stored longer, which saved millions of lives.
- 🌍 Globalization: products from different countries could be delivered anywhere in the world without spoilage.
- 👨🍳 Food culture: housewives got the opportunity to prepare dishes for future use and experiment with recipes.
Interestingly, the first refrigerators were in the USSR (Kharkov-1, 1939) were produced in very limited quantities and cost half a year's salary of a worker. Mass production began only in the 1950s with models ZIL-Moscow i Saratov.
Today we perceive the refrigerator as something by itself a given, but a hundred years ago its presence was a sign of high social status. And the first models, despite their shortcomings, laid the foundation for the technologies that we use to this day.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the first refrigerators
Could the first Do refrigerators freeze food?
Most early models (before the 1940s) maintained temperatures only slightly above freezing and did not have a separate freezer compartment. Only industrial refrigerators or special chest freezers, which appeared later, could freeze food.
How much did the first household refrigerator cost?
In the 1920s, the price started from $500-$900 (equivalent to $8,000-$15,000 today). By comparison, the average wage for an American worker in 1925 was about $1,200 per year. By the 1940s, the price dropped to $150-$300, and by the 1950s - to $100-$200.
What products were stored in the first refrigerators?
Priority was given to perishable products: milk, butter, meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. Refrigerators were also used to store medicines (for example, insulin) and cosmetics. Interestingly, in the 1930s, manufacturers recommended storing in the refrigerator... flowersto keep them fresh longer!
Why were the first refrigerators so noisy?
Compressors of early models did not have modern sound insulation, and their operation accompanied by vibration. In addition, the motors were less balanced and fans with open blades were used for cooling. The noise level could reach 60-70 dB (like a modern vacuum cleaner).
Is it possible to use an old absorption refrigerator today?
Technically yes, but with reservations:
- ⚠️ Check the integrity of the system - ammonia leakage is dangerous.
- ⚠️ Recharging refrigerant can be a problem (many workshops refuse to work with older models).
- ⚠️ Energy consumption will be 3-5 times higher than modern refrigerators.
Such refrigerators today are valued only as antiques or exhibits for museums equipment.