The history of artificial refrigeration is a fascinating journey spanning several millennia that has led humanity from simple ice storage in deep cellars to high-tech ones controlled from a smartphone. Many people mistakenly believe that this household appliance appeared in the 20th century along with electricity, but the first attempts to freeze water and preserve food began long before our era. The question of when exactly the refrigerator was invented does not have one specific date, since it was an evolutionary process in which scientists from different countries participated. smart refrigeratorscontrolled from a smartphone. Many people mistakenly believe that this household appliance appeared in the 20th century along with electricity, but the first attempts to freeze water and preserve food began long before our era. The question of when exactly the refrigerator was invented does not have one specific date, since it was an evolutionary process in which scientists from different countries participated.
The modern device that we see in our kitchen is the result of the work of dozens of engineers, physicists and chemists who were looking for a safe and efficient refrigerant. Understanding the operating principles vapor compression cycle and properties of gases has made it possible to create systems capable of maintaining a stable temperature regardless of the season. In this article, we will analyze the key stages in the development of refrigeration technology so that you know exactly how this technology developed.
It is important to note that the transition from natural ice to artificial refrigeration was one of the most important milestones in human history, radically changing diets and allowing food to be transported over vast distances. It is thanks to these inventions that today we can enjoy fresh food all year round, without depending on the vagaries of nature.
⚠️ Attention: Historical dates of inventions may vary in different sources, since patenting often occurred later than the creation of the first working prototype.
Ancient methods of preserving cold before the era of electricity
Long before engineers learned how to obtain cold artificially, people used natural resources. The ancient Persians, Egyptians and Chinese built complex systems for storing ice brought from the mountains or frozen in special pools in winter. These structures, known as yadchan in Persia, were dome-shaped storage facilities with thick walls that made it possible to store ice even in the hot summer.
In Russia and Europe, deep cellars where snow was stuffed in winter were popular glaciers and ice, sprinkled with sawdust or straw for better thermal insulation. This method made it possible to keep food fresh for several months, but depended on weather conditions and required huge labor costs for preparing ice.
The technologies of that time did not allow us to talk about a “device” in the modern sense, however, the principles of thermal insulation and phase transitions were already used in practice. People empirically found that the evaporation of liquid cools the surface, which later became the basis for the creation of the first refrigeration machines.
- ❄️ The use of deep underground wells for storing food in Ancient China.
- 🧊 Construction of special ice houses with double walls in medieval Europe.
- 🌨️ Transporting ice from the north to hot countries, which was a profitable business in the 19th century.
XVIII century: First scientific experiments with refrigeration
The era of scientific discoveries in the field of cold began in the 18th century, when chemists and physicists began to study the properties of gases and liquids. In 1755, Scottish professor William Cullen demonstrated the first artificial refrigerator at the University of Glasgow. He used a pump to create a vacuum over a container of ether, which caused the liquid to quickly evaporate and absorb heat from the surrounding air, forming a small piece of ice.
Despite the success of the experiment, Cullen did not seek to commercialize his invention, and it remained a laboratory curiosity. Later, in 1805, American inventor Oliver Evans developed the concept of vapor compression, which became the foundation for all modern refrigerators, although he himself never built a working model. closed loop vapor compression, which became the foundation for all modern refrigerators, although he himself never built a working model.
An important milestone was the discovery of Michael Faraday in the 1820s, who discovered that Liquefied gases such as ammonia absorb large amounts of heat when they evaporate. This discovery laid the theoretical basis for the creation of the first industrial refrigeration units.
Why were ether and ammonia the first refrigerants?
These substances had a low boiling point at atmospheric pressure, which allowed them to easily pass into a gaseous state, absorbing heat. However, they were flammable or toxic, which required caution during operation.
1834: The official date of creation of the first refrigerator
If you look for a specific year when the refrigerator was invented in its technical sense, then historians most often name 1834. It was this year that the American physician and inventor Jacob Perkins received the first patent for a vapor-compression refrigeration machine. His device ran on ether and could actually produce ice on an industrial scale.
Perkins' machine consisted of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. Although the system was bulky, noisy, and a fire hazard due to its use of ether, it proved the viability of the technology. Shortly thereafter, in the 1840s, John Gorrie in Florida created a machine to cool the air in hospital wards to help patients with fever, and even received a patent in 1851.
Parallel to these developments, German engineer Carl von Linde developed the first reliable refrigeration machine powered by ammonia in the 1870s. His invention was a turning point, as ammonia turned out to be a more efficient and affordable refrigerant, which made it possible to begin mass production of industrial refrigerators.
| Year | Inventor | Country | Key achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1755 | William Cullen | Scotland | Demonstration of artificial ice |
| 1834 | Jacob Perkins | USA | Patent for vapor compression cycle |
| 1851 | John Gorrie | USA | Air cooling machine |
| 1876 | Carl von Linde | Germany | Industrial ammonia refrigerator |
End of the 19th century: The emergence of household models
By the end of the 19th century, refrigeration machines were already actively used in breweries, slaughterhouses and for transporting meat, but they were not yet in the homes of ordinary people. The first step toward home use was the creation of General Electric in 1895, which later played a key role in the electrification of refrigerators.
However, the breakthrough came in 1913 with the first electric refrigerator for home use, created by engineer Fred Wolf. It was called DOMELRE (Domestic Electric Refrigerator). The device was installed on top of a cabinet and was quite bulky, but it worked automatically, without the need to constantly add ice.
In 1918, the Kelvinator company, founded by Edmund Copper, began mass production of refrigerators. By the 1920s, there were already more than 200 companies producing refrigeration equipment in the United States. The main problems remained high price, noise and vibration, as well as the use of toxic refrigerants.
- 🏠 The first models were installed separately and required connection to the water supply.
- ⚙️ The compressors worked continuously, which led to high energy consumption.
- 🔊 The noise level of the early ones models was comparable to the performance of a modern motorcycle.
⚠️ Warning: Early electric refrigerators used sulfur dioxide and methyl chloride, which were extremely dangerous if leaked. Safe freon appeared much later.
1930s: Freon revolution and mass production
The invention of Freon (R-12) in 1930 was a real turning point in the history of refrigerators. Chemist Thomas Midgley Jr., together with DuPont and General Motors, created a safe, non-toxic and non-flammable refrigerant. This discovery made it possible to make refrigerators safe for installation directly in the kitchen, and not in the basement or garage.
In 1931, General Motors began producing Frigidaire refrigerators running on freon. This led to an explosive growth in the popularity of the device. If in 1930 only 10% of American homes had refrigerators, by 1940 their share exceeded 60%. The advent of reliable thermostats and automatic defrosting systems made the operation of the device completely “invisible” to the user.
During the same period, the design of the housing was improved: streamlined shapes, internal shelves made of glass and metal, as well as a division into a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment appeared. The refrigerator has become a symbol of modern comfort and technological progress.
Modern technologies: From No Frost to the smart home
In the second half of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century, the development of refrigerators followed the path of increasing energy efficiency and convenience. The advent of the system No Frost (without frost) saved users from the need for manual defrosting. In such models, a fan constantly circulates air through the evaporator, preventing the formation of ice crystals on food and walls.
Today's refrigerators are complex electronic devices. They are equipped with inverter compressors that operate quietly and economically, adjusting power depending on the load. Digital displays, internal cameras for viewing content via smartphone and voice control have become the new norm.
Environmental standards also dictate their conditions: manufacturers are switching to natural refrigerants and recyclable materials. The energy consumption of modern class models A+++ is several times lower than that of appliances 20 years ago.
☑️ What to look for when choosing a refrigerator
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
In what year did the first refrigerator appear in the USSR?
The first Soviet household refrigerator of the brand KhTZ-120 was produced in 1937 at the Kharkov plant. However, mass production began later, in the post-war years, with the release of the famous refrigerator ZIS-Moscow in 1950.
Who invented the refrigerator without electricity?
The principle of an absorption refrigerator, running on gas or kerosene without electricity, was developed in the 1850s by French engineers Ferdinand Carré and Edmond Carré. Such refrigerators are popular in places where there is no reliable power supply, or in motorhomes.
Why were old refrigerators so heavy?
What made them heavy were massive steel cases, a thick layer of insulation (often asbestos or fiberglass) and heavy old-style compressors. Modern models are lighter thanks to the use of plastic components and more efficient, compact compressors.
When did they stop using dangerous freon?
The production of ozone-depleting refrigerants (CFCs) was banned by the Montreal Protocol in 1987, and complete phase-out in most countries occurred by the early 2000s. Now safe analogues are used.